Have you ever wondered how much a dental appointment costs in Japan? Is it really expensive? Does the Japanese health insurance cover dental treatments? In this article, we will talk about the costs of a dentist in Japan.
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Is it true that Japanese people don’t like dentists?
You have probably heard widespread reports that Japanese people do not have good oral health and do not usually use braces to correct their teeth due to the high cost of dentists in Japan.
This is somewhat of a misconception, as there is a saying that there are more dental offices than convenience stores in Japan. Of course, this is not true, but yes, there are many dentists in Japan, some of them affordable.
There are also situations in Japanese culture that end up aggravating the oral health of Japanese people, such as the lack of fluoride in the water and toothpaste. In any case, dentists in Japan are not like people say.
In fact, most countries, especially in Europe, do not care as much about oral health and appearance as Brazilians do. This is much more related to a cultural view than the price and cost of treatment.
Many Japanese people have a heavy routine in factories, and due to lack of time, they end up neglecting their oral health. This also happens in Brazil, where most people go many years without a simple cleaning.
Are dentists in Japan really expensive?
Another misconception is that Japanese health insurance does not cover dentists and dental treatment. This is a lie; the shakai hoken usually covers 70% of dental expenses depending on age and treatment.
Most Japanese dentists accept health insurance, few do not. Health insurance does not cover orthodontics, that is, braces and teeth correction, in addition to other things involving aesthetics like whitening.
In fact, many countries do not cover anything for dental treatments. This makes dentists in Japan much cheaper than in various first-world countries.
Tooth extraction, cleaning, root canal, and filling in Japan are cheaper than in Brazil. I am not to blame if there are foreigners who do not pay the shakai hoken and then say that dentists in Japan are expensive.
How do dentists work in Japan?
Unlike Brazil, Japan uses a point system to generate the total cost of treatment. Anything involved, tools, materials, labor, and actions taken generate a point that is converted into costs.
The first consultation at the dentist can cost between 2300 to 5000 yen. With health insurance, the consultation can cost less than 1000 yen. Even if nothing is done, Japanese people charge even for a recommendation. When visiting the dentist, you almost always pay a consultation fee regardless of the treatment.
Besides the mentioned braces and whitening, health insurance does not cover things like fillings and ceramic and gold crowns. Insurance covers plastic dentures, but not other types of material.
The cost of treatment also depends on the stage and symptom of the problem. As mentioned before, Japanese people charge for everything involved in the treatment process, so the sooner you seek a dentist, the less money you will spend.
Teeth cleaning in Japan may or may not be covered by Shakai Hoken. This will depend on whether you are doing the cleaning to eliminate problems or to avoid them. Insurance does not cover anything involving aesthetics.
How to consult with a dentist in Japan?
Some dentists and hospitals in Japan accept walk-in appointments. Still, we highly recommend that you schedule an appointment with the dentist in advance, either online or in person.
There are Brazilian dentists or those who speak Portuguese. They usually cost more, but it might be more advantageous to look for these places, especially if you are not fluent in Japanese.
When visiting the dentist, you should present your Health Card at the reception and fill out the medical interview form. After the examination, make the payment to receive your receipt, prescription, and certificate.
Keep in mind that besides aesthetic treatments, health insurance may very rarely not cover certain types of materials and tools used in dental treatment.
Research the price list of various dental offices in Japan to know where you want to have your treatment. Make sure that the place accepts shakai hoken and see if the prices are or are not with the 70% discount.
How much does a dentist cost in Japan?
Prices can vary greatly, so the amounts mentioned below are just estimates from some places. Regardless of whether or not you use health insurance, you can spend around:
- 0 to 1,500 yen for technical recommendations for toothpaste and toothbrushes;
- 1,500 to 2,500 yen for resin filling;
- 1,500 to 60,000 yen for inlays and fillings;
- 3,000 to 150,000 yen for crowns or false teeth;
- 5,000 to 900,000 yen for extractions, implants, bridges, and dentures;
Below are some treatments covered by shakai hoken already with discounts:
- 700 to 2,000 yen – Dentist consultation fee;
- 3,000 yen – Dental examination with a subjective symptom;
- 1,500 to 3,000 yen – Treatment for a deteriorated tooth (beginning);
- 2,000 to 10,000 yen – Treatment for a deteriorated tooth;
- 7,000 to 20,000 yen – Treatment of a severe cavity;
- 1,500 to 3,000 yen – Tooth extraction (straight eruption);
- 2,500 to 4,000 yen – Tooth extraction (slightly impacted):
- 3,000 yen – Basic treatment for gum disease;
Below we have another general price table for dental treatments with and without shakai hoken:
| Dental Treatment | Price with discount | Price without discount |
| initial gum inspection | 600 to 3,000 | 2,000 to 20,000 |
| scaling (tartar cleaning) | 750 to 900 | 2,500 to 8,000 |
| root planing per tooth | 180 to 220 | 600 to 5,000 |
| periodontal surgical treatment | 3,000 to 5,000 | 10,000 to 150,000 |
| periodontal regeneration therapy | No discount | 30,000 to 150,000 |
| plastic denture | 10,000 to 20,000 | 20,000 to 60,000 |
| gold or alloy denture | No discount | 150,000 to 600,000 |
| transplant | 7,000 to 10,000 | 20,000 to 50,000 |
| DIY home whitening 12 teeth | No discount | 20,000 to 50,000 |
| in-clinic whitening per tooth | No discount | 2,000 to 10,000 |
| hypersensitivity | 150 | 1,000 to 2,000 |
| treatment for bruxism | 5,000… | 50,000 to 1,000,000 |
| temporomandibular treatment | 8,000 to 80,000 | 50,000 to 5,000,000 |
| implant | No discount | 150,000 to 500,000 |
| partial prosthesis | 5,000 to 13,000 | 150,000 to 500,000 |
| bridge | 20,000 to 40,000 | 150,000 to 900,000 |
| crown | 3,000 to 5,000 | 20,000 to 150,000 |
How much does orthodontic treatment cost in Japan?
The main reason there are so many Japanese people with crooked teeth is the high cost of orthodontic treatment in Japan. Usually, the treatment is charged in full instead of monthly payments as it happens in Brazil.
An orthodontic treatment or braces in Japan can easily reach 500,000 yen (20,000 reais) and still have a consultation fee of at least 1,500 yen per month. Not to mention other additional expenses.
In some clinics, they charge only for the complete treatment. Even if there is a need for the use of other equipment and materials, the amount does not change from what is defined in the treatment.
If you want to use braces in Japan, be prepared to spend up to 1,000,000 yen or more. While in Brazil we spend around 5,000 reais on a complete orthodontic treatment, in Japan it can exceed 30,000 reais.
Although it seems unrealistic, we must take into account that the Japanese salary is 7 times higher. Before jumping to conclusions, you might want to consult some dentists in Japan and clarify your doubts regarding orthodontic treatments.
Dental vocabulary and treatments in Japanese
To conclude the article, let’s leave a list of words related to dentists and teeth. If you go to the dentist, take this list with you! Thank you and see you next time!
- 歯 (ha) – Tooth
- 前歯 (maeba) – Front tooth
- 奥歯 (okuba) – Back tooth
- 親知らず (oyashirazu) – Wisdom tooth
- 歯ブラシ (haburashi) – Toothbrush
- うがい (ugai) – Gargle
- 虫歯 (mushiba) – Cavity
- 歯ぐき (haguki) – Gum
- 歯根炎 (shikon’en) – Root inflammation / Gingivitis
- 歯石 (shiseki) – Tartar
- ホワイトニング (howaitoningu) – Teeth whitening
- ブリーチ (buriichi) – Bleaching (or bridge, depending on usage)
- 歯の詰め物 (hano tsumebutsu) – Dental filling
- 詰め物 (tsumemono) – Restoration / filling (common abbreviated form)
- 歯の根管治療 (hano konkanchiryou) – Root canal treatment (complete)
- 根管治療 (konkan chiryō) – Root canal treatment (abbreviated)
- 抜歯 (basshi) – Tooth extraction
- 歯を抜く (hawo nuku) – Pull out the tooth
- 加工歯 (kakōshi) – Artificial tooth / bridge
- ブリッジ (burijji) – Dental bridge (form in katakana used in Western contexts)
- 矯正 (kyōsei) – Orthodontics
- インプラント (inpuranto) – Dental implant
- 定期検診 (teiki kenshin) – Regular dental check-up
- 初診 (shoshin) – First consultation
- 予約 (yoyaku) – Appointment / scheduling
- 診察 (shinsatsu) – Medical consultation
- レントゲン (rentogen) – X-ray
- 歯科 (shika) – Dentistry
- 歯医者 (haisha) – Dentist
- 自由診療 (jiyū shinryō) – Private treatment / out of insurance
- 保険適用 (hoken tekiyō) – Covered by insurance
- 歯科治療予算 (shikachiryōyosan) – Budget for dental treatment
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