Japan has a reputation for being an expensive country to visit, but there are many ways to save money. If you’re planning a trip to Japan and are wondering about the cost of dental care there, this article should give you some answers. Read on to find out whether Japan is a good place for dental care and how much it might cost you. Whether your priority is safety, value for money or personal connections, different travelers have different needs when choosing where to get dental treatment.
Perhaps your insurance doesn’t cover enough of your trip, or maybe you just want an authentic Japanese experience while you’re there. No matter what your criteria are and how much time you have before your trip, we help you find the right dentist in Japan for you.
Dental Care in Japan: Is it Safe?
When it comes to dental care in Japan, the first question for many people is whether the care is safe. After all, we’ve all seen the headlines about contaminated food or the ongoing nuclear disaster at Fukushima. But the truth is that it’s impossible to make sweeping statements about the safety of dental care in a country as large as Japan. Naturally, it’s best to research dentists in your travel destination before you go.
But if you’ve suddenly been stricken with a dental emergency and need to find immediate treatment, it’s better to go somewhere safe than to hold out for a perfect solution. Your health is more important than being cautious. The best thing you can do to protect yourself is to practice safe dental hygiene, including daily brushing and flossing, and regular dental checkups.
Quality of Dental Care in Japan
The quality of dental care in Japan is generally high. As a wealthy, industrialized country with a strong healthcare system, Japan has excellent dentists, equipment, and expertise. The main barrier to dental care in Japan is language, since English-speaking dentists are rare. Fortunately, most Japanese dentists are used to treating non-Japanese patients, and they’ve learned to communicate in English. While you may have to work a little harder to communicate with your dentist, rest assured that your treatment will be good. In fact, many foreign patients travel to Japan for dental treatment because of the excellent results and relatively low cost.
How much does dental care cost in Japan?
Dental care in Japan is very affordable for most travellers, but it can be hard to predict the exact price of treatment. This is because almost all dental procedures are paid out-of-pocket in Japan, which means that the cost will depend on how much you’re willing to pay. On the bright side, most dental procedures in Japan are significantly cheaper than they are in the United States. For example, a root canal procedure that costs $1,500 in the US will likely cost less than $500 in Japan. And if you’re covered by travel insurance, the amount you have to pay out of pocket should be even less since insurance is usually accepted at the same rate as local payment.
Dental Care for Travellers to Japan
How do you find a good dentist in Japan? The first thing to do is to look up reviews of dentists in Japan. Online review sites like Yelp and TripAdvisor can be a great source of information, especially if you speak Japanese. The second thing to do is to get in touch with your insurance company. Many insurance policies will cover dental treatment in Japan, but you’ll need to check with your provider first to make sure. And if you don’t have dental insurance, you may be able to find a low-cost dentist through a patient matching site like DentalTour.
Finally, use your network. If you know Japanese people, ask them if they know of any dentists who do good work. Alternatively, you can ask your hotel concierge or other local contacts if they know of any good dentists who see non-Japanese patients.
Final Words
If you’re looking for excellent dental care in a safe and affordable place, Japan is a great choice. In fact, it’s popular with dental tourists from all over the world, so you’ll probably find patients from a variety of cultures at any given dentist’s office. At the same time, you should be aware that dental care in Japan is not exactly the same as it is in your home country. For example, root canals are usually done endodontically in the US but surgically in Japan. That doesn’t mean that Japanese dental care is substandard, but it does mean that you should expect a different experience than you get at home. With a little bit of research and a good translation app, you can find an excellent dentist in Japan and have a great dental experience while you’re there.
