Visiting a Dentist in Korea (My Experience)

Living in Korea as a foreigner, everyday experiences sometimes turn into learning moments. Recently, I had to visit the dentist for root canal treatment, and I thought I’d share what it was like from my perspective. The first thing that impressed me was how simple it was to book. I made the appointment through Naver 예약, and when I arrived, all I needed to provide was my ARC and insurance information. Since I’m on National Health Insurance, the staff handled everything smoothly, and the process felt no different from what local patients experience. The treatment itself was more structured than I expected. Instead of finishing the root canal in one sitting, the dentist explained the plan step by step: first cleaning the nerve, placing medicine, then covering it with a temporary filling before continuing in later sessions. I appreciated how transparent the dentist was—I could ask questions in Korean, and they always explained clearly before moving on. What stood out most was the efficiency. Patients move between steps quickly, and assistants are constantly helping, which makes the whole process feel fast-paced but professional. Despite being a foreigner, I never felt out of place. The cost was also reasonable. With insurance, each session came to about 100,000 KRW, which is far lower than what many people pay abroad. Even treatments like scaling are very affordable compared to other countries. For anyone living here, my advice is simple: don’t delay dental care because you’re worried about language or cost. The system is well organized, and if you’re comfortable in Korean, the experience feels almost seamless.