Dental Care in Japan

Posted on 03/18/2022 Last updated on 05/02/2022

And now, thoughts on the dentists and dental care system of Japan… from a licensed dentist!

Wait, it costs how much?

Japan introduced a universal health insurance system for the entire population in 1961. People are able to receive treatment at a relatively low cost. This National Health Insurance covers a wide range of medical treatments, and patients bear only 30% of their medical costs.

The brightest side of this system is that general dental treatments are also covered. Looking to get your teeth cleaned? Covered! Need a filling? Covered! How about a crown? Well, mostly covered!

Mostly?

There are some dental treatments that are 70% covered by Japan’s National Health Insurance, but with some conditions. A crown for your front teeth is possible, but only using plastic & fused metal. Crowns for molar teeth on the other hand use silver metal crowns only. Root Canal Treatment is possible, but it will require at least four visits or more.

In layman’s terms, you can get good dental treatment on National Health Insurance, but not the best. Your crowns won’t be the most natural-looking and you may need to get them replaced in a few decades. But in general the quality is quite good.

Why does Japan have so many dentists?

My first 6 months staying in Japan, I noticed there seem to be more dental clinics than convenience stores in Japan. Dentistry has a reputation as being a profitable and easy-to-maintain business. Demand for good dental hygiene has been growing in Japan, so more students are drawn to the profession to help people keep their pearly whites.

I have great admiration and respect for English-speaking dentists. More and more, foreign patients who can’t speak Japanese need help. Perhaps I should say they can’t speak Dental Japanese: the terms and phrases associated with dental hygiene and care. It’s frustrating when we can’t understand what the dentist is saying.

So it’s helpful to have more and more bilingual dentists (or at least, dentists that give it their best shot). Even if your local dentist has limited English though, fret not. Stick to the appointment, show up on time, and let them do their job. I’ll go over some basic terms in a moment, but it’s really not that difficult. Don’t be afraid of visiting the dentist in Japan if you haven’t before!

Useful dentistry-related Japanese words

Shikaiin ( ⻭科医院 ) Dental Clinic

Shikaeiseishi ( ⻭科衛⽣⼠) Dental Hygienist

Haisha ( ⻭医者 ) Dentist

Shikajoshu ( ⻭科助⼿) Dental Assistant

Ha ( ⻭ ) Tooth

Nyushi ( 乳⻭) Baby Teeth

Eikyushi (永久⻭ ) Permanent Teeth

Haguki ( ⻭茎) Gums

Maeba ( 前⻭ ) Front tooth

Okuba ( 奥⻭) Back Tooth

Ueno ha ( 上の⻭ ) Upper Tooth

Shita no ha ( 下の⻭) Lower Tooth

Oyashirazu ( 親知らず ) Wisdom Tooth

Shinkei (神経) Dental Nerve

Shinsatsu ( 診察 ) Have a Check-Up

Ha no itami ( ⻭の痛み) Toothache

Chikakukabin ( 知覚過敏 ) Sensitive Tooth

Shiko ( ⻭垢) Plaque

Hanokibami ( ⻭の⻩ばみ ) Stain

Mushiba ( ⾍⻭) Cavity

Ginba ( 銀⻭ ) Silver-crowed Tooth

Tsumemono ( 詰め物) Filling

Ireba (⼊れ⻭）Denture

Rentogen ( レントゲン) X-ray

Basshi ( 抜⻭ ) Tooth Extraction

Chiryo ( 治療 ) Treatment

Lastly, some tips for home dental care

Here’s some advice you’ll get at any dentist in Japan (or otherwise!)

1. Take your soft bristle toothbrush, hold it at a 45 degree angle to your teeth, whether it’s the front teeth or back teeth.

2. Brush gently up and down. Do not scrub roughly, as this causes the thin gum tissue to wear down.

3. Don’t be quick when you brush your teeth. Take at least 2 minutes. Look in the mirror and make sure you cover every area.

4. You may not realize this, but brushing your tongue is good as well! As many germs and bacteria can collect there, it’s always good to give it a light scrub. Especially before bed time.

5. Gently floss between your teeth using a back-and-forth motion. Use your index fingers to direct the floss between the teeth.

6. Lastly, don’t forget to occasionally refresh your best weapons to prevent cavities: plaque-fighting toothpaste, a soft bristle toothbrush, and floss. Especially the toothbrush; you should swap it out regularly.

As George Taylor said, “poor oral health care can result in poor overall health.” Make sure to visit your dentist every two-three months for regular cleaning and check-ups. And don’t forget to brush!

Photo Credits:

Top Image: Atikah Akhtar on Unsplash

Additional photos provided by Jhoanna Fukuya

PEOPLE

Jhoanna Fukuya

Registered Licensed Dental Assistant in Saipan American Dental Clinic
From Saipan but born and raised in the Philippines
Has experienced Japan for 5 years