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Japan’s Dental Care Facing Population Aging: How Universal Coverage Responds to the Changing Needs of the Elderly

Author

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  • Etsuji Okamoto

    (Department of Health & Welfare Management, University of Fukuchiyama, Kyoto 620-0886, Japan)

Abstract

Although universal health coverage (UHC) is pursued by many countries, not all countries with UHC include dental care in their benefits. Japan, with its long-held tradition of UHC, covers dental care as an essential benefit, and the majority of dental care services are provided to all patients with minimal copayment. Being under UHC, the scope of services as well as prices are regulated by the uniform fee schedule, and dentists submit claims according to the uniform format and fee schedule. The author analyzed the publicly available dental health insurance claims data as well as a sampling survey on dental hygiene to illustrate how Japan’s dental care is responding to the challenges from population aging. A marked improvement was found in dental health status in the elderly population as measured by improved tooth-specific survival. The improvement may be attributable to the universal coverage of dental care, as evidenced by the steady increase in home visits by dentists/dental hygienists as well as home oral rehabilitation services.

Suggested Citation

  • Etsuji Okamoto, 2021. "Japan’s Dental Care Facing Population Aging: How Universal Coverage Responds to the Changing Needs of the Elderly," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-12, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:17:p:9359-:d:629226
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Yuko Inoue & Yoshihiro Shimazaki & Akiko Oshiro & Takashi Zaitsu & Michiko Furuta & Yuichi Ando & Hideo Miyazaki & Masaki Kambara & Kakuhiro Fukai & Jun Aida, 2021. "Multilevel Analysis of the Association of Dental-Hygienist-Related Factors on Regular Dental Check-Up Behavior," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-10, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Sachiko Takehara & Raksanan Karawekpanyawong & Hikaru Okubo & Tin Zar Tun & Aulia Ramadhani & Fania Chairunisa & Azusa Tanaka & F. A. Clive Wright & Hiroshi Ogawa, 2023. "Oral Health Promotion under the 8020 Campaign in Japan—A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-22, January.

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