Introduction

Welcome to the Japan Dental Association English Info Site

1. Japan Dental Association

• 1.Organization
• 2.Membership
• 3.Activities

2. Japanese Association for Dental Science

3. The Road to Becoming a Dentists

• 1.Dental Education
• 2.License

4. Dental Health Care

• 1.Dental Manpower
• 2.Oral Health Services
• 3.Social Health Insurance System

1. Japan Dental Association

1) Organization

2) Membership

Seventy-two percent of all dentists in Japan are members of the Japan Dental Association (JDA) and can be classified into the three categories.

(1) Regular members

Duly licensed as dentists in Japan and members of both local and the prefectural dental associations.

(2) Associate members

Dentists who work in the public sector or at educational institutions.

(3) Honorary members

Recommended by the JDA President for outstanding services rendered in the development of research in dental sciences or of the dental profession.

3) Activities

JDA devotes itself to the following activities for the purpose of enhancing the ethics of the dental profession, developing dental sciences, and improving public oral health, thus promoting the welfare of JDA members and the community.

(1) Conducting oral health promotion campaigns

(2) Offering continuing education and considering the improvement of dental education

(3) Promoting international exchange

(4) Considering the social health insurance system

(5) Planning the administration of dental practices

(6) Publishing a dental journal and newsletter

(7) Offering welfare programs for members

(8) Collecting and studying information on health care services

(9) Studying to improve the quality of dental products

(10) Offering the Fellowship of the International Scientific

Exchange Fund for the Asian Pacific regions.

To pursue these programs, twelve standing committees as well as extraordinary committees submit proposal to the Board of Directors.

2. Japanese Association for Dental Science (JADS)

The Japanese Association for Dental Science （JADS） functions in collaboration with the Japan Dental Association and was organized for the purpose of developing dental science and improving public oral health for wide acceptance, thus promoting community welfare.

JADS plays a major role in dental medicine, ranging from basic dental science to clinical dental care. The Japan Dental Association provides financial support to JADS through its active participation in the policies and systems of dental practice and oral health. The General Meeting of JADS is held every four years. As of March.31, 2020, JADS members numbered 105,558.

JADS comprises of twenty one specialized fields:

Japanese Association for Oral Biology

The Japanese Society of Conservative Dentistry

Japan Prosthodontic Society

Japanese Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons

Japanese Orthodontic Society

Japanese Society for Oral Health

The Japanese Society for Dental Materials and Devices

Japanese Society for Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology

Japanese Society of Pediatric Dentistry

The Japanese Society of Periodontology

The Japanese Dental Society of Anesthesiology

Japan Society of Dental History

Japanese Society of Dental Practice Administration

Japanese Society of Oral Therapeutics and Pharmacology

Japanese Society for Disability and Oral Health

Japanese Society of Gerodontology

Japan Association for Dental Education

Japanese Society of Oral Implantology

The Japanese Society for Temporomandibular Joint

The Japanese Society of Oral Pathology

Japan Society for Adhesive Dentistry

"Japanese Dental Science Review" written in English and the "Journal of the Japanese Association for Dental Science (JJADS)" written in Japanese, are published yearly by JADS as official online journals to present the status of dental science in Japan.

3. THE ROAD TO BECOMING A DENTIST

1) Dental Education

(1) Dental Schools

Japanese dental education adopts a six-year-system, its curricula including both liberal arts and professional subjects.

There are 29 dental colleges in Japan, eleven National, one local governmental, and seventeen private.

The requirements for the Japan's dental colleges, as set by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology as the University Standards for Dental Schools, cover:

(a) faculty　(b) enrollment　(c) curricula　(d) facilities 　(e) administration　 (f) self-evaluation　(g) others

(2) Undergraduate Dental Curricula

Dental curricula consist of compulsory, selective, and elective subjects. Basically, one academic year comprises 35 weeks, including examination periods. The prerequisites for graduation are at least 188 credits acquired in six or more years. To earn one credit requires from 15 to 30 hours in classroom instruction, and between 30 and 45 of laboratory instruction and patient care.

(3) Continuing Education

Although the current postgraduate dental education system law has existed since 1996, it has yet to become compulsory.

Many courses for postgraduate dental education are available, JDA certifies dentists who have participated in continuing education under a certain level of requirements. Once qualified as a dentist, he/she can hold the license for life with rare exceptions.

(A) Postgraduate education at dental schools

(a) PhD course

(b) Immediate postgraduate education course in law

(c) Advanced education course

(d) Refresher course for dental practitioners

(B) Continuing education for dental practitioners

(a) Seminars supported by the JDA

(b) Seminars supported by local dental associations

(c) Scientific meetings conducted by dental societies

(d) Seminars supported by study groups, companies or organizations

(e) Seminars supported by alumni associations

(f) Radio and TV programs sponsored by JDA

(g) Journals issued by JDA, and other local dental associations.

(h) Continuing education using audio-visual aids

(4) Advanced Clinical Training for foreign Dental Practitioners

The term "Advanced Clinical Training for foreign Dental Practitioners" refers to clinical training received by foreign dentists as sanctioned by Japan's Minister of Health,Labour and Welfare. Under Japanese Law, a person who does not hold a Japanese dental license, even if his/her purpose of entering the country is training in medical treatment, may engage only in observation-study or leaning the operation of medical instruments in a hospital setting without patients. However, once the foreign practitioner has received a permit for advanced clinical training, he/she may engage in clinical training which includes diagnosis and treatment of patients.

Advanced clinical training can be received:

(1)by a foreign dental practitioner who has been granted a permit by the Minister of Health,Labour and Welfare,

(2)in a hospital designated by the Minister of Health,Labour and Welfare, and

(3)under the direct guidance and supervision of a dental practitioner conducting advanced clinical training.

2) License

Persons intending to practice dentistry in Japan must pass the National Dental Practitioner's Examination and obtain a license from Japan's Minister of Health, Labour, and Welfare. The Examination is based on the knowledge and techniques required of a dentist concerning clinical and preventive dentistry and prepared annually by experts appointed by the Minister of Health, Labour, and Welfare. The Examination is in Japanese. The National Dental Practitioner's Examination and it's Preliminary Examination are held at least once a year by the Minister of Health, Labour, and Welfare.

To qualify for taking the National Dental Practitioner's Examination, persons must under one of the following categories.

(1) Graduated of the dentistry course in dental schools or colleges approved by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in Japan;

(2) Persons have passed the Preliminary Examination for the National Dental Practitioner's Examination and have experienced dental treatment and preventive dentistry internship for at least one year;

(3) Graduated of a dental school not accredited by Japan's government and who meet the standards specified in the preceding two items with respect to knowledge and techniques.

Graduated of foreign schools of dentistry or persons who hold a foreign dental license and do not come under item three above but have been recognized as satisfactory by the Minister of Health, Labour, and Welfare may take the Preliminary Examination.

　　For inquiries please contact:

The Minister of Health, Labour, and Welfare

1-2-2, Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8916, Japan

Phone: 81-3-5253-1111

　　When an applicant fully qualifies, the Minister of Health, Labour, and Welfare will issue him/her a dentist's license. Licensed dentists are obliged to report their current status to the Minister of Health, Labour, and Welfare every two years as of December 31.

4. DENTAL HEALTH CARE

1) Dental Manpower

(as of 2018)

・Population　　126,443,000

・Number of dentists　　104,908（including non-JDA Members）

・ Male　　79,611

・ Female　　25,297

・ Private practitioners　　58,653(55.9%)

・ Employed dentists at private practitioners　　31,452(30.0%)

・ Number of active dental technicians　　34,468

・ Number of active dental hygienists　　132,629

・ Number of Dentist by Year

2) Oral Health Services

Japan's government is developing the following oral health services in cooperation with JDA.

• 1.Oral health examination at age 1 1/2 and 3
• 2.Promoting oral health for pre-school and elementary, junior high and high school students
• 3.Conducting surveys for the handicapped
• 4.Oral health services for adults
• 5.Oral health education and consultation for age group of 40 or over
• 6.Conducting surveys to prevent periodontal disease
• 7.Promoting oral health via the 8020 movement
• 8.Promoting oral health for the bed-ridden elderly
• 9.Oral health services in remote area
• 10.First-aid treatment on holidays and at night

3) Social Health Insurance System

Japan's health insurance system, which covers medical and dental care, was made obligatory to all citizens in 1961 and is operated by either the national or local government.

While there are several official Japanese health insurance systems, all citizens must be covered by one of them. Patients are free to choose whether or not to take advantage of health insurance treatment.

Japan's health insurance system is broadly divided into two categories; employees and national. The employee plan covers groups of workers: the national covers residents of the same area, who are insured by the local government.

The system operates with the insurer collecting insurance payments from the insured. Under the present health insurance system patients make partial payments of the actual medical charges to the hospital or clinic, and the Social Insurance Medical Care Fee Payment Fund reimburses the hospital or clinic for the medical treatment given. Thus, medical expenses are shared by the patient and the review/reimbursement organization.

All surgical and conservative treatments and certain prothetic treatments are included in the scope of benefits under the health insurance program. Certain prosthetic, implants and orthodontic treatments are not covered. In such cases, dental fees are negotiated between the dentist and patient, with the patient paying the entire sum directry to the practitioner.

Japan Dental Association

4-1-20, Kudan-kita, Chiyoda-ku,Tokyo 102-0073, Japan

Phone: 81-3-3262-9212　　Fax : 81-3-3262-9885

Homepage:https://www.jda.or.jp

Executive Board Members of the Japan Dental Association

Term of office: From June 16, 2023 to the conclusion of the Executive Board to be held in June 2025.