Article 1Dental practitioners are to contribute to the improvement and promotion of public health through the administration of dental care and health guidance, and thereby ensure the healthy lives of the citizens.

Article 2A person who seeks to become a dental practitioner must pass the national examination for dental practitioners and receive a license from the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare.

Article 3A license is not granted to a minor, an adult ward, or a person under curatorship.

Article 4A license may be denied to a person who falls under any of the following items:

Article 5A register of dental practitioners is to be prepared at the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, in which the date of registration, particulars regarding dispositions under Article 7, paragraph (1) or (2), and other particulars in relation to the dental practitioner's license are to be registered.

Article 6(1)Licensing is carried out by registration of the license in the register of dental practitioners upon application by a person who has passed the national examination for dental practitioners.

(2)The Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare delivers a certificate of the dental practitioner's license when the Minister has granted a license.

(3)A dental practitioner must notify the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare of their name, address (and the address of the place the person engages in dental practice), and any other particulars specified by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare as of December 31 of every second year as specified by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, through the prefectural governor for the residential location, by January 15 of the following year.

Article 6-2When the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare finds that a person who has applied for a dental practitioner's license falls under Article 4, item (i), and decides not to grant the person a license pursuant to the provisions of that Article, the Minister must notify the applicant to that effect in advance, and must have an official designated by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare hear the opinion of the applicant when so requested by the applicant.

Article 7(1)When a dental practitioner comes to fall under any item of Article 4 or engaged in discreditable conduct as a dental practitioner, the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare may implement the following dispositions:

(2)A person who has been rendered a disposition regarding revocation pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraphs (excluding persons who have been rendered a disposition regarding revocation pursuant to the provisions of those paragraphs as a person who falls under Article 4, item (iii) or item (iv) or who has engaged in discreditable conduct as a dental practitioner, if five years have not elapsed since the date of that disposition) may be granted a new license when the person no longer falls under the circumstances which led to the revocation or when it is found appropriate to grant a new license due to subsequent circumstances. In this case, the provisions of Article 6, paragraph (1) and paragraph (2) apply mutatis mutandis.

(3)In rendering a disposition as provided for in the preceding two paragraphs, the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare must hear the opinions of the Medical Ethics Council in advance.

(4)When the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare seeks to render a disposition to revoke a license pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1), the Minister may request that the prefectural governor hear the opinions of the person subject to the disposition, and may substitute the hearing of opinions for the Minister's hearing of opinions.

(5)The provisions of Chapter III, Section 2 (excluding Article 25, Article 26, and Article 28) of the Administrative Procedure Act (Act No. 88 of 1993) apply mutatis mutandis to the case in which a prefectural governor conducts hearing of opinions pursuant to the preceding paragraph. In this case, the term "hearing" in Section 2 of that Act is replaced with "hearing of opinions"; the term "administrative agency" in Article 15, paragraph (1) of that Act is replaced with "prefectural governor"; the terms "administrative agency", "the administrative agency", and "the administrative agency's" in Article 15, paragraph (3) of that Act (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 22, paragraph (3) of that Act) are replaced with "prefectural governor", "the prefectural governor", and "the prefectural governor's" respectively; the term "administrative agency" in Article 16, paragraph (4) and Article 18, paragraph (1) and (3) of that Act is replaced with "prefectural governor"; the phrase "an official designated by the administrative agencies or other such persons provided for by Cabinet Order" in Article 19, paragraph (1) of that Act is replaced with "an official designated by the prefectural governor"; the term "administrative agency" in Article 20, paragraph (1), (2), and (4) of that Act is replaced with "prefecture"; and the term "administrative agency" in Article 20, paragraph (6) and Article 24, paragraph (3) of that Act is replaced with "prefectural governor".

(6)When documents proving the facts leading to the relevant disposition or other documents necessary for conducting a hearing of opinions is requested by a prefectural governor, the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare must promptly send the documents to the prefectural governor.

(7)In conducting a hearing of opinions pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (4), when the prefectural governor has received a record as set forth in Article 24, paragraph (1) of the Administrative Procedure Act as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (5) of this Act following the replacement of terms and a written report as set forth in Article 24, paragraph (3) of that Act, the governor must keep the record and the written report, and submit a copy of the record and the written report to the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare. In this case, if there is an opinion concerning the decision on the relevant disposition, the governor must submit a written opinion stating their opinion concerning the decision on the disposition in addition to the copy of the record and the written report.

(8)When the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare finds it necessary in light of the circumstances that arose after the conclusion of hearing of opinions, the Minister may return a copy of the record and written report submitted pursuant to the provisions of the first sentence of the preceding paragraph and the written report submitted pursuant to the provisions of the second sentence of preceding paragraph to the prefectural governor, and request that the prefectural governor order the presiding official to resume the hearing of opinions. The provisions of the main text of Article 22, paragraph (2) of the Administrative Procedure Act and the provisions of paragraph (3) of that Act apply mutatis mutandis to this case.

(9)In making a decision on the disposition, the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare must carefully consider the details of the written opinion and copies of the record and written report submitted pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (7).

(10)When the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare seeks to order the suspension of dental practice pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1), the Minister may request the prefectural governor to hear the explanation of the person subject to the disposition, and may substitute the hearing of explanation for the Minister's grant of an opportunity for explanation.

(11)In conducting an explanation hearing pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the prefectural governor must notify the person subject to the disposition of the following particulars in writing, within a reasonable period of time prior to the date of the explanation hearing:

(12)Beyond what is provided for in paragraph (10), the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare may have a member of the Medical Ethics Council hear the explanation of the person subject to the disposition, in lieu of the Minister's grant of an opportunity for explanation. In this case, the term "preceding paragraph" in the preceding paragraph is replaced with "following paragraph"; the term "prefectural governor" in that paragraph is replaced with "Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare"; and the provisions of that paragraph apply.

(13)A person who has received a notice as set forth in paragraph (11) (including as applied pursuant to the provisions of the second sentence of the preceding paragraph following the replacement of terms) may have an agent appear and submit documentary evidence or articles of evidence.

(14)When the prefectural governor or a member of the Medical Ethics Council has conducted an explanation hearing pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (10) or the first sentence of paragraph (12), they must prepare and keep a hearing report, draw up a written report, and submit this to the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare. In this case, if there is an opinion concerning the decision on the relevant disposition, they must include the relevant opinion in a written report.

(15)When a prefectural governor is to conduct a hearing of opinions or an explanation hearing pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (4) or paragraph (10), the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare must notify the governor of the following particulars in advance:

(16)Both the notice referred to in Article 15, paragraph (1) of the Administrative Procedure Act as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (5) following the replacement of terms in which a hearing of opinions is conducted pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (4), and the notice referred to in paragraph (11) in which an explanation hearing is conducted pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (10), must be based on the details subject to the notice under the preceding paragraph.

(17)The provisions of Chapter III of the Administrative Procedure Act (excluding Article 12 and Article 14) do not apply to the disposition when the prefectural governor conducts a hearing of opinions or an explanation hearing pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (4) or paragraph (10), or when a member of the Medical Ethics Council conducts an explanation hearing pursuant to the provisions of the first sentence of paragraph (12).

Article 7-2(1)The Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare may order a dental practitioner who has been rendered a disposition set forth in paragraph (2), item (i) or item (ii) of the preceding Article, or a person who seeks to receive a new license pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (2) of the same Article to undergo the training specified by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare on maintenance of ethics as a dental practitioner or on the knowledge and skills that a dental practitioner should possess (hereinafter referred to as "re-education training").

(2)Upon application by a person who has completed the re-education training pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare registers the fact that the person has completed the re-education training in the register of dental practitioners.

(3)When the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare has made a registration as set forth in the preceding paragraph, the Minister delivers a registration certificate for completion of re-education training.

(4)A person seeking to be registered as set forth in paragraph (2) or a person seeking to have the registration certificate for completion of reeducation training replaced or redelivered must pay the amount of fees that is specified by Cabinet Order in consideration of the actual costs.

(5)The provisions of paragraphs (10) through (17) (excluding paragraph (12)) of the preceding Article apply mutatis mutandis to the case in which the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare seeks to render an order pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1). In this case, the necessary technical replacement of terms is specified by Cabinet Order.

Article 7-3(1)When the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare finds that it is necessary to investigate whether the Minister should implement a disposition under Article 7, paragraph (1) regarding a dental practitioner, the Minister may seek the opinions and collect reports from persons who are connected with the case, or witnesses, order the owners of medical records and other materials to submit them, and have the relevant officials enter the hospital or any other location that is connected with the case and inspect the medical records and other materials.

(2)An official seeking to carry out entry and inspection pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph must carry identification and produce it when requested to do so by the persons concerned.

(3)The authority for entry and inspection under paragraph (1) must not be construed as being approved for the purposes of a criminal investigation.

Article 8Beyond what is provided for in this Chapter, necessary particulars related to application for license, registration, correction, and cancellation in the register of dental practitioners, the delivery, replacement, redelivery, return, and submission of license certificates, and notification of address are specified by Cabinet Order, and necessary particulars related to the disposition set forth in Article 7, paragraph (1), the implementation of reeducation training as set forth in Article 7-2, paragraph (1), registration in the register of dental practitioners as set forth in paragraph (2) of that Article, and the delivery, replacement, and redelivery of the registration certificate for completion of re-education training as set forth in paragraph (3) of that Article are specified by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

Article 9The national examination for dental practitioners is administered on the knowledge and skills related to dental science and dental health in clinical practices that a person should possess as a dental practitioner.

Article 10(1)The national examination for dental practitioners and the national preliminary examination for dental practitioners are given by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare at least once every year.

(2)The Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare must hear the opinions of the Medical Ethics Council in advance when seeking to specify the subjects, implementation, or method of determining successful examinees of the national examination for dental practitioners or the national preliminary examination for dental practitioners.

Article 11A person who does not fall under any of the following items may not take the national examination for dental practitioners:

Article 12(1)A person who has graduated from a dental school in a foreign country or who has acquired a dental practitioner's license in a foreign country may take the national preliminary examination for dental practitioners if the person does not fall under item (iii) of the preceding Article and has been approved as eligible by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare.

Article 13 and Article 14 Deleted

Article 15When there has been any wrongful act in connection with the national examination for dental practitioners or the national preliminary examination for dental practitioners, the person involved in the wrongful act may be stopped from taking the examination, or may have the examination invalidated. In this case, the person may be barred from taking the examination within a specified period.

Article 16Beyond what is provided for in this Chapter, the subjects for examination, examination procedures, and other necessary particulars related to examinations, as well as necessary particulars related to practical training, are specified by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

Article 16-2(1)A dental practitioner who seeks to engage in dental practice must undergo clinical training for a period of one year or more at a university hospital with a dental science or medical science course (excluding university hospitals that do not engage in dental practice), or at a hospital or clinic designated by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare.

(2)When the Minster of Health, Labour and Welfare subsequently finds that the hospital designated pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph is inappropriate for conducting the clinical training, the Minister may revoke the designation.

(3)When the Minster of Health, Labour and Welfare seeks to designate a hospital pursuant to paragraph (1) or revoke the designation pursuant to the preceding paragraph, the Minster must hear the opinions of the Medical Ethics Council in advance.

(4)For the provisions of paragraph (1) to be applied, a hospital in a foreign country that is found to be appropriate by the Minster of Health, Labour and Welfare is deemed to be a hospital designated by the Minster of Health, Labour and Welfare as referred to in paragraph (1).

Article 16-3A dental practitioner who is undergoing clinical training must devote themselves to the clinical training and endeavor to improve their qualities.

Article 16-4(1)Upon application by a person who has completed the clinical training under the Article 16-2, paragraph (1), the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare must register the fact that the person has completed clinical training in the register of dental practitioners.

(2)When the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare has made a registration as set forth in the preceding paragraph, the Minister delivers a registration certificate for completion of clinical training.

Article 16-5A person seeking to be registered as set forth in paragraph (1) of the preceding Article or a person seeking to have the registration certificate for completion of clinical training replaced or redelivered must pay the amount of fees specified by Cabinet Order in consideration of the actual costs.

Article 16-6Beyond what is provided for in this Chapter, necessary particulars related to designation as set forth in Article 16-2, paragraph (1), registration in the register of dental practitioners as set forth in Article 16-4, paragraph (1), delivery, replacement, and redelivery of registration certificate for completion of clinical training as set forth in Article 16-4, paragraph (2) are specified by Cabinet Order.

Article 17A person must not may engage in dental practice unless they are a dental practitioner.

Article 18A person must not use the title of dental practitioner or a title that may be confused with this, unless they are a dental practitioner.

Article 19(1)A dental practitioner who engages in dental practice must not refuse any request for medical examination or treatment without legitimate grounds.

(2)A dental practitioner who has performed a dental practice must not refuse a request for a medical certificate without legitimate grounds.

Article 20A dental practitioner must not provide medical treatment or issue a medical certificate or prescription without personally performing a dental medical examination.

Article 21If a dental practitioner finds it necessary to dispense and administer medicine as a part of a patient's treatment, the dental practitioner must issue a prescription to the patient or a person caring for the patient; provided, however, that this does not apply if the patient or a person caring for the patient states that they do not need a prescription, or in any of the following cases:

Article 22When a dental practitioner has provided medical care, the dental practitioner must give guidance to the person in question or to their custodian on the method of treatment and other particulars necessary to improve their health.

Article 23(1)When a dental practitioner has provided medical care, the dental practitioner must include the particulars related to that medical care in a medical record without delay.

(2)Medical records as set forth in the preceding paragraph must be kept for five years by the administrator of the hospital or clinic for medical care provided by the dental practitioner who works there, or kept by the dental practitioner themselves for medical records related to other medical care.

Article 23-2(1)If there is a risk of causing serious harm to public health, and the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare finds it especially necessary to do so in order to prevent the harm, the Minister may give necessary instructions to dental practitioners regarding dental treatment or health guidance.

(2)The Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare must hear the opinions of the Medical Ethics Council in advance before giving instructions pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph.

Article 24(1)A dental practitioners' examiner is to be assigned at the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare to administer affairs related to the national examination for dental practitioners and the national preliminary examination for dental practitioners.

(2)Necessary particulars related to the dental practitioners' examiner are specified by Cabinet Order.

Article 25 through 27Deleted

Article 28The dental practitioners' examiner and other persons in charge of affairs related to the national examination for dental practitioners and the national preliminary examination for dental practitioners must preserve impartiality and not act unfairly in implementing those affairs.

Article 28-2The Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare is to publicize the names of dental practitioners and other matters specified by Cabinet Order, to enable persons receiving dental treatment and the citizens to confirm the qualifications of dental practitioners and to choose adequate dental treatment.

Article 28-3The affairs to be administered by the prefectures pursuant to provisions of Article 6, paragraph (3), Article 7, paragraph (4), the first sentence of Article 7, paragraph (8), and Article 7, paragraphs (10) and (11) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 7-2, paragraph (5)); Article 15, paragraphs (1) and (3) (including as applied mutatis mutandis to Article 22, paragraph (3)), Article 16, paragraph (4), Article 18, paragraph (1) and (3), Article 19, paragraph (1), Article 20, paragraph (6), and Article 24, paragraph (3) of the Administrative Procedure Act as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 7, paragraph (5) of this Act; and Article 15, paragraph (3) of the Administrative Procedure Act as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 22, paragraph (3) of the that Act which is applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to the second sentence of Article 7, paragraph (8) of this Act are to be Type I statutory entrusted functions prescribed in Article 2, paragraph (9), item (i) of the Local Autonomy Act (Act No. 67 of 1947).

Article 29(1)A person who falls under any of the following items is subject to imprisonment with work for not more than three years, a fine of not more than one million yen, or both:

(2)If a person who has committed the crime set forth in item (i) of the preceding paragraph has used the title of dental practitioner or a similar title, the person is subject to imprisonment with work for not more than three years, a fine of not more than two million yen, or both.

Article 30A person who has been ordered to suspend dental practice pursuant to the provisions of Article 7, paragraph (2), and has engaged in dental practice during the period of suspension is subject to imprisonment with work for not more than one year, a fine of not more than five hundred thousand yen, or both.

Article 31A person who has violated the provisions of Article 28 and has divulged examination questions in advance either intentionally or through gross negligence, or who has intentionally and wrongfully scored examinations is subject to imprisonment with work for not more than one year or a fine of not more than five hundred thousand yen.

Article 31-2A person who falls under any of the following items is subject to a fine of not more than five hundred thousand yen:

Article 31-3If the representative of a corporation, or an agent, employee or other worker of a corporation or individual commits the violation referred to in item (iii) of the preceding Article with regard to the practices of the corporation or individual, in addition to the offender being subject to punishment, the corporation or individual is subject to the fine prescribed in that Article.