Value Village ／ Health
This answer is a draft. It stays unpublished until legal review and source verification are complete.
Many people in Japan still see the dentist as "somewhere you go when it hurts", and only about half of adults have regular dental check-ups. Meanwhile, in countries where check-ups are established, such as Sweden, people are known to keep more teeth at 80 than in Japan. Here is what a check-up involves, how often to go and what it costs.
| Item | Details | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Check for decay | Visual inspection; X-rays if needed (early decay and decay between the teeth cannot be seen) | Every check-up. X-rays about once every 1–2 years |
| Check for gum disease | Measuring the depth of the gum pockets (3 mm or less is healthy, 4 mm or more is gum disease), bleeding, loose teeth | Every check-up |
| Tartar removal (scaling) | Removes with instruments the tartar (calcified plaque) that a toothbrush cannot. Tartar starts to form in about 2 weeks | Every 3–6 months |
| Cleaning (PMTC) | Professional mechanical cleaning, stain removal | As above |
| Brushing advice | Dye to show missed spots; tools that suit you (interdental brush size, floss) | Every check-up |
| Fluoride application | High-concentration fluoride strengthens the teeth. Children every 3–6 months; adults too if at high risk of decay | Mainly children |
| Oral cancer check | Visual inspection of the lining of the mouth | Every check-up (a benefit few people notice) |
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| People with 20 or more teeth at 80 ("8020" achievers) | 51.6% (2022 Survey of Dental Diseases). About 7% when the campaign began in 1989 |
| Check-up rate | About 58% of adults had a dental check-up in the past year (2022). Wide differences by age and region |
| Why teeth are lost | Gum disease about 37%, decay about 29%, fracture about 18% (8020 Promotion Foundation survey) |
| Prevalence of gum disease | About half of adults have gum pockets of 4 mm or more; a majority of those aged 45 and over |
| Cost | A check-up (basic periodontal examination + scaling): about ¥3,000–4,000 per visit at the 30% co-payment. Filling one decayed tooth: ¥3,000–10,000; an implant after extraction: ¥300,000–500,000, not covered by insurance |
| National policy | In 2022 the government announced that it would consider "universal dental check-ups"; in fiscal 2025 the age range for gum-disease check-ups was widened in some areas (ages 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70) |
[Verify] Check the 8020 achievement rate, the check-up rate and the shares for reasons for tooth loss against the MHLW "Survey of Dental Diseases (2022)" and the latest 8020 Promotion Foundation survey. Update the status of universal dental check-ups to the latest information.
Both decay and gum disease are symptom-free early on; by the time it hurts, it is well advanced. A check-up every 3–6 months ends up the cheapest option.
Tartar is missed plaque that has calcified over about 2 weeks, and a toothbrush cannot remove it. Everyone gets it, so regular removal is needed.
About half of people in their 30s have gum pockets, and it advances quietly. Check-ups from a young age make the difference.
The biggest cause is gum disease (about 37%). It advances without pain, so early detection at check-ups is the key.
¥3,000–4,000 per visit at the 30% co-payment; under ¥10,000 a year even at twice a year. Compared with filling one tooth, or an implant after losing one (¥300,000–500,000, not covered by insurance), it is clearly the cheaper investment.
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https://www.mhlw.go.jp/toukei/list/62-17.html
https://www.8020zaidan.or.jp/
https://www.jda.or.jp/park/
⚠️ Editorial note: the source URLs above were identified by search. Our working environment cannot reach go.jp domains, so the contents have not been checked against the text. Verify every source before publication and record who checked it and when.
What we share here are ideas and everyday practices passed down among people living in Japan, together with general information drawn from public sources. They are not official recommendations, and they are not professional instruction. Practices vary between households and regions.
This is general information. Results vary from person to person and depend on your own conditions and surroundings.
Please decide for yourself, using your own judgement, whether any of this suits your situation. We cannot accept responsibility for any damage, loss or injury arising from following this article.
This article is not meant to diagnose or manage any specific medical condition. If you are worried about your health, see a doctor rather than relying on your own judgement.
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