Free Dentures to Reduce Earthquake-Related Deaths in the Event of a Major Disaster Dental laboratories will provide dentures free of charge in the event of a major disaster. announced on Tuesday, March 25 that they will provide dentures free of charge in the event of a major disaster.

2025.03.26 10:00

株式会社お守り入れ歯

According to a report by Tohoku University and other research groups, the government believes that there is a 7% to 40% chance of a massive earthquake of magnitude 9 or greater occurring within 30 years. (Head office: Sapporo, Hokkaido; Representative Director: Akira Ikeda), which offers free storage of denture data nationwide in case of an emergency, has decided to provide new dentures free of charge based on the data stored in advance in the event of a major disaster on Tuesday, March 25, 2025.

入れ歯データ取得のためスキャン中

Scanning for denture data acquisition in progress.

[A huge earthquake that has become a reality

A survey conducted by Tohoku University, Hokkaido University, and the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology since 2019 has found that the plate boundary in the Kuril Trench off the coast of Hokkaido is shifting by 8 cm per year, accumulating strain on a scale that could trigger a massive earthquake at any time. The government's Seismological Research Commission has put the probability of a massive earthquake of magnitude 9 or greater occurring in the Chishima Trench off the coast of Hokkaido within the next 30 years at 7% to 40%. In the event of an actual earthquake, it is estimated that approximately 140,000 people, including those in the Japan Trench area where the plates adjoin each other, would need to evacuate immediately after the event. With earthquake-related deaths becoming an issue, a review of disaster response is urgently needed.

New dentures will be provided free of charge in the event of a large-scale disaster.

Ltd., which operates a dental laboratory, operates a nationwide "Denture Bank," where denture data can be obtained and stored free of charge in advance so that the same dentures can be made in as little as two days in the event of a disaster. Normally, there is a charge for fabricating new dentures using a 3D printer based on the stored data. However, in response to the government's opinion, we have decided to manufacture dentures free of charge in the event of a large-scale disaster and provide them to victims through cooperating dental clinics.

大規模災害時に無償提供される白色の義歯

White dentures to be provided free of charge in the event of a large-scale disaster

Disaster-related deaths are becoming an issue, and a quick response is needed.

The impetus for starting the "Denture Bank" came from the many elderly people who died of aspiration pneumonia at evacuation centers after the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011. Those who were in a hurry to escape and could not take their dentures with them or those who dropped and damaged them during the evacuation process were unable to eat properly and lost their strength. Many people were forced to live in evacuation centers for long periods of time without being able to wash their one and only denture, which was unsanitary and led to the development of aspiration pneumonia.

The representative thought about what could be done to enable people to lead healthy lives as quickly as possible in the event of a disaster, and began recommending the possession of temporary dentures for treatment. In February 2023, the company launched a nationwide "Denture Bank" that transcends the boundaries of prefectures and dental clinics so that even if a dental clinic is affected by a disaster, new dentures can be made immediately in other prefectures based on the data deposited. In 2024, the program was included in the Cabinet Secretariat's recommended list of "Examples of Private Sector Initiatives for Strengthening the National Land Infrastructure". Currently, there are 19 dental clinics that have completed the membership process, and data on 580 patients is stored.

無償提供の白の入れ歯を着けた口元

A patient wearing white dentures provided free of charge

We will further expand our activities with our increasing number of comrades.

Data must be stored in advance in order to be provided free of charge in the event of a large-scale disaster. It takes about 30 minutes to acquire the data. If there is no denture bank member dentist nearby, you can mail the data to us and we will return it to you in around 4 to 7 days. In the event of a major disaster, the data can be provided free of charge to victims through cooperating dental clinics in various regions.

Representative's voice: "I opened a dental clinic specializing in denture care in June 2011, and three months ago the Great East Japan Earthquake occurred. I feel that it is important to be prepared on a daily basis, to respond quickly when an outbreak occurs, and to have outside support. When a disaster strikes, we are forced to give up many things due to financial hardship. In addition to our usual free data storage, we thought that in the event of a major disaster, we could eliminate the disparity between victims and reduce the number of people who die from aspiration pneumonia by offering free production as well. We plan to continue to hold events in areas where large-scale disasters are predicted to occur so that as many people as possible can use the denture bank.

We will also continue to recruit cooperating dentists who can adjust the dentures that we provide free of charge in the event of a major disaster.

Denture Bank = https://irebabank.com/

Outline of Free Dentures in the Event of a Large-Scale Disaster

Overview of our free provision of dentures:

We will manufacture new white dentures based on the data stored in the "Denture Bank" in advance and provide them through cooperating dental clinics.

Prior data storage:

Referrals are made to nearby denture bank member denture clinics. Data storage of the denture will be done in person or by mail. The process takes about 30 minutes in person or 4 to 7 days by mail. Free of charge.

Cooperating dentists:

Cooperate in the adjustment of 3D printed dentures that we provide free of charge only in the event of a major disaster. Free of charge.

Contact : 011-596-8814

　　　　　　　　　(Office hours: Weekdays 9:00-18:00, Sat. every other week, closed on Sundays and national holidays)

株式会社お守り入れ歯代表取締役池田昭