How much do clear aligners cost?
Clear aligners (Seraphin) at Wonjin Dental are ₩2,500,000. In the clinic I often hear, “Is that everything?” — but orthodontics is a package that runs from the diagnosis before starting to the retainers after it ends, so you should look at the items below together.
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Orthodontic diagnosis | ₩100,000 |
| Clear aligners (Seraphin) | ₩2,500,000 |
| Clear retainer | ₩300,000 |
| Fixed retainer (wire behind the front teeth) | ₩300,000 |
| Mini-screw (if needed) | ₩100,000 |
These are Wonjin Dental’s published fees as of September 2026, and cosmetic treatment items include VAT. Other items can be found in all fees.
Why do clear aligner costs differ from clinic to clinic?
The cost of clear aligners varies most with how many teeth are moved and how far. The longer the distance to move, the more aligners are needed and the longer it takes.
- Scope of treatment: whether only a few front teeth are straightened, or the entire upper-lower bite is changed
- Type of appliance: overseas brands such as Invisalign and Korean brands differ in how they are made and in unit cost
- Included items: whether the diagnosis, additional aligners redesigned partway through, and retainers are included in the price
- Supplementary procedures: whether the teeth are slimmed slightly between them or mini-screws are used
Many people also search for Invisalign prices separately. Rather than the brand name, I first look at whether your teeth are in a condition that can be moved with clear aligners. I wrote about this separately in Does the brand of clear aligner matter?
Besides price, what should I ask at the consultation?
The most important thing is to ask what the total covers. Even at the same price, if what is included differs, the amount you end up paying differs.
- Whether the diagnosis fee and the orthodontic fee are separate
- Whether there is an extra cost if the aligners are redesigned partway through
- What type of retainers, and how many, are included
- How much it costs to remake an aligner if you lose or break it
- How costs are settled if clear aligners aren’t enough and you switch to another method
Are clear aligners more expensive than partial orthodontics or braces?
The three differ not only in price but also in who they suit. For mild misalignment of a few front teeth, we first think of partial orthodontics; if the molar bite also needs to change, full orthodontics.
| Method | Wonjin Dental price | Usually suits |
|---|---|---|
| Partial orthodontics (MTA) | ₩1,800,000 | Mild crookedness or gaps in a few front teeth |
| Clear aligners (Seraphin) | ₩2,500,000 | Mild to moderate alignment problems, when you want the appliance not to show |
| Full orthodontics (Clippy C, self-ligating brackets) | ₩5,000,000 | Orthodontics with extraction, orthodontics that changes the bite significantly |
You can read more about which method suits you in Who are invisible braces right for?
Are clear aligners covered by health insurance?
Standard clear aligner treatment is not covered by insurance (Korean National Health Insurance), so you pay the full amount. Orthodontics to correct tooth alignment is mostly not covered by insurance, with exceptions only for some orthodontics related to specified conditions such as cleft lip and palate.
How we do it at Wonjin Dental
We do an orthodontic diagnosis first and, based on the results, tell you whether clear aligners are suitable. If we think it would be hard to move the teeth to the desired position with clear aligners, we recommend partial orthodontics or braces. Orthodontics is handled by Dr. Soyeon Kim, our orthodontist.
If the shape of your front teeth or small gaps are your only concern, we sometimes also compare Brinate (a veneer placed without grinding) as an option without orthodontics. However, if the teeth protrude forward or there is a skeletal protruding mouth, we don’t place it and look at orthodontics first.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a cost if I lose a clear aligner?
In most cases it has to be remade, so there may be a remake fee. Until the new aligner arrives, wearing the aligner from the previous stage helps reduce the teeth shifting back. Check the remake conditions before you start.
Are clear aligners always more expensive than braces?
Not necessarily. If the scope of treatment is narrow, clear aligners can cost less than full braces, and if it is wide, they can cost about the same or more. Comparisons are only accurate between plans of the same scope.
Can I get just the orthodontic diagnosis and decide on treatment later?
Yes. The diagnosis is the step for finding out your current condition, the possible methods and the expected timeline, so you can decide after hearing the results. Sometimes the conclusion is that orthodontics isn’t really necessary.
