Act concerning the Promotion of Dental and Oral Health(Objectives)
Article 1: In light of the fact that oral health plays a basic and important role in ensuring thatpeople lead a healthy and high-quality life and that initiatives for preventing dental diseases inthe daily lives of people are extremely effective in maintaining their oral health, this Act aims tostipulate guiding principles to promote the maintenance of oral health mainly through theprevention of dental diseases (hereafter referred to as “Dental and Oral Health”) and clarify theduties, etc. of the national and local governments. It also aims to implement measures related tothe promotion of Dental and Oral Health in a comprehensive manner and thereby contribute to
the improvement of national health chiefly by stipulating matters that constitute a basic part ofmeasures related to the promotion of Dental and Oral Health.
(Guiding Principles)
Article 2: Measures related to the promotion of Dental and Oral Health must be implemented
based on the principles listed below.
1. To encourage people to work toward prevention of dental diseases in daily life throughout
their lives and to detect dental diseases early and receive early treatment
2. To promote Dental and Oral Health appropriately and effectively according to thecharacteristics of oral functions and conditions and dental diseases in each period of life from
infancy to old age
3. To promote dental and oral health in a comprehensive manner with the cooperation of persons
related to such fields as health, medical service, social welfare, occupational health, andeducation while ensuring well-organized cooperation with related measures taken in such fields(Duties of National and Local Governments)
Article 3: The national government shall have the duty to develop and implement measuresrelated to the promotion of Dental and Oral Health based on the guiding principles set forth in
the preceding article.
2. Based on the guiding principles, local governments shall have the duty to develop andimplement measures related to the promotion of Dental and Oral Health, which suit theconditions of their respective jurisdictions, while ensuring cooperation with the national
government in taking such measures.
(Duties of Dentists, Etc.)
Article 4: In order to contribute to Dental and Oral Health (including Dental and Oral Healththrough the recovery of dental functions), dentists, dental hygienists, dental technicians, andother persons who are engaged in services related to dental care or health guidance (hereafter inthis article and Article 15 Paragraph 2 referred to as “Dental Care and Other Services”) shallstrive to perform their duties appropriately and cooperate with the national and local
governments in taking measures related to the promotion of Dental and Oral Health while
ensuring close cooperation with doctors and other persons who are engaged in services relatedto Dental Care and Other Services.
(Duties of Persons Engaged in Businesses Required for Maintaining and Promoting the Healthof People)
Article 5: Persons engaged in businesses required for maintaining and promoting the health ofpeople in accordance with laws and ordinances shall strive to cooperate with the national andlocal governments in taking measures related to the promotion of Dental and Oral Health.
(Duties of People)
Article 6: People shall strive to acquire correct knowledge of Dental and Oral Health and work
toward prevention of dental diseases on their own initiative in daily life throughout their lives.
They shall also strive for Dental and Oral Health by periodically undergoing dental
examinations (including medical checkups and examinations; this also applies to Article 8) andreceiving dental health guidance as necessary.
(Spread of Knowledge, Etc. of Dental and Oral Health, Education, Etc.)
Article 7: In order to encourage people to acquire correct knowledge of Dental and Oral Healthand work toward prevention of dental diseases in daily life throughout their lives, the nationaland local governments shall spread knowledge of Dental and Oral Health and initiatives forpreventing dental diseases and educate people in such health and prevention, advance
movements aimed at arousing people’s interest in Dental and Oral Health, and take othernecessary measures.
(Recommendations, Etc. to Periodically Undergo Dental Examinations, Etc.)
Article 8: In order to encourage people to periodically undergo dental examinations and receive
dental health guidance as necessary (hereafter in this and following articles referred to as“Periodically Undergoing Dental Examinations, Etc.”), the national and local governments shallmake such recommendations as Periodically Undergoing Dental Examinations, Etc. and takeother necessary measures.

(Measures, Etc. to Ensure That Persons with Disabilities Periodically Undergo Dental
Examinations, Etc.)
Article 9: The national and local governments shall take necessary measures to ensure that
persons with disabilities, elderly persons requiring nursing care, and other persons who havedifficulty in Periodically Undergoing Dental Examinations, Etc. or receiving dental care canPeriodically Undergo Dental Examinations, Etc. or receive dental care.
(Actions, Etc. for Preventing Dental Diseases)
Article 10: In addition to the measures stipulated in the preceding three articles, the national andlocal governments shall take measures related to the actions to effectively prevent dental
diseases taken individually or from the viewpoint of public health and other actions for Dentaland Oral Health.
(Promotion, Etc. of Studies of and Research in Oral Health)
Article 11: The national and local governments shall take necessary measures to promote
periodic surveys of the actual condition of oral health, studies of the effects of oral conditions
on general health, those of effective prevention and treatment of dental diseases, and otherstudies and research related to oral health and encourage utilization of the results of such
surveys, studies, and research.
(Development, Etc. on Basic Matters Related to the Promotion of Dental and Oral Health)
Article 12: The Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare shall develop policy, goals, plans, andother basic matters to implement in a comprehensive manner measures that are taken inaccordance with the provisions of Articles 7 to 11.
2. The basic matters stipulated in the preceding paragraph must be in harmony with the basic
policy stipulated in Article 7 Paragraph 1 of the Health Promotion Act (Act No. 103 of 2002),
basic policy stipulated in Article 4 Paragraph 1 of the Community Health Act (Act of 101 of1947), and policy and guidelines based on the provisions of other laws, which prescribe mattersrelated to health, medical care, and welfare.
3. When deciding or changing the basic matters stipulated in Paragraph 1, the Minister of Health,Labour and Welfare shall consult with the heads of related administrative agencies in advance.
4. After deciding or changing the basic matters stipulated in Paragraph 1, the Minister of Health,Labour and Welfare shall publicly announce such decision or change without delay.
Article 13: Taking into consideration the basic matters stipulated in Paragraph 1 of thepreceding article and according to the conditions of their respective jurisdictions, prefectural

governments must strive to develop policy, goals, plans, and other basic matters to implement in
a comprehensive manner measures that are taken in their respective jurisdictions in accordancewith the provisions of Articles 7 to 11.
2. The basic matters stipulated in the preceding paragraph must be in harmony with theprefectural health promotion plans stipulated in Article 8 Paragraph 1 of the Health Promotion
Act and plans based on the provisions of other laws, which prescribe matters related to health,
medical care, and welfare.
(Financial Actions, Etc.)
Article 14: The national and local governments shall strive to take financial and other actions
needed to implement measures related to the promotion of Dental and Oral Health.
(Oral Health Support Centers)
Article 15: Prefectural governments and the governments of cities and special wards, which set
up health centers, may establish oral health support centers.
2. Oral health support centers shall serve as organizations that provide such persons as thoseengaged in Dental Care and Other Services with information, training, and other sorts of support
to help implement the measures stipulated in Articles 7 to 11.
Additional ClausesThis Act shall come into force on the day of its promulgation.