Japanese Dentistry: Anesthetic Shortage Continues to Limit Supply, Dental Technicians Decrease by 5,500 in 24 Years

Image source: NTV NEWS

DentalGoodNews | March 25, 2026 - According to a report by NTV NEWS, a subsidiary of Japan's Nippon Television, Japan's dental industry is facing dual challenges of supply chain shortages and talent drain. On one hand, the production of dental local anesthetics, which accounts for nearly 60% of the domestic market share, has been stalled since last year, leading to treatment delays nationwide. On the other hand, the number of dental technicians has sharply decreased by approximately 5,500 over the past 24 years, indicating a severe structural crisis within the industry.

Regarding the anesthetic shortage, GC Showa Yakuhin Co., Ltd., a major Japanese dental anesthetic manufacturer, issued a "Notice Concerning Shipments of 'Ora-Chu' Dental Cartridges 1.8mL (11th Report)" on March 25. The announcement revealed that production of its dental anesthetic product "Ora-Chu" was temporarily halted due to a system failure that occurred during manufacturing equipment updates in September of last year. Although production has now resumed, it still cannot meet the surge in order demand.

Image source: NTV NEWS

According to Showa Yakuhin's latest plan, starting from April 2026, the monthly shipment volume of its main product, Ora-Chu 1.8mL, is expected to recover to historical average levels. However, GC Showa Yakuhin simultaneously emphasized that due to inventory remaining at extremely low levels, a "restricted shipment" status will be maintained in the short term. This means supplies will only be provided to existing customers with transaction records, within their historical allocation limits, and order fulfillment may still require considerable time. Furthermore, the supply of the 1.0mL specification product will continue to be constrained.

The report points out that while the supply chain is under pressure, data disclosed at the "Dental Technician Business Discussion Meeting" held by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) on March 2 shows that the manpower shortage in the dental laboratory industry has risen to the policy level. According to MHLW data, as of 2024, the number of practicing dental technicians in Japan was 31,733, a decrease of approximately 15% from the peak of 37,244 in 2000. Although the number of certified individuals for this profession exceeds 125,000, the actual employment rate is only 25.4%, indicating an extremely high rate of talent attrition.

The report states that the core reason for the significant reduction in technicians lies in the extremely low insurance reimbursement unit price. According to industry representatives, the unit price for complete dentures set by Japan's National Health Insurance is currently only 25,200 yen. After deducting material costs and management expenses for dental clinics, the actual payment to dental laboratories can hardly cover the labor costs required for high-precision craftsmanship. Surveys show that nearly 40% (38.8%) of dental technicians have an annual income below 3 million yen, leading to a massive exodus of younger generations from the profession.

In the face of labor shortages, digital transformation has become a key focus for the industry. According to a previous report by DGN, international companies like Singapore's Q & M Dental Group (Singapore) Limited are actively establishing digital dental laboratory service centers, utilizing technologies such as Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) to enhance production efficiency. The report notes that in Japan, the MHLW is also studying the promotion of digital dental laboratory work orders and digital transformation processes in an attempt to alleviate the workload burden on younger technicians and attract talent back to the field.

Currently, this "dual anxiety" within Japan's dental industry also reflects, to some extent, common challenges faced by public healthcare systems globally. According to a previous report by DGN, public opinion polls in regions like Scotland show that over 60% of the public believe government investment in the dental industry is severely insufficient, leading to uneven distribution of medical resources. According to the NTV report, Japan's MHLW stated it will continue to negotiate with pharmaceutical manufacturers to increase production and explore measures such as adjusting medical fee reimbursements to improve the working environment for dental technicians.