Clear aligners move teeth using a series of removable trays instead of fixed brackets. For patients who travel, they have one practical advantage: much of the treatment happens without you in the chair.
What aligners handle well – and what they do not
Aligners are effective for crowding, spacing, mild to moderate rotation and many bite corrections. They are less suited to some severe rotations, significantly impacted teeth, and cases needing large skeletal change.
If your case is outside what aligners do well, we will say so and explain what fixed braces would achieve instead. Choosing the wrong appliance costs you months.
A schedule that works if you do not live here
Aligner treatment suits remote patients because trays are changed at home on a schedule, not at appointments.
- Start – digital scan, photographs, X-rays and treatment planning. Usually 2 visits within a week.
- Middle – you change trays at home. We review progress remotely from photographs you send.
- Checkpoints – in-person reviews when attachments need adjusting or a refinement scan is needed.
- Retention – retainers at the end, which you must wear as instructed or the teeth drift back.
Total treatment is commonly 6 to 24 months depending on how far the teeth have to move.
Cost and planning
Aligner cost depends on the number of trays your case needs, which follows from how much movement is planned.
We give you a written treatment plan and a cost estimate before anything begins, so you know the total before you commit. If the plan changes after we see your CT scan, we tell you why and what it changes before we proceed.
If you live outside Korea, send us a recent X-ray or a clear photo before you travel. We will tell you how many visits your case needs and how long to stay, so you can book flights around the treatment rather than the other way round.
Frequently asked questions
Can I do Invisalign in Korea if I live abroad?
Yes, and it is one of the better treatments for that situation. We plan the in-person checkpoints around your travel and review progress from photographs in between.
How many hours a day must I wear them?
Aligners only work while they are in your mouth – the standard instruction is 20 to 22 hours a day, removed for eating and cleaning. Under-wearing is the most common reason treatment falls behind schedule.
Will anyone notice them?
They are much less visible than fixed brackets, but they are not invisible, and small tooth-coloured attachments are often bonded to teeth to make specific movements possible.
What if I lose a tray while travelling?
Contact us straight away. Usually you go back to the previous tray while a replacement is arranged. Do not skip ahead to the next one without being told to.
Related treatments
Ask us before you travel
Send a recent X-ray or a clear photo and tell us what is bothering you. We will reply in English with what the treatment involves, how many visits it needs, and how long to stay in Korea.
Email Us in English