Invisalign Transfers for Immigration, Studying Abroad, Relocation, and More — International Students and Military Personnel

Hello. I am Dr. Yoon Jeong-won, director of Yonsei Garden Dental Clinic, an orthodontic dental clinic in Daechi-dong.

Recently, a member of the US Air Force stationed at a U.S. military base in Osan, Gyeonggi-do, visited Yonsei Garden Dental Clinic. Since all of our doctors and hygienists speak English well, many patients visit us from quite far away.

The patient most wanted to correct the gap between his front teeth. However, as a military member, he does not remain stationed in one country and instead relocates whenever he receives a new assignment, which made it difficult for him to begin orthodontic treatment. It was also difficult for him to travel frequently from Osan to Gangnam. Since he was scheduled to leave for a new assignment in Italy in the fall, he said that, after doing considerable research, he wanted to begin orthodontic treatment with Invisalign.

With conventional braces, patients generally need to visit the clinic relatively frequently—usually once a month—for procedures such as changing the wires and elastics. They also need to visit the dentist in emergencies, such as when a bracket comes off or a wire pokes them, so this option was not suitable for this patient. With Invisalign, however, patients receive several of the aligners needed for the upcoming stages in advance, so frequent clinic visits are not necessary. There is also no risk of a bracket coming off or a wire poking the patient. Therefore, when frequent clinic visits are difficult, Invisalign can be more advantageous than conventional braces.

Invisalign also has a transfer system. Ideally, treatment should be completed at the clinic where it began, but various circumstances can arise in life. A transfer is a system that allows treatment to continue at a new dental clinic when relocation is necessary for reasons such as immigration, studying abroad, or working as an expatriate employee. The records are sent from the original clinic to the new clinic so treatment can continue. Of course, there are matters for the two clinics to coordinate, and the fee structures may differ, so there are details that need to be checked. However, in short, Invisalign has established a system that makes coordinated treatment possible. This may be because, in the United States, even moving from one state to another can require a transfer.

This system can be used effectively by those for whom starting orthodontic treatment as soon as possible is important rather than postponing it, or by those who unexpectedly and unavoidably need to relocate. At our clinic, some patients have already started treatment while planning transfers in advance because they were studying in Canada or Germany or immigrating to the United States. Conversely, quite a few patients have continued Invisalign treatment at our clinic after starting it abroad.

In the case of this U.S. military patient, it would have been possible for him to continue treatment at his new location after leaving Korea. However, because his duty station could change frequently, he wanted to complete as much treatment as possible in Korea before departing.

Initial examination: March 31, 2025

These are the patient’s initial photographs. There was a space between the upper front teeth, along with slight crowding of the front teeth. His molar occlusion was good, and there was no protrusion at all. Therefore, we decided to proceed with treatment aimed at closing the space between the front teeth, improving the deep overbite, and improving the alignment of the teeth.

Treatment is currently in progress over a total of 26 stages. Since frequent visits are difficult, he is visiting once every two months while undergoing treatment.

As this case illustrates, people may have different circumstances and desired treatment outcomes when considering orthodontic treatment. Naturally, there are also various treatment options available, so I believe that, through a thorough consultation with a dentist, you can find the method that is most suitable for you.

Although this is not about orthodontic treatment, since I mentioned the U.S. military, I would also like to talk a little about the professional teeth whitening treatment received by a recent U.S. Army patient.

The patient said that he had received scaling not long ago and that this was his first professional whitening treatment. Overall, his teeth showed a yellowish shade in the A2–A3 range, so we decided to perform three cycles of one-day teeth whitening. The whitening treatment produced a good result, and the patient was very satisfied with the effect before leaving.

P.S. I was curious because the patient kept taking photos and videos during the treatment. He later created and sent us an impressive video.

Initial examination: March 25, 2025

Before-and-after photos of the teeth whitening treatment

Yonsei Garden Dental Clinic has all the latest equipment needed for Invisalign orthodontic treatment, including the iTero Lumina 3D intraoral scanner, growth plate examinations, and before-and-after treatment simulations using the Morpheus facial scanner. This allows us to provide orthodontic treatment with greater precision and structure.

In addition, the costs of detailed orthodontic diagnosis and monthly fees are included in the treatment cost, excluding retainers, so you do not need to worry about unexpected additional expenses. Our clinic also has a general dentistry department, making it possible to receive all treatment needed alongside orthodontic care, such as extractions and cavity treatment, in one place. We also offer an installment payment system to reduce the burden of paying a large sum all at once, making this an even more appealing option.

Dr. Yoon Jeong-won, the clinic’s director, is responsible for the orthodontics department. With 16 years of clinical experience specializing exclusively in orthodontics, Dr. Yoon has extensive experience with numerous complex cases. Accordingly, a wide range of orthodontic problems—including malocclusion, protruding teeth, and skeletal Class III jaw relationships—can be treated effectively.

Those considering orthodontic treatment because of protruding teeth, crooked teeth, malocclusion, or a skeletal Class III jaw relationship have probably already gathered a great deal of information through online searches. Even so, comparing the different types of appliances in person and listening to a detailed explanation can be very helpful when making your decision.

During a consultation, you can compare various appliances, including Clarity, Clippy-C, and Invisalign, and receive a detailed explanation of their advantages and disadvantages. We encourage you to contact us by phone or visit us for a consultation without hesitation.

Yonsei Garden Dental Clinic is conveniently located near Samseong Station, Hakyeoul Station, Daechi Station, and Hanti Station, making it very easy to visit from Samseong-dong, Daechi-dong, and Gaepo-dong.

The building next to BMW at the intersection by Woosung Apartments in Daechi-dong

(Opposite Starbucks/Samsung Store)

Daechi-dong orthodontic dental clinic, Yonsei Garden Dental Clinic,

offers convenient and free parking.

Consultations and inquiries: 02-501-2879