Regular Session No. 3, 2025: General Questioning Toward Universal Dental Checkups for All Citizens – Current Status and Challenges in Hino City

Toward Universal Dental Checkups for All Citizens: The Current Situation and Challenges in Hino City

On October 4, 2025, newly elected LDP President Sanae Takaichi, the 29th leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, unveiled her policy platform titled “Strengthening and Enriching the Japanese Archipelago.” This platform outlines five pillars.

The first pillar is bold “crisis management investment and growth investment.” Within this, “building health and medical security” is positioned as a key goal, aiming to ensure safety and security in daily life while achieving a strong economy.

This policy clearly states that by thoroughly implementing measures such as promoting detailed examinations for cancer screening positives and universal dental checkups for all citizens as “proactive preventive healthcare,” it will achieve both the optimization of medical care and the extension of healthy life expectancy.

Aiming for the realization of universal dental checkups for all citizens, as proposed by the new President Sanae Takaichi, I proceeded with questions focusing on the current situation and challenges in Hino City, primarily concerning preventive measures such as children’s dental caries.

Currently, under the Maternal and Child Health Act, dental checkups are provided for children at 1 year and 6 months, 3 years, and 6 years (pre-school checkup).

The ages of 4 and 5, which are not covered by this program, are a crucial period when baby teeth are fully erupted and preparing to welcome future permanent teeth.

Thoroughly implementing cavity prevention during this time increases the possibility of maintaining healthy teeth for a long, healthy life.

Hino City already provides dental consultations for 4- and 5-year-olds. However, eligible children are limited to those advised to undergo follow-up observation during their 18-month or 3-year checkups, those who missed the checkup due to moving, or those whose parents specifically request it.

Consequently, between April and October 3, 2025, only 6 four-year-olds and 1 five-year-old received consultations.

To broaden eligibility, we requested thorough public awareness campaigns and the inclusion of dental examinations in the “5-year-old checkup” subsidized by the Ministry for Children and Families.

We will continue our support until universal dental checkups are fully implemented, so children can retain 20 teeth until age 80, protect their health from within their mouths, and build bodies resilient to disease.