Our general operation is closed from May 2nd to May 8th 2025. We will reopen from May 9th.
We can ship a home testing kit during the holidays.
Happy Golden Week Holidays!
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Dental services are covered by Japanese insurance? Ask an Expert!
Dental insurance coverage is one of the frequent questions that our clinets ask us. We asked this question to Japan Dental Navi, the international dental assistance company in Tokyo. You can read all about that in this article.
Dental Insurance Coverage in Japan
Dental treatments in Japan are known for their broad coverage under the national health insurance system, even when compared to other countries. In many countries, dental treatments are often considered private services and are not covered by public health insurance. However, in Japan, many essential dental treatments are covered, reducing the financial burden on patients. This article explains the scope of dental insurance coverage in Japan and the treatments that are excluded from coverage.
Dental Treatments Covered by Insurance
In Japan, treatments that are considered medically necessary for disease or injury are generally covered by public health insurance. The following dental treatments are typically covered:
- Cavity Treatment
Cavity treatments, including fillings (inlays) and crowns, are covered under insurance depending on the severity of the cavity. However, the materials that can be used are limited (details below). - Periodontal Disease Treatment
Treatments for gum disease, such as tartar removal, inflammation control, and teeth cleaning, are covered by insurance. - Wisdom Tooth Extraction
Extraction of wisdom teeth is covered if the tooth is causing pain or affecting the alignment of other teeth. - Dentures and Adjustments
The creation and adjustment of partial and full dentures are covered by insurance. However, certain materials and designs may not be covered and could require out-of-pocket payment. - Mouthguards for Teeth Grinding and TMJ Disorder
Mouthguards for teeth grinding (bruxism) and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder are covered by insurance. However, mouthguards for sports or sleep apnea are not covered.
Dental Treatments Not Covered by Insurance
On the other hand, treatments that are considered cosmetic or advanced procedures are not covered by public health insurance. The following treatments typically require full out-of-pocket payment:
- Teeth Whitening
Whitening treatments to improve the color of teeth are considered cosmetic and are not covered by insurance. - Orthodontics
Orthodontic treatments to straighten teeth are generally not covered by insurance unless they are necessary to correct severe misalignment that affects chewing or speaking. - Dental Implants
Implants to replace missing teeth are not covered by insurance and are treated as private procedures.
Limitations on Crown and Filling Materials
There are also restrictions on the materials that can be used for crowns and fillings under public insurance.
- Materials Covered by Insurance:
- Gold-silver-palladium alloy
- Composite resin (plastic-based materials)
- Materials Not Covered by Insurance:
- Ceramic
- Zirconia
If a patient prefers ceramic or zirconia for aesthetic reasons, the treatment will be classified as private and require full payment.
Comparison with Other Countries
In Japan, most essential dental treatments such as cavity treatment, gum disease treatment, and wisdom tooth extraction are covered by insurance. In contrast, in many Western countries like the United States and parts of Europe, dental care is typically not covered under public health insurance. Even basic treatments like cavity fillings or tooth extractions often require private dental insurance or full out-of-pocket payment. Japan’s national health insurance system provides significant financial relief for dental care, making it one of the more accessible systems worldwide.
Conclusion
Japan’s national health insurance system offers extensive coverage for dental treatments, including essential procedures and treatments like root canal therapy (nerve treatment) and oral cancer treatment are also covered by insurance, making Japan’s dental care system highly accessible and affordable.
Even for treatments not covered by insurance, such as cosmetic procedures or implants, the costs in Japan are often significantly lower than those in developed countries while maintaining high standards of quality. Japanese dental care is always ready to support you, ensuring you receive safe and comfortable treatment. We hope you enjoy a pleasant and worry-free life in Japan with the assurance of high-quality dental care.
If you would like more detailed information or need an individual consultation, Japan Dental Navi offers free online consultations.Please feel free to reach out.
Japan Dental Navi
New Year Holidays 2024
Our operation is closed from December 26th to Janauray 6th for Japan Golden Holiday week.
We will follow up email inquiries after the holidays.
Home test orders are accepted and shipped during the holidays.
Happy Holidays!
Xray or MRI? Ask an expert!
We often receive questions as to whether an X-ray or MRI scan should be taken from clients who are in need of orthopedic (bone and muscle) treatments. We asked our consultant doctor, Dr. Nagumo for the answer to this question as below.
Dr. Yoshiaki Nagumo, MD, PhD established NAG Orthopaedic Clinic in 2023 in Shirokane, Tokyo.
Dr. Nagumo originally started his career as a bone and soft tissue tumor specialist. After several years of clinical activity, he moved to the US (The University of Iowa) in 2018 for a few years to research regenerative medicine.
He also played several sports. However, while in the US he suffered from knee injury and therefore keenly appreciated the importance of sports medicine.
After coming back to Japan, he changed his medical specialty to a sports doctor, and treats many athletes based on his own personal experience.
Do we really need an X-ray?
An X-ray is one of the most common examinations in orthopedics. It is useful to see joint alignment and bone deformities. However, especially in big hospitals, a lot of orthopedists take it even when it may be apparently unnecessary (actually, when I visited the sports clinic in the US, an X-ray was applied before even seeing the orthopedist).
An X-ray is a common examination in orthopedic medicine, but its usage is limited to fractures, osteoarthritis and congenital bone deformity. Other symptoms such as neck and back pain/stiffness, joint motion restriction and sprains should be examined first by ultrasound, simply because we can’t see anything relating to soft tissue with an X-ray.
In my clinic, we perform the ultrasound scan first. If further examination is required, we order an MRI to a testing center and you can take it within a few days in general. Through this procedure, our patient can get a clear diagnosis quickly and move on to the appropriate treatment.
Dr. Nagumo’s clinic can offer a wide variety of orthopedic and also primary surgery treatments for children to adults. Japanese Health Insurance is accepted. The clinic is open on Saturdays and evenings (16:00-18:00) on weekdays.
Please contact JHI for appointment arrangements.
Daycare support service feedback
We assisted daycare application for our client, Marc-Antoni and received wonderful feedback!
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Japan Healthcare Info (JHI) is a wonderful service! My family and I recently moved from Canada
and we discovered this service online while Googling away for all the help we could get with
integrating here in Japan. Our son was about 15 months old at the time, and we were exploring
daycare options online when we learnt that JHI could also assist with filing and prepping for his
entry into the Japanese daycare system.
For those of you with families, or little ones on the way, you may have already heard how
notoriously difficult it is to get your child placed into the public daycare system. Indeed, despite
Japan’s low birthrate, Tokyo in particular seems to have babies everywhere! It’s great to see all
the mommies and daddies cycling around with an occupied child-seat at each end of the bicycle
or strapped into a baby carrier. I’m totally impressed by all the parents going about their day
while juggling their little ones. However, all this remarkable baby management is also a
reflection of the fact that there is not enough supply in childcare services to meet the demand.
Apparently, the government is working on it, and many more daycares are on the way, but this
also implies that placement is hard to come by and can be quite expensive. We had our little
one in a private daycare for the first 6 months, and the full-time monthly fee was actually
comparable to our rent! Why many couples we know decide to keep one parent at home to
provide childcare, especially if there is more than one child.
Enter the JHI. We quickly received a response to our request for assistance and have felt
supported ever since! Navigating all the government bureaucracy is certainly a skill. It truly is
another language. My wife is Japanese, and she can speak and read the language quite well in
most cases, but this paperwork is a different beast altogether. Indeed, the number of rejected
applicants is quite indicative of this. It’s not a Japanese language issue, as much as it is a
governmental language issue, and thankfully the JHI has the skill and experience to get you
through it!
I can happily announce that our little one has since been enrolled into the public daycare
system, and I have absolutely no doubt it was thanks to Sara and the JHI. The assistance saved
us considerable stress and the new daycare is saving us a great deal of money. I would very
highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for help in breaking through into the Japanese
public daycare system.
Sincerely,
Marc-Antoni
Meguro-ku, Tokyo
Online Consultation for Oral Contraceptive Pills
We are now working with an obgyn clinic that provides an online consultation in English and prescribes oral contraceptive pills. You do not have to travel to the clinic in person, simply have a consultation online and they will post-mail the pills anywhere in Japan. This will be a very convenient option for people living outside big cities.
Feel free to contact us for arrangement.