Keep Your Bright Smile! English-Speaking Dentists in TOKYO

photo by sergio santos

Thanks to the recent endeavor by the Japanese government to attract more foreign tourists, multi-lingual services have become more common in tourist sites and public transport facilities. Now, foreign tourists experience less inconvenience while their stay in Japan. However, living in Japan may not be that easy, because there still remain language barrier issues in everyday life. The hardest occasion would be when seeing a doctor. The accuracy in communication is crucial to have a correct diagnosis, and the lack of Japanese language skill often cause a big trouble for non-Japanese speakers. Among many types of medical facilities, dental clinics are most familiar ones for many people to have regular check-up. If you are non-Japanese speaker and want to see the dentist, try one of the following English-speaking dentists in Tokyo.

Trust Dental Clinic

Located in popular Harajuku area, about 70% of the clients of Trust Dental Clinic have consultations in English. This clinic provides general dental treatments for tooth decay, periodontal disease, cavity prevention and regular check-up, in addition to complicated dental surgeries such as extraction of impacted wisdom tooth. The fees of procedures are listed on their website to inform rough idea of the costs for possible patients before their visits. All the fees listed on the website are before public insurance coverage, and Japanese residents may be covered by Japanese health insurance (some procedures are NOT covered by public health insurance).

Trust Dental Clinic
Address: 1-11-1 Jingumae, Shibuya-Ku, Tokyo,150-0001
TEL: 03-3402-1501
Opening hours: Mon – Fri & Sun 9:30-13:00/ 14:00-17:30

United Dental Office

In Japan, the majority of dental treatments are covered by public health insurance, though, the quality of these treatments is not at the world’s most advanced level, due to the threshold for insured medical costs. But United Dental Office aims 100% satisfaction from its clients by suggesting the best treatment for each patient. To meet their goal of providing the best dental treatment both medically and cosmetically, this clinic does not accept Japanese public health insurance. Instead, insurances such as CIGNA International、Allianz Worldwide Care、GLOBALITY DKV、Sydney Euro-Center Pty are accepted here. A booking is required for all consultations and treatments on the phone or via their website.

United Dental Office
Address: 1F 2-3-8 Azabudai Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan 106-0041
TEL: 03-5570-4334
Opening hours: Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri & Sat 9:00 – 18:00 (Wed & Sun closed)

Kurihara Dental Clinic

Located in Kita-ku, Tokyo, Kurihara Dental Clinic has been the trusted local dentistry for 25years long since its opening. Tooth decay, periodontal disease and dental tartar are the most commonly treated conditions here, and the majority of procedures are covered by Japanese public health insurance. There is a full time English-speaking dentist who can give consultation to non-Japanese speakers. Another advantage of this clinic is convenient opening hours: Monday to Sunday with little number of closing days. Tooth decay protection is their first priority and many people regularly visit this clinic for regular check-up.

Kurihara Dental Clinic
Address: 3-5-9 Higashi-Jujo,Kita-ku,Tokyo 114-0001
TEL: 03-3914-4320
Opening hours: Mon-Sun 10:00 – 12:30/See the website for afternoon schedules (Public holiday, 1st Fri & Sat closed)

Kan Dental Clinic

Same as in many other countries, in Japan, orthodontic treatments are done by specialists. Kan Dental Clinic of Setagaya-ku provide orthodontic treatments as well as general dental treatments. Generally, straightening of irregular teeth takes a long time, as this treatment requires different treatment planning and adjustment over months or years, depending on patient’s dental condition. Therefore, accurate communication is more important when having orthodontic treatments. If you wish to have orthodontics but are not confident in Japanese language skill, visit Kan Dental Clinic; there is an English-speaking dentist. Also, tooth decay treatment, periodontal treatment and dental check-up and teeth whitening are also available at this clinic.

Kan Dental Clinic
Address: 1-34-15-102, Kaminoge, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, 158-0093
TEL: 03-5752-6480
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 10:00 – 13:00/ 15:00 – 20:00 (2nd & 4th Sat & Sun closed)

Fukutomi Dental Office

Fukutomi Dental Office was opened in Motoyoyogicho of Shibuya-ku in 2016. The chief dentist of this privately-owned dental clinic is fluent in English, as obtained his dentistry degree in the U.S. and has a long job experience there. Available procedures here include general dentistry such as tooth decay and periodontal disease treatment, dental check-up and tartar removal, as well as aesthetic dentistry such as ceramic inlay, teeth whitening and ceramic tooth bridge. In Japan, alloyed metal is the most commonly used material for tooth filling, however, there are many people who concern about the outstanding color of the tooth fillings. If you care for the color of treated tooth, see the dentist here to ask about the options for tooth filling materials. This clinic is easy to access: just a five-minute walk from Yoyogi-Hachiman station of Odakyu Line or Yoyogi-Koen station of Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line.

Fukutomi Dental Office
Address: 27-7 Motoyoyogicho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 151-0062
TEL: 03-6407-0229
Opening hours: Mon, Tue, Thu&Fri 9:30-13:00/ 14:00-18:30, Sat 9:30-13:00/ 14:00-16:30 (Wed & Public holiday closed)

One, Two, Three, Smile!

There are quite a few English-speaking dentists in Tokyo, and the clinics that were introduced in this column are just part of those. Many of those dentists studied abroad and fluent in English. Each dentist has a special focus on certain areas such as aesthetic dentistry and orthodontics. If you require dental treatment in specific area, it is good idea to inquire a dentist and ask for a quote. Almost all dental clinics provide general treatments such as dental check-up and teeth cleaning.