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Dental · 임플란트

Dental Implants in Apgujeong and Gangnam

A titanium root placed in the jawbone, left to fuse for 2 to 6 months, then topped with a crown. Most visitors need two trips to Seoul.

Quick facts
  • Korean name: 임플란트
  • Procedure time: About 30 to 60 minutes per implant for placement; crown fitting about 30 minutes
  • Anesthesia: Local anaesthesia; IV sedation at some clinics
  • Sessions: Usually 4 to 6 visits across two trips: CT and consult, placement, suture removal, impression, crown fitting
  • Downtime: 1 to 3 days of swelling and soreness; soft food for about a week
  • Results: Final crown typically 3 to 6 months after placement, longer with bone grafting
  • Lasts: The fixture can last decades with good hygiene; crowns may need replacing after 10 to 15 years
  • Typical price: ₩500,000–₩1,800,000 (per implant including abutment and crown)

What is Dental Implant?

A dental implant replaces one missing tooth with a titanium screw in the jawbone, a connector called an abutment, and a crown on top. Neighbouring teeth are not ground down, which is the main difference from a bridge.

Korean clinics mostly use domestic systems such as Osstem, Dentium and Dio, and imported systems such as Straumann. The brand changes the price more than the surgery itself.

How it works

The dentist takes a 3D cone-beam CT scan to measure bone height and nerve position. Under local anaesthesia, a small hole is drilled and the fixture is placed, often with a temporary cover. The bone then grows onto the titanium surface, a process called osseointegration.

Healing usually takes about 2 to 3 months in the lower jaw and 3 to 6 months in the upper jaw, which has softer bone. If a bone graft or sinus lift is needed, add several months. A scan or impression is then taken and the final crown, usually zirconia, is fitted.

Who it suits

  • Adults missing one or a few teeth with healthy neighbouring teeth
  • People who do not want adjacent teeth cut down for a bridge
  • Patients with enough jawbone, or willing to have grafting first
  • Visitors who can return to Seoul for a second trip 2 to 6 months later

Who should skip it or wait

  • Heavy smokers who cannot stop around surgery
  • People with uncontrolled diabetes
  • Patients on bisphosphonate or denosumab bone drugs without a doctor's review
  • Teenagers whose jaws are still growing
  • Anyone needing the whole job finished in a single short trip

Side effects and risks

  • Implant failing to fuse, more common in smokers and diabetics
  • Nerve irritation causing numbness in the lower lip or chin
  • Sinus membrane tear during upper jaw placement
  • Peri-implantitis, a gum and bone infection around the implant
  • Screw loosening or crown chipping

Aftercare

  • Bite on gauze for 1 to 2 hours after surgery
  • No smoking or alcohol for at least a week
  • Eat soft, lukewarm food and chew on the other side
  • Rinse gently and keep the area clean as instructed
  • Return for stitch removal around day 7 to 10

Planning around your trip

Plan the first trip for at least 7 to 10 days to cover CT, placement and stitch removal, then book a second visit about 3 to 6 months later for the crown.

Dental clinics near Apgujeong

Last reviewed October 2026. General information only, not medical advice. A doctor confirms what suits you at consultation.

Dental Implant price in Apgujeong

₩500,000–₩1,800,000
per implant including abutment and crown

Typical range at clinics around Apgujeong, Sinsa and Cheongdam, checked 2026-10. Source: HIRA 2026 non-covered fee disclosure (clinic average KRW 1.14M), reported by Kyungjae Times. Cosmetic treatments in Korea carry 10% VAT; ask whether a quote includes it.

Full Dental Implant price breakdown →

Dental Implant questions

Why are upper jaw implants slower to finish than lower ones?

Upper jaw bone is less dense, so most dentists wait 3 to 6 months before loading it, against roughly 2 to 3 months for the lower jaw.

Can the implant and crown be done on the same day?

Only in selected cases with dense bone and good initial stability. Most single implants in Korea follow a delayed protocol with a separate crown appointment.

What happens if I need a sinus lift?

A sinus lift raises the sinus floor and adds graft material so the implant has bone to sit in. It adds cost and usually several months of healing, and many surgeons ask you not to fly for a short period afterwards.

Does the price include the crown?

Gangnam price lists usually quote the fixture, abutment and zirconia crown together, but bone grafts, sinus lifts and CT scans are often extra. Ask for an itemised quote.

Osstem or Straumann, what is the difference for me?

Both are widely used systems with long track records. Straumann parts cost more, and you may find it easier to get compatible parts at home if your local dentist uses that system.

Can my dentist at home finish the crown?

It is possible if they can source parts for the implant system used. Ask the Korean clinic for the implant brand, model, diameter and length in writing.

Is it painful afterwards?

Most patients describe 1 to 3 days of aching and swelling controlled with standard painkillers. Grafted sites tend to be sorer.

Plan your visit

Get a quote before you fly

Send the treatment, your dates and any past procedures. We reply in English with options, prices and clinic locations near Apgujeong Station.