Missing tooth: the options and what clinics in Korea list for it

Korean term: 치아 상실

What is a missing tooth

Cleveland Clinic defines tooth loss as the loss of one or more teeth. A tooth can be lost to disease or injury, or a person can be born without it (Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, KDCA).

Cleveland Clinic lists jaw bone loss, shifting teeth, a bad bite and trouble chewing as effects of an untreated gap, and says you are then more likely to lose another tooth. It names three ways to replace one:

• Implant. A metal post replaces the root and a crown attaches on top.
• Bridge. An artificial tooth fills the gap and is anchored to the neighbouring teeth.
• Denture. A removable replacement for all or some of the teeth.

Common causes

• Gum disease. Cleveland Clinic calls it the leading cause of tooth loss in adults.
• Cavities and smoking. The CDC names cavities, gum disease and smoking as leading causes of tooth loss.
• Injury. Cleveland Clinic lists dental trauma, such as an accident.

Treatments clinics in Korea list for a missing tooth

The cards show what each treatment is, its downtime per the sources and the lowest regular price in this directory. A crown does not replace a missing tooth on its own: Cleveland Clinic says dentists use crowns to cover implants and to hold a bridge in place. Some implant prices include the crown and some crown prices are for a natural tooth, so check the item in the table. See dental implants and dental crowns.

What the sources say about results and limits

• Bone and health. Cleveland Clinic says an implant needs enough healthy jaw bone, and a bone graft may be needed first. It lists untreated gum disease and unmanaged diabetes as reasons an implant may not suit. KDCA says smoking makes implant failure more likely.
• Bridges. Cleveland Clinic says a traditional bridge needs the neighbouring teeth to be reshaped and crowned, a step it calls irreversible. KDCA lists a missing last molar as a case where a bridge is not possible.

Only a dentist can confirm which option suits your mouth, after an examination.

Published prices

The table shows, for each clinic that lists a regular price, its lowest regular price for implants and crowns. An implant price can be for the whole implant or one part, and a crown price for a natural tooth or an implant; amounts and VAT basis differ.

Lowest regular price each clinic lists, with its own item and VAT basis.

Questions to ask the clinic

• Which option does my case allow: implant, bridge or denture?
• Does the implant price cover the whole implant (fixture, abutment and crown) or one part?
• Do I need a bone graft or gum treatment first, and is it included?
• How many visits and months are needed, and which steps must happen in Korea?
• What check-ups and re-treatment come with the price, and who treats problems after I fly home?
• Is VAT included in the written quote? Is it a regular or an event price?

FAQ

What happens if a missing tooth is not replaced?

Cleveland Clinic lists jaw bone loss, shifting teeth, a bad bite, extra pressure on the remaining teeth, trouble chewing and speech changes as possible effects, and says you are more likely to lose another tooth. A dentist advises whether and how to replace it.

Is an implant the only way to replace a missing tooth?

No. Cleveland Clinic names three options: an implant, a bridge anchored to neighbouring teeth, and a removable denture. A traditional bridge needs the neighbouring teeth to be reshaped, while an implant does not involve them. The dentist decides which suits your mouth.

How long does it take to replace a tooth with an implant?

KDCA says treatment usually takes 3 to 4 months, longer if a bone graft is needed first. Cleveland Clinic says bone fusion alone can take three to nine months. The sources differ, so ask the clinic for a written schedule and which steps your own dentist can do.

Does Korean health insurance cover a missing tooth for visitors?

National health insurance covers implants only for enrolled people aged 65 and over, up to 2 per person for life (as of October 2026). Foreign nationals enrol through alien registration and residence conditions. Visitors who are not enrolled pay the clinic's non-covered price.

Sources

• Cleveland Clinic: Tooth loss, signs, causes and what to do
• Cleveland Clinic: Dental implants
• Cleveland Clinic: Dental bridges, types and who needs them
• Cleveland Clinic: Dental crowns, types, procedure and care
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): About tooth loss
• Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), 질병관리청 국가건강정보포털: Dental implant, 치과 임플란트
• National Health Insurance Service (NHIS), 국민건강보험공단: Dental implant cover guide, 치과임플란트 급여안내
• National Law Information Center (Ministry of Government Legislation): National Health Insurance Act, article 109 (special provisions for foreigners)