Executive Summary
Established Expertise
Gangnam Leon Dental Clinic has operated for over 20 years in the heart of Gangnam Station, Seoul, since its opening in 2001.
Unique Leadership
Representative Director Park Young-min, a rare graduate of the University of Pisa Dental School, Italy, integrates European aesthetic philosophy.
Innovative Aesthetics
He launched 'Newtis', his own brand, establishing a unique position in non-prep and minimal-prep laminates.
Comprehensive System
The clinic operates with a university hospital-style cooperative system, offering comprehensive dental solutions.
Representative Director Park Young-min: Background and Expertise
Unique Academic Background
Dr. Park Young-min holds a very rare background in the Korean dental field. He left for Italy to study during middle school, went through a local art high school majoring in architecture, and subsequently graduated from the University of Pisa Dental School in Italy.
- Degrees: Bachelor of Dentistry from the University of Pisa and completion of a Master's in Aesthetic Dentistry at the same university.
- Domestic Qualifications: Acquired a Korean dentist license after returning home and obtained the qualification of Specialist in Integrated Dentistry certified by the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
- Additional Education: Completed the Ph.D. course in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Seoul National University School of Dentistry, and the Advanced Implant Course at the State University of New York (SUNY).
This background served as a foundation for him to approach dentistry not merely from a 'treatment' perspective but from the perspectives of 'art' and 'architecture'. His most significant characteristic is a treatment style that fuses Italian aesthetic sense with Korean precision technology.
Major Career and Academic Activities
- Academic Translation: Co-translated and published a book on 'Adhesive Dentistry'.
- International Activities: General Affairs Director of the International Association of Korean Dentists, an adjunct professor at Saint Camillus International University of Health Sciences in Italy, and a Research Fellow at the Dental Research Institute of the University of Pisa.
- Seminar Speaker: Regularly holds seminars on 'Minimally Invasive Anterior Teeth Treatment' and 'Newtis Solution' for dentists in Korea and abroad.
Treatment Philosophy: Minimal Invasion and Natural Beauty
Director Park Young-min's treatment philosophy is summarized as "Preserving the natural beauty of teeth." He avoids indiscriminate tooth reduction and aims for 'minimal prep' or 'no-prep' laminates that achieve aesthetic improvement while preserving natural teeth as much as possible. This reflects the influence of the 'Oral Design Smile Design Course' he completed in Switzerland and the flow of Italian aesthetic dentistry.
Gangnam Leon Dental Clinic: Status and History
Background, History & Location
Gangnam Leon Dental Clinic was opened on November 19, 2001, by Director Kim Young-sam near its current location at Gangnam Station, Seoul. It initially started under the name 'Saram Sarang Dental Clinic' but later changed its name. It has maintained its position for 24 years, continuously expanding amidst fierce dental competition.
The hospital is located on the 4th floor of the Daedong Building, 415 Gangnam-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul, and secures excellent accessibility being a 1-minute walk from Exit 10 of Gangnam Station on Seoul Subway Line 2 and the Shinbundang Line.
Treatment Philosophy and Operating System
Gangnam Leon Dental Clinic advocates a "University Hospital-style Professional Cooperative System." This structure means that specialists in various fields reside and collaborate according to the patient's case:
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery: Wisdom tooth extraction and implant surgery.
- Aesthetic Prosthodontics: Laminates and aesthetic treatment.
- Periodontics: Gum treatment and surgery.
- Orthodontics: Teeth straightening and Invisalign.
This system enables comprehensive oral health management and shows high efficiency, especially in high-difficulty wisdom tooth extractions or complex aesthetic treatments.
Key Clinical Areas & Technical Characteristics
Newtis: Integrated Anterior Tooth Solution
'Newtis', the aesthetic treatment brand of Gangnam Leon Dental Clinic, is a core clinical program led by Director Park Young-min. It signifies an integrated aesthetic solution beyond simple laminate procedures.
Technical Differentiation (No-prep/Minimal prep)
- Concept: Involves almost no shaving of the tooth surface (No-prep) or microscopic reduction (0.1~0.3mm) (Minimal prep), preserving natural teeth.
- Indications: Applied to microdontia, spaces between teeth (Diastema), minor tooth fractures, discolored teeth, etc.
- Bonding Technology: Based on the theoretical background of 'Adhesive Dentistry', high-difficulty bonding protocols attach thin ceramic veneers strongly and durably.
Newtis In-house Atelier & Digital Facial Analysis
- In-house Atelier: Operates its own dental laboratory 'Newtis In-house Atelier' within the clinic for real-time communication and precise fabrication.
- Handwork: Specialized technicians use precise handwork (Build-up) to reproduce the transparency of tooth tips and natural surface texture.
- Digital Facial Analysis: Uses 3D facial scanners and Face Scan technology to analyze patient's smile and lip movements, pursuing 'Facial Harmony Design'.
Wisdom Tooth Extraction (Hospital Foundation)
Another core pillar is wisdom tooth extraction. Representative Director Kim Young-sam is known as the 'Master of Wisdom Tooth Extraction', recognized for worldwide authority.
- Scale: Performs over 30,000 wisdom tooth extractions annually, with up to 60+ extractions per day.
- Difficulty: Equipped with a system capable of same-day extraction for high-difficulty cases, such as fully impacted or nerve-proximate wisdom teeth.
Implants and Other Treatments
- Implants: Proceed as a one-stop process from surgery to final prosthetics through collaboration between specialists. Precision placement using digital guides is the principle.
- White Spot Treatment: Conservative treatment that treats white spots on the tooth surface without drilling, using resin infiltration methods (Icon), a main clinical area for Director Park.
Reputation Analysis & Patient Reviews
Positive Evaluations
A comprehensive analysis of various medical review platforms and communities reveals the following:
- Aesthetic Satisfaction: Reviews for Director Park Young-min's laminate (Newtis) procedures highlight them as "not artificial and natural" and express relief due to "almost no tooth reduction."
- Expertise: In wisdom tooth procedures, praise for technical proficiency is overwhelming, with comments like "pulled in an instant" and "came because university hospital reservations were backed up, but solved it on the same day."
- Kindness and System: Despite being a large hospital, many evaluations commend the staff and medical team for their kindness and the well-established systematic division of labor.
Considerations
Potential areas for improvement or common considerations include:
- Wait Times: As it is a popular hospital with many patients, wait times may occur even after visiting with a reservation.
- Difficulty in Booking: Reservations for specific directors (such as Director Kim Young-sam), night clinics, and weekend clinics tend to close quickly.
- Cost: Since it aims for premium treatment and university hospital-level systems, the cost may feel somewhat high compared to low-cost event dental clinics, but trust as a 'conscientious dental clinic' with no overtreatment is high.
Comprehensive Analysis & Summary of Features
"Gangnam Leon Dental Clinic and Representative Director Park Young-min can be defined as a high-end dental clinic pursuing aesthetic perfection while sticking to basics."
Based on overwhelming skills in basic surgical treatments like wisdom tooth extraction, the laminate/prosthetic treatments combined with Director Park's European aesthetic eye possess top-tier competitiveness in Korea. From a patient's perspective, it is a medical institution where one can expect both the expertise of a university hospital and the meticulous aesthetic treatment of a private clinic simultaneously.
Key Differentiators (USP)
Global Standard & Heritage
Over 20 years of history combined with medical staff who have studied advanced dentistry abroad in Italy, the US, etc.
Specialization & Collaboration
Possesses two clear killer contents: Wisdom tooth extraction (Surgery) and Aesthetic prosthodontics (Aesthetics), supported by collaboration with Periodontics and Orthodontics.
Education Hub
Holds authority as an educational institution that transfers technology to dentists worldwide, not just a place that sees patients.