Survey of Underserved Dental Areas

News Highlights

On May 29, 2026, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare released the results of the No-Dentist Areas Survey. This survey provides essential data for understanding the current state of dental care provision systems and for planning future policies. It may highlight the uneven distribution of dentists in urban areas and the difficulties some regions face in accessing dental care.

M&A Medical Editorial Department's Perspective

The results of the "No-Dentist Areas Survey" once again present structural challenges that go beyond simple succession issues, namely the uneven distribution of dental care across regions. In particular, the aging of dentists and their concentration in urban areas make it difficult to maintain dental care provision systems in rural areas. For example, in regions like XX Prefecture, where depopulation and aging are significant,Dental Clinicthe closure of existing practices risks severely worsening local residents' access to dental care. These survey results should serve as an opportunity to strongly impress upon municipalities, local residents, and medical institution managers themselves the necessity of business continuity through third-party succession, rather than merely considering closure or廃業 (business closure). Early consideration from around age 60 is the best measure to protect regional healthcare, and utilizing specialized advisors will likely be an effective means to resolve this complex issue.

Points Raised by This News

• Grasping the reality of regional disparities in dentists and the resulting loss of opportunities for local residents to receive care
• Visualizing the urgent challenge of maintaining dental care provision systems in aging rural areas
• Substantiating the necessity of third-party succession as an alternative to closure or business cessation with objective data
• Strengthening collaboration among municipalities, medical institutions, and local residents to ensure the continuity of regional healthcare

Practical Questions Arising from This News

• Following these survey results, what dental care support measures are being considered in XX City?
• Does my clinic's region fall under the "no-dentist area" or a similar category in the survey?
• If considering third-party succession, what specific procedures and preparations are necessary?

If You Feel "Should I Consult Too?"

Is there a possibility that the region where my clinic is located will face difficulties in maintaining dental care provision systems in the future? Can my clinic be considered unrelated to the risks of regional disparities suggested by the survey results? If you feel challenges such asLack of Successoror contributing to regional healthcare, we strongly recommend using these survey results as an opportunity to consult with experts about business continuity possibilities, including third-party succession.

M&A Medical (CentralMedience Inc.) is a business succession support service for medical corporations, hospitals, and clinics, certified by the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency as an M&A support institution. We provide comprehensive support.Success FeeWe handle consultations with strict confidentiality.Contact Us for a Free Consultation