Japanese Society for Disabillity
About us
History and Overview of the Japanese Society for Disability and Oral Health（JSDH）
The Japanese Society for Disability and Oral Health (JSDH) was founded in 1973 as the “Japanese Dental Care Study Group for Children with Disabilities,” and in 1984, the name was changed to the current name. In April 1999, the JSDH became a member of the Specialized Organizations of the Japanese Association for Dental Science and established the Certified Dentist System in 2003, the Certified Hygienist System in 2008, and the Board Certified Specialist in 2017. As of 2025, the JSDH consists of approximately 5,000 members.
In Japan, dental care for people with disabilities began in the early 1930s and was primarily philanthropic until the late 1940s. However, from the late 1960s, dental associations, starting with those in Osaka Prefecture, initiated community-based dental care activities, which then expanded nationwide.
Hospital dental departments and the dental and oral surgery units at medical universities actively began treating patients with disabilities, with pediatric dentistry departments being particularly proactive. This reflected a global trend, initially focused on children with disabilities but expanding as the population of people with disabilities grew over time. In 1976, the Department of Special Needs Dentistry was established at Nihon University School of Dentistry at Matsudo. Currently, all 29 dental universities in Japan have departments or courses dedicated to dentistry for people with disabilities. In addition, 142 oral health centers across the country provide treatment for people with disabilities at hospital dental clinics. Meanwhile, dental care expanded from disease treatment to public health care, and clinical activities now include oral and maxillofacial rehabilitation, with growing demand for treatments such as orthodontics and dental implants, emphasizing quality of care.
Currently, the JSDH holds an annual general meeting and an academic conference, publishes its journal (Journal of the Japanese Society for Disability and Oral Health) and publishes newsletters three times a year. The JSDH plays a central role as a forum for members across Japan involved in dental care for people with disabilities to exchange opinions, engage in research, and promote medical care.
The purpose of the JSDH is to foster collaboration among members and with related organizations in Japan and abroad, while enhancing members’ capabilities in research, education, and clinical practice related to dentistry for people with disabilities. This aims to maintain and improve the oral health of people with disabilities, contributing to the health and welfare of people in Japan. To achieve these goals, the JSDH undertakes the following initiatives.
- Activities related to hosting academic conferences
- Organizing research presentations, lectures, seminars, etc.
- Publication of the JSDH journal
- Accreditation of various qualifications related to dentistry for people with disabilities Secial care dentistry
- Education and training of researchers and professionals in dentistry for people with disabilities, as well as in medical, health, and welfare fields
- Investigations and joint studies relevant to dentistry for people with disabilities
- Cooperation and exchange with Japanese and international organizations related to dental care for people with disabilities
- Disseminating medical, health, and welfare information and raising awareness regarding dental care for people with disabilities
- Other activities necessary to achieve the aims of the JSDH
The JSDH is built on the dual foundation of academia (universities，researchers) and clinical practice (dental association activities dental practitioners), which mutually enhance each other. It strives to serve as a bridge between unique community dental care activities centered on dental associations and the public, aiming to improve the quality of life (QOL) for people with disabilities while further enriching its activities. Despite progress, regional disparities in the provision of dental care for people with disabilities remain in Japan, and the JSDH works to ensure that high-quality dental care is accessible to people with disabilities nationwide at any time. Furthermore, as a society with a long history not just in Japan, the JSDH aims to contribute to people with disabilities worldwide by sharing Japanese techniques and methods internationally.
June 2025
Takato NOMOTO (President)
Japanese Society for Disability and Oral Health