Do I have to have teeth pulled to get braces?

No. Extraction is considered when there is not enough space to align the teeth, and when there is enough space, treatment may proceed without extraction. The decision is based on X-ray, CT, and other test results, so asking for an explanation of your diagnostic records helps you understand it.

Why do orthodontic costs differ between clinics?

Not only do appliance types (metal, ceramic, clear aligners, and so on) and treatment length differ, but the items included in the quote also differ. In some fee structures, regular visit fees, detailed diagnostic fees, anchor screws, and retainers are charged separately from the appliance fee, so checking what is included based on the total cost is the starting point for comparison.

Does Korean health insurance cover orthodontics?

Routine orthodontic treatment is non-covered (not paid by Korea's National Health Insurance). However, orthodontic treatment for some congenital craniofacial anomalies such as cleft lip and palate is covered by health insurance.

Do I really have to wear a retainer for life?

Teeth tend to move back to their original positions even after orthodontic treatment, and without a retainer, relapse sometimes occurs. For this reason, long-term wear (mainly while sleeping) is often recommended, and how long and how to wear it vary by case and are checked at regular checkups.

When should my child start orthodontic treatment?

It depends on the case. Early intervention is considered for skeletal problems that need to make use of the growth period, while in other cases it is fine to start after the permanent teeth have come in. The dentist decides when to start based on examination of the growth stage and type of malocclusion.

Orthodontics in Korea: Pain, Extractions, Cost Breakdown, and Retainers

Published July 5, 2026 Updated August 17, 2026 Reviewed by: 이근혜 (Board-certified specialist in Orthodontics)

An analysis of 16,532 patient comments on Korean YouTube dental content about Orthodontics found that questions about Fear of pain and extraction were the most common (1,900). A guide to orthodontic treatment based on public sources: who it is for, appliance types, when it hurts, extraction decisions, what costs include, Korean health insurance rules, and retainer care. SOURCE Analysis of patient comments on YouTube dental content (DentStat) · public sources listed under References · Data as of June 28, 2026

Key facts

Who it is for	Malocclusion, crooked or protruding teeth, uneven tooth alignment ^[1]
Appliance types	Fixed (metal or ceramic brackets), removable, clear aligners, and others ^[1]
Health insurance	Routine orthodontics is non-covered; orthodontics for some congenital craniofacial anomalies such as cleft lip and palate is covered ^[2]
Retainers	Need to be worn long term after treatment ends to prevent relapse ^[1]
Most common patient question theme	Fear of pain and extraction (1,900 of 8,254 question comments) ^[4]

What do patients ask about most?

Analysis of 16,532 patient question comments on YouTube content about Orthodontics (collected June 28, 2026).

Fear of pain and extraction

1,900

Extraction decisions and facial change

1,512

Cost and choosing a clinic

1,169

Appliance types and partial orthodontics

1,010

When children and teens should start

464

Retainers and relapse

360

What is orthodontic treatment?

Orthodontic treatment applies steady force to the teeth with brackets and wires or clear aligners to correct malocclusion, crooked or protruding teeth, and uneven alignment [1]. Treatment usually takes years, and retainer wear continues after the appliance is removed [1].

When DentStat analyzed 16,532 patient comments (8,254 of them questions) on orthodontics in YouTube dental content, the most frequent questions were about fear of pain and extraction (1,900), extraction decisions and facial change (1,512), and cost and choosing a clinic (1,169), in that order [4]. This guide follows that order of questions and sets out facts that can be confirmed from public sources.

How painful are braces?

Pain varies widely from person to person. Typically, there are a few days when the teeth ache and chewing is uncomfortable right after the appliance is attached or the wire is changed, and then you adjust [1]. Attaching or adjusting brackets does not require anesthesia, and local anesthesia is used when there are separate procedures such as extraction or placing anchor screws (mini-screws) [1].

Fear of pain and extraction was the theme with the most questions in the comment analysis (1,900), and questions about when and how much it hurts at each stage came up repeatedly [4].

Do I have to have teeth pulled?

Not all orthodontic cases need extractions. Extraction is considered in cases where there is not enough space to align the teeth, and the way space is created depends on the type of malocclusion and the skeletal condition [1]. Extraction and non-extraction each have pros and cons, so the basis of diagnosis is your own case as confirmed by X-ray and CT examination [1].

Questions about whether extraction is needed and about facial change after treatment were the second theme at 1,512, and many people shared experiences of getting different diagnoses at different clinics [4]. Because of this, some people compare the diagnostic reasoning of several clinics [4].

Why does the cost differ between clinics?

Orthodontic costs depend not only on the appliance type and treatment length but also on which items the quote includes. In some fee structures, detailed diagnostic fees, regular visit fees, anchor screws, and retainers are charged separately from the appliance fee, so if you do not check what is included, the total can turn out different from what you expected [4]. Questions about cost and choosing a clinic were the third theme at 1,169, showing demand for explanations of how quotes are put together [4].

Routine orthodontic treatment is non-covered, so prices vary by clinic, and this guide does not cover individual clinics’ prices.

Does health insurance cover it?

Routine orthodontic treatment is non-covered care that is not paid by Korea’s National Health Insurance [2]. However, orthodontic treatment for some congenital craniofacial anomalies such as cleft lip and palate is covered by health insurance [2].

Do I have to wear a retainer for life?

Teeth tend to move back to their original positions even after orthodontic treatment ends, and without a retainer, relapse sometimes occurs [1]. For this reason, long-term wear, mainly while sleeping, is often recommended, and how long and how to wear it vary by case and are checked at regular checkups [1]. In the comment analysis, there were 360 questions about retainers and relapse, and stories of relapse after stopping retainer wear stood out [4].

When should a child start orthodontic treatment?

When to start depends on the type of malocclusion and the growth stage. Early intervention is considered for cases that need to make use of jaw growth during the growth period, and in other cases it is fine to start after the permanent teeth have come in [1]. There were 464 questions about children and teens, mostly from parents asking when to start and whether an appliance is needed [4].

Orthodontics is one of the dental specialties in Korea, and you can see by area which dental clinics have a board-certified orthodontist on DentStat’s region pages, based on public data from the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service (HIRA) [3].

In-depth guides

Documents covering subtopics of Orthodontics in more depth.

Pain and fear of extraction: When It Hurts at Each Stage, Anesthesia, Extraction Pain and How to Cope
Extraction, non-extraction, and facial change: How It Is Decided, Alternatives, and the Facts About Facial Change
Protruding mouth, retruded chin and surgery: Dental vs. Skeletal, Limits of Braces, ASO vs. Double Jaw Surgery
Appliance types and partial orthodontics: Metal, Ceramic, Clear Aligners, and Lingual Compared, and When Partial Orthodontics Works
Retainers and relapse: How Long to Wear Them, Why Relapse Happens, Fixed vs. Removable
Cost and trust in clinics: What a Quote Includes, Checking for a Specialist, and Switching Mid-Treatment
Malocclusion and TMJ: Types, Dental vs. Skeletal Causes, and the Link to the Jaw Joint
Diet and daily care: Eating Tips, Brushing, Clear Aligner Wear Rules, and Speech
Timing for children and teens: Cases for Early Treatment, Phase 1 and Phase 2, and How to Decide

Frequently asked questions

How painful are braces?: It varies widely from person to person. Typically, there are a few days of aching and difficulty chewing right after the appliance is attached or the wire is adjusted, and then you adjust. Attaching or adjusting brackets does not require anesthesia; local anesthesia is used for extractions or placing anchor screws (mini-screws).
Do I have to have teeth pulled to get braces?: No. Extraction is considered when there is not enough space to align the teeth, and when there is enough space, treatment may proceed without extraction. The decision is based on X-ray, CT, and other test results, so asking for an explanation of your diagnostic records helps you understand it.
Why do orthodontic costs differ between clinics?: Not only do appliance types (metal, ceramic, clear aligners, and so on) and treatment length differ, but the items included in the quote also differ. In some fee structures, regular visit fees, detailed diagnostic fees, anchor screws, and retainers are charged separately from the appliance fee, so checking what is included based on the total cost is the starting point for comparison.
Does Korean health insurance cover orthodontics?: Routine orthodontic treatment is non-covered (not paid by Korea's National Health Insurance). However, orthodontic treatment for some congenital craniofacial anomalies such as cleft lip and palate is covered by health insurance.
Do I really have to wear a retainer for life?: Teeth tend to move back to their original positions even after orthodontic treatment, and without a retainer, relapse sometimes occurs. For this reason, long-term wear (mainly while sleeping) is often recommended, and how long and how to wear it vary by case and are checked at regular checkups.
When should my child start orthodontic treatment?: It depends on the case. Early intervention is considered for skeletal problems that need to make use of the growth period, while in other cases it is fine to start after the permanent teeth have come in. The dentist decides when to start based on examination of the growth stage and type of malocclusion.

Find a dental clinic

Compare dental clinics by area and treatment in the area shortlists, or see nationwide figures in dental clinic statistics for South Korea.

References

National Health Information Portal: Malocclusion and Orthodontic Treatment · Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA)
National Health Insurance coverage criteria for orthodontic treatment (congenital craniofacial anomalies such as cleft lip and palate) · Ministry of Health and Welfare, National Health Insurance Service (NHIS)
Public data from the Hospital Information Service · Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service (HIRA)
Analysis of patient comments on YouTube dental content: 16,532 comments on orthodontics (collected 2026-06-28) · DentStat (Osamil Inc.)

This content is general information based on public sources and does not replace diagnosis, prescription or treatment for any individual. If you have symptoms, consult a dentist.