View Health:Dentists
Westerners often talk about the bad condition of Japanese people’s teeth, compared with their own. There is not the stigma attached to ‘crooked’ teeth in Japan that is prevalent in the West. If you’re not careful, you will find the condition of your own teeth rapidly deteriorating due to the water and toothpaste content, and the lack of good dentists. Tooth and gum decay is very common in Japan. Water in Japan doesn’t contain fluoride, but it does contain various chemicals that are not conducive to healthy teeth. Only fifty percent of the toothpastes available in Japan contain fluoride, so if you like a toothpaste with fluoride, check before you buy.
Take care when visiting dentists in Japan as their knowledge and training do not necessarily match standards in Western countries. You may find that a dentist will ask you to visit several times, yet appear to do very little work on your teeth. Before you waste your time and money visiting a dentist, find out where they have trained. If they haven’t trained overseas then I wouldn’t recommend you visiting them. If they have trained overseas, then not only will you be able to communicate with them, but you can also expect the quality of attention that you are used to at home.
As opposed to doctors, dentists do operate an appointment system. Most dentists accept Japanese national health insurance, but check beforehand. If you have private health insurance, check to see whether your policy covers dental treatment.