Sir, Prime Minister Kishida in Japan will launch a new policy of requiring all Japanese citizens to undergo dental checkups.1 All citizens in Japan will receive a dental checkup once a year, which is currently mandatory through high school. However, a serious problem with mandatory dental checkups for all citizens is that dental checkups alone do not improve health. Dental checkups and treatment can improve health. In other words, the mandatory policy should include dental checkups and treatment.
References
Nikkei. Mandatory dental medical examination, clearly stated in the bold policy plan. 2022. Available at: https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOUA315CK0R30C22A5000000/ (accessed June 2022).
Ahmed M A, Jouhar R, Ahmed N et al. Fear and practice modifications among dentists to combat novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020; doi: 10.3390/ijerph17082821.
Oshima K, Miura H, Tano R, Fukuda H. Factors associated with regular dental checkups' discontinuation during the COVID-19 pandemic: a nationwide cross-sectional web-based survey in Japan. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; doi: 10.3390/ijerph17082821.
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Takefuji, Y. New Japan dental policy. Br Dent J 232, 840 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-022-4408-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-022-4408-2
