Should I see a dentist even without toothache? How often to have a check-up, and what happens
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 It stays unpublished until legal review and source verification are complete.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.
What a check-up involves, and how often
| 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) |
Dental health in numbers
| 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) |
- Why "before it hurts" matters: early decay (enamel only) can sometimes be halted by remineralisation, with no drilling. Gum disease advances with almost no pain, and by the time teeth are loose it is often too late. Links between gum disease and diabetes, cardiovascular disease, aspiration pneumonia and premature birth have also been reported.
- The interval: 3 months (existing gum disease, lots of missed spots, smokers), 6 months (stable), 1 year (the minimum). Your dentist will suggest an interval for you; the rule is to follow it.
- Children: on top of the municipal check-ups at 18 months and 3 years and school dental check-ups, fluoride application and a check-up every 3–6 months at your regular dentist. Decay in baby teeth affects the permanent teeth too.
- Pregnancy: hormonal changes make gum inflammation more likely, and many municipalities offer a free dental check-up for pregnant women. Have it in the stable period (second trimester).
- Municipal check-ups: gum-disease check-ups at 40, 50, 60 and 70 (under the Health Promotion Act; free to a few hundred yen depending on the municipality). If a notice arrives, go. Some company health insurance societies (kenpo) subsidise dental check-ups.
- Choosing a regular dentist: puts effort into prevention and maintenance, has dental hygienists on staff, measures your gum pockets and explains the results, shows you X-rays and photos of your teeth.
[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.
Misunderstanding 1｜No pain, no need for a dentist
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.
Misunderstanding 2｜I brush thoroughly every day, so I do not get tartar
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.
Misunderstanding 3｜Gum disease is an old person's disease
About half of people in their 30s have gum pockets, and it advances quietly. Check-ups from a young age make the difference.
Misunderstanding 4｜Teeth are lost to decay
The biggest cause is gum disease (about 37%). It advances without pain, so early detection at check-ups is the key.
Misunderstanding 5｜Check-ups are expensive
¥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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Sources
- Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), "2022 Survey of Dental Diseases" [令和4年 歯科疾患実態調査] (8020 achievement rate, prevalence of gum disease)
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/toukei/list/62-17.html
- 8020 Promotion Foundation, "Survey on reasons for extraction of permanent teeth" [永久歯の抜歯原因調査]
https://www.8020zaidan.or.jp/
- Japan Dental Association, "Theme Park 8020: the case for regular check-ups" [テーマパーク8020：定期健診のすすめ]
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.
About this article
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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