ABOUT LUCE

Art & Science,since 2009

For 17 years, LUCE Dental Clinic has paired a skilled hand with digital precision, and our lead dentist designs and makes your veneers himself.

ART & SCIENCE

Where Skilled Hands Meet Dental Science

“Art & Science” is the title of a classic textbook in restorative dentistry. The idea behind it is simple: great dental care needs both a practiced hand (Art) and sound medical technology (Science).

Dr. Lee Sang-young designing a restoration

Art Meets Science

Results depend on the dentist's hands as much as on materials and equipment, so our team rehearses every upcoming case and keeps practicing every day.

We also bring science into every step of care: diagnosis, treatment planning, tooth design and fabrication.

Science at every step

01
Diagnosis
We use panoramic imaging to examine the teeth, their inner structure, roots and fine nerve anatomy. We also talk with you about habits, lifestyle, bite and other factors, because finding the root cause is what keeps a problem from coming back.
02
Treatment planning
X-rays are flat, so we add a 3D intraoral scan for a detailed view of your teeth and mouth. We then compare it with our own records of real before-and-after cases to plan a result that suits your face and smile.
03
Tooth design
Using the 3D image of your teeth, we design your restorations on screen while looking at your face. Because we design in-house instead of sending the work to an outside lab, the design is based on you, not guesswork.
04
Fabrication
Our CEREC CAD/CAM unit mills each restoration from a ceramic block, and it can produce restorations as thin as 0.3 mm. That precision lets us bond veneers with very little tooth reduction.

A long warranty matters less
than a long-lasting restoration

Needing warranty work means something went wrong. It can also mean losing a bit more natural tooth, plus extra time and cost for you.

We do offer an after-care program, but our goal is that you rarely need it. How long a restoration lasts depends on materials, technique and follow-up care, so we treat by a set of rules we call the Long Life Protocol.

The Long Life Protocol

Preserve your natural teeth.
Do root canal treatment only when it's truly needed.
Take the time each procedure needs to get it right.
Use the most translucent materials we can, so the natural tooth can still be checked underneath.
Show you how to care for your teeth at home.
Follow up closely, and remind you about regular checkups.

SMILE DESIGNER

Dr. Lee Sang-young

Founder and lead dentist of LUCE Dental Clinic. Dr. Lee designs and makes his patients' veneers himself.

Education & training

2005 · Graduated, Yonsei University College of Dentistry

2006 · Participated, Implant Program, New York University (NYU)

2007 · Attended, Nobel Biocare World Conference 2007, Las Vegas

2007–⁠2008 · Completed, Prosthodontics Preceptorship, UCLA School of Dentistry

Completed, Advanced Implant Preceptorship, UCLA School of Dentistry

Attended, Endodontic Continuum, UCLA School of Dentistry

2009 · Opened LUCE Dental Clinic in Apgujeong

2010–present · Member, American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD)

2015 · Completed, IV Sedation Training Course, Korean Dental Society of Anesthesiology

Areas of focus

One-day veneers and no-prep veneers under IV sedation
Veneer revision (fractured veneers or unsatisfying designs)
Implants and other treatment under IV sedation
Alveolar bone contouring and gum contouring

“Doctor, are you a designer?”

Years ago, I was designing a veneer on a CEREC computer when a patient's family member, who had been watching closely, walked over and asked, “Are you a designer?”

That night I remembered a goal I'd set in 2007 at UCLA, where Dr. McLaren first introduced me to tooth design. Every face and every smile is different, yet I had been treating everyone by the same textbook standard. Since then I've trained myself to look at teeth as a designer.

Designing teeth around each person takes intense focus. But when patients smile at me after treatment, or stop by just to say thank you, I'm reminded that nothing is more rewarding.

SINCE 2009

Our History

1
2009 ·
LUCE opens in Apgujeong
We opened in Apgujeong, Gangnam, Seoul, offering one-day veneers with CEREC CAD/CAM from the start. Our lead dentist designs and makes the veneers himself in our in-house dental lab.
2
2014 ·
Gangnam medical tourism partner
Designated a medical tourism partner clinic by the Gangnam District Office, laying the groundwork for treating patients from abroad.
3
2015 ·
IV sedation introduced
We began offering IV sedation for patients with dental anxiety, with blood pressure, oxygen saturation and heart rate monitored throughout. Our one-day veneer process was also featured in the press.
4
2016 ·
One-day veneers under IV sedation
We began combining IV sedation with one-day veneers, an approach covered by several media outlets.
5
2017–⁠2024 ·
Sharing clinical know-how
Through press articles, we shared our views on tooth reduction for veneers, minimal-prep and no-prep veneers, and sleep dentistry for anxious patients.
6
2026 ·
Re-registered for international patient care
Re-registered with the Korean government as a medical institution for attracting international patients, and expanded care and support for patients visiting from abroad.

LUCE at a glance

Opened in 2009 in Apgujeong, Gangnam, Seoul
One-day veneers with CEREC since our early years
Veneers made by the lead dentist in our in-house lab
IV sedation since 2015, with more than 1,200 patients treated
IV sedation administered by the lead dentist himself
Medical tourism partner since 2014; re-registered in 2026 as an institution for attracting international patients

Q.Do you treat international patients?

Yes. We were designated a Gangnam medical tourism partner clinic in 2014 and re-registered in 2026 as a medical institution for attracting international patients.

Q.Can I have one-day veneers under IV sedation?

Yes. We've combined IV sedation with one-day veneers since 2016, and our lead dentist administers the IV sedation himself.

SEDATION SAFETY

Your Safety Comes First

IV sedation (conscious sedation, often called sleep dentistry) eases the stress and fear many people feel at the dentist. You keep breathing on your own and can still respond to simple questions, while we watch your heart rate and oxygen levels and adjust the depth of sedation to you.

Vital signs monitored throughout

Sedation should be comfortable, but just as important is being able to check your condition the whole time.

We use a PHILIPS SureSigns VM4 patient monitor, which shows blood pressure (NBP), oxygen saturation (SpO₂), ECG and heart rate on a single screen.

Sedation medications are midazolam, propofol and ketamine, with the type and dose adjusted to each patient.

Before and after sedation

01
Before treatment
Please don't eat for 6 hours beforehand, to lower the risk of aspiration. Let us know about any conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or heart or lung disease, along with any medications and allergies.
02
After treatment
Avoid driving and important commitments for the rest of the day. We recommend coming with a companion who can see you home safely.

IV sedation may be right for you if:

You've put off treatment because of dental fear
Long appointments have been hard for you
You need several treatments done at once
A past dental experience still makes you anxious

Q.How is IV sedation different from general anesthesia?

With IV sedation, you breathe on your own and can still respond to simple questions. General anesthesia suppresses consciousness and sensation completely and requires a breathing tube. Sedation needs no breathing tube and recovery is quicker.

Q.Can I go home right after treatment?

You'll need some time to recover first. Even once you feel fine, the medication can affect memory and judgment for the rest of the day, so we'll see you off only once you're fully awake. Please don't drive that day, and bring a companion if you can.

Q.Can anyone have IV sedation?

We check your health, current medications and planned treatment first, and the dentist decides whether sedation is suitable for you.

HOURS

Clinic Hours

We take the time to talk things through, so you can visit with peace of mind.

Weekdays
Hours
10:00 – 19:00
Saturday
Hours
10:00 – 16:00
Lunch break
Hours
13:00 – 14:00
Sundays & public holidays
Hours
Closed

Day	Hours
Weekdays	10:00 – 19:00
Saturday	10:00 – 16:00
Lunch break	13:00 – 14:00
Sundays & public holidays	Closed

3F–4F, Dunam Building, 10 Dosan-daero 49-gil (652 Sinsa-dong), Gangnam-gu, Seoul · Tel. +82-2-549-2500

Our clinic

01
Treatment room
Where your treatment takes place.
02
Waiting area
Where you wait before your appointment.
03
VIP room
Our VIP treatment room.

Getting Here

From Apgujeong Rodeo Station (Suin-Bundang Line), Exit 5, it's about a 10-minute walk. By bus from Sinsa Station, Exit 1, take bus 145, 440 or 4212 and get off at Ilji Art Hall.