Zaitsu Takashi, Saito Tomoya, Kawaguchi Yoko
Department of Oral Health Promotion, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo 113-8510, Japan.
Healthcare (Basel). 2018 Jul 10;6(3):79. doi: 10.3390/healthcare6030079.
This paper describes the present Japanese oral healthcare system and outlines the future challenges and perspectives for Japan. Japan has developed a system for providing high-quality and appropriate health care efficiently through a universal health insurance system which has been in operation since 1961. This health insurance covers most restorative, prosthetic and oral surgery treatment. Therefore, all people can receive dental treatment at a relatively low cost, with the same fees applying throughout the nation. In Japan, public oral health services are provided by the local governments according to the life stage of their populations. These services are mainly conducted by private dental practitioners under contracts with local governments. National oral health data shows that the oral health of the Japanese population has improved over the last several decades. Future challenges and perspectives for Japanese dentistry include: tackling the regional differences in oral health, decreasing the cost of health expenditure, establishment of sustainable emergency oral healthcare services in times of disaster, and the development a new tele-dental system for remote areas without access to dental professionals.
本文介绍了日本目前的口腔医疗保健系统，并概述了日本未来面临的挑战和前景。日本通过自1961年起运行的全民健康保险系统，建立了一个能够高效提供高质量且适当医疗保健的体系。这种健康保险涵盖了大多数修复、假牙和口腔外科治疗。因此，所有人都能以相对较低的成本接受牙科治疗，全国收费统一。在日本，地方政府根据当地居民的生命阶段提供公共口腔卫生服务。这些服务主要由与地方政府签订合同的私人牙科医生提供。全国口腔健康数据显示，过去几十年里日本民众的口腔健康状况有所改善。日本牙科未来面临的挑战和前景包括：应对口腔健康方面的地区差异、降低医疗支出成本、在灾难时期建立可持续的紧急口腔医疗服务，以及为无法获得牙科专业人员服务的偏远地区开发新的远程牙科系统。
