Does Japanese Health Insurance Cover Dental Services

If you're planning to move to Japan or are already living there, you might be wondering if Japanese health insurance covers dental services. In Japan, public health insurance plans typically cover some dental services, but the extent of coverage varies depending on the type of plan you have.

Most Japanese health insurance plans, including the standard national health insurance, cover basic dental services such as fillings, extractions, and root canals. However, more complex procedures like crowns, bridges, and orthodontic work may not be fully covered.

For example, the standard national health insurance covers 50% of the cost of dental services, while the more comprehensive employee health insurance plans may cover up to 80%.

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Dental treatments in Japan are covered by National Health Insurance if they're for curing symptoms, not cosmetic purposes. This means treatments for decayed teeth and gum diseases are covered, but not for aesthetic reasons.

You can expect to pay around 3000 yen for a dental examination with a subjective symptom, and between 1500 to 3000 yen for a minor tooth decay treatment. Treatment costs increase depending on the severity of the symptom, with more complex cases costing up to 20,000 yen.

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Here's a breakdown of some common dental treatments and their approximate costs:

The national average monthly dental cost per person has seen a slight downward trend from 2015 to 2018.

Hokkaido has the highest dental cost per person, with a cost that's 40% greater than Mie, the prefecture with the lowest cost.

The top three prefectures with the highest dental costs are all located in the northern bureaus.

Interestingly, the bottom three prefectures with the lowest dental costs are from the same local welfare bureau, Tokaihokurkku-Kinki.

Here's a breakdown of the top three and bottom three prefectures with the highest and lowest dental costs, respectively:

Japan's health insurance system has its own rules when it comes to dental care.

Most dental treatments are covered by insurance if they're aimed at curing symptoms, such as decayed teeth and gum diseases.

Treatments for cosmetic purposes, like fixing crooked teeth, are not covered.

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A dental examination with a subjective symptom costs around 3000 yen.

Treatment for a decayed tooth with minor symptoms can cost between 1500 to 3000 yen.

If you have a decayed tooth with a moderate symptom, the treatment can cost between 2000 to 10,000 yen.

For a heavily decayed tooth, the treatment can cost between 7,000 to 20,000 yen, plus consultation fees on every visit.

Wisdom tooth extraction, depending on the complexity, can cost between 1500 to 4000 yen.

Basic treatment for gum diseases can cost from 3000 yen, depending on the number of visits required.

Teeth cleaning is covered by insurance if you already have symptoms of bad tooth or gum disease.

However, if you get teeth cleaning simply to prevent dental disease, it's not covered by insurance.

Here's a breakdown of some common dental treatments and their costs:

Japan's health insurance covers dental treatments for medical purposes, but not for cosmetic reasons. You can expect to pay out-of-pocket for treatments like whitening, veneers, or other aesthetic procedures.

Dental examinations with symptoms, like decayed teeth or gum diseases, are covered by insurance. The cost of a dental examination with a subjective symptom is around 3000 yen.

Treatments for decayed teeth can range from 1500 to 3000 yen for minor symptoms, to 2000 to 10000 yen for moderate symptoms, and up to 7000 to 20000 yen for heavy symptoms, plus consultation fees.

Wisdom tooth extraction costs vary depending on the complexity of the procedure, ranging from 1500 to 3000 yen for erupting straight teeth, to 2500 to 4000 yen for mildly impacted teeth.

If you're planning to visit a dentist in Japan, be sure to bring your health insurance card with you. You may also want to have some extra cash on hand for things like X-rays, which can cost around 5000 yen.

The most common types of fillings in Japan are amalgam, composite, and ceramic. Amalgam and composite fillings are covered by insurance, while ceramic fillings are not.

Here's a breakdown of the costs for different types of fillings:

Japan's health insurance covers a wide range of treatments, including dental care for medical purposes.

Dental treatments for decayed teeth and gum diseases are covered, with costs ranging from 3000yen for a dental examination with a subjective symptom to 20000yen for a treatment for a heavily decayed tooth.

However, treatments for cosmetic purposes, such as teeth whitening, are excluded from insurance coverage.

Here's a breakdown of the costs for some common dental treatments covered by insurance:

It's worth noting that if you visit a doctor for a check-up with no symptoms or pain, or if your condition is considered non-essential, insurance typically won't cover those costs.

Dental treatments in Japan are covered by health insurance, but only for necessary treatments to cure symptoms.

You'll need to visit a dentist and fill out a medical questionnaire before your check-up, which may include an X-ray, even for a routine check-up.

Dental procedures often require multiple visits, and you can speed up the process by clearly stating that you'd like to complete the treatment as quickly as possible.

Here are some examples of dental treatments covered by health insurance in Japan:

Keep in mind that treatments for cosmetic purposes, such as ceramic fillings, are not covered by health insurance.

Teeth cleaning coverage can be a bit confusing, but it's essential to understand what's covered and what's not. In Japan, health insurance typically covers treatments deemed necessary for health issues, such as symptoms, pain, injuries, and regular dental care.

If you already have symptoms of bad tooth or gum disease, check-up and teeth cleaning can be covered by insurance. However, if it's simply to prevent dental disease, no insurance will apply. Most adults have minor dental trouble such as tartar build around teeth or deep periodontal pockets.

Most dental clinics offer dental cleaning and polishing after treatment of these minor dental troubles. It's worth noting that if you visit a doctor for a check-up with no symptoms or pain, insurance typically won't cover those costs.

Visiting a dentist in Japan is a bit different from what you might be used to. Before your visit, it's essential to call ahead or book online, and bring your health insurance card with you.

You'll need to fill out a medical questionnaire upon arrival, and for your first visit, the dentist will likely take an X-ray, even for a routine check-up. It's a good idea to have at least ¥5,000 on hand for this.

Dental procedures in Japan often require multiple visits, even for something as simple as a cavity. You can speed things up by clearly stating that you'd like to complete the treatment as quickly as possible.

The most common types of fillings in Japan are:

Your visit will typically end with a teeth cleaning.

Dental treatments for cosmetic purposes are excluded from insurance coverage, so if you're getting dental work just for aesthetic reasons, you'll need to pay out-of-pocket.

Treatments for self-inflicted injuries or injuries caused by voluntary actions, such as fights or drunkenness, are also not covered by health insurance.

You'll need to pay for normal childbirth, or delivery, as it's not covered by Japanese health insurance.

Cosmetic surgeries, orthodontics (braces), and special cavity fillings are not covered by health insurance, so be prepared to pay for these treatments yourself.

Some treatments, like teeth whitening, are not covered, and neither are hospital meals and special hospitalization arrangements.

Infertility treatments, vaccinations (unless for specific diseases like flu), and abortion are also not covered by Japanese health insurance.

Here's a summary of some common treatments not covered by health insurance:

Keep in mind that insurance coverage may vary depending on the circumstances, so it's always best to check with your provider.