Method
Where the numbers come from, and how they are scored
Every figure on TODAY DENTAL comes from public records. We do not visit clinics to assess them, and we do not accept material from them. 41 areas are covered so far, collected between 2026-08-17 and 2026-08-20.
Sources
What each source provides
Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA)
What we take — Specialist counts by field, registered cone-beam CT units, opening date, facility category
We query Korea's public data portal by institution identifier (ykiho) for each clinic's basic record, specialists by field, and registered equipment. These are values the clinic filed, so they can differ from who is on duty or which machines are actually in use.
Naver Place
What we take — Visitor review count, blog and cafe post count
Visitor reviews and blog posts are different things and we never merge them. A visitor review is written by someone whose visit was recorded; blog posts can be promotional. Only visitor reviews feed the score.
Google Maps
What we take — Star rating and rating count, shown where verified
A star rating swings wildly on a handful of ratings, so we always print the rating count next to it. Google ratings are shown for reference only and never enter the score — that way the ranking will not shift when more ratings are collected later.
Formula
The scoring method in full
Implants (out of 20)
- Specialist count — 1 point per registered specialist across fields, up to 8
- Relevant fields — +2 for a registered oral and maxillofacial surgeon, +2 for a registered prosthodontist
- Cone-beam CT — +2 for one unit, +4 for two or more
- Review sample — 1 point at 100+ Naver visitor reviews, 2 at 500, 3 at 1,000, 4 at 3,000
Orthodontics (out of 20)
- Registered orthodontists — 2 points each, up to 8
- Specialist count — 1 point per registered specialist across fields, up to 4
- Cone-beam CT and review sample — same bands as implants
Crowns & prosthodontics (out of 20)
- Registered prosthodontists — 2 points each, up to 8
- Specialist count — 1 point per registered specialist across fields, up to 4
- Cone-beam CT and review sample — same bands as implants
Ties break on visitor review count, then total specialists, then the earlier opening date. Specialist points are capped so that a large hospital with dozens of specialists cannot take first place regardless of everything else. Every sub-score is printed in the comparison table on each area page, so anyone can recalculate it — and a pre-publication check blocks release if the printed score and a fresh recalculation disagree.
Limits
What this data cannot tell you
Implant brands, the extra cost of a bone graft, which dentist performs your surgery, warranty length and aftercare terms appear in no public record. Those belong in a consultation, in writing. A registered specialist means that specialist is affiliated with the clinic — not that they will be the one treating you.
Figures are as of the collection date. A clinic that changes its filing will differ from what is shown here, so call before you visit. If you find something that does not match, we will re-check the original source and update.
Can a clinic pay to move up?
No. The order follows the scoring method above and nothing else. No clinic is moved up or down by hand, and we have no partnership with any clinic.