A new dental clinic is being planned at Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo to cater to American civilians. The Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) has confirmed that it is in the early stages of establishing this facility, which may be located on the east side of the base. AAFES spokesman Travis Day stated that the timeline for the project is still being determined.
Day emphasized that the introduction of this dental service would significantly enhance the quality of life for dependents, family members, retirees, and civilian employees at Yokota. Previously, the 374th Airlift Wing’s dental clinic allowed civilians to access care on a space-available basis; however, appointments have been restricted to uniformed personnel for many years. Day noted that while active-duty service members have dedicated medical facilities, their families and civilian employees often have to seek dental care off base.
The planned clinic aims to provide convenient and high-quality dental care similar to what is available in the United States.
Chelsea Morrison, a mother of three whose husband works as a contractor at Yokota, expressed her approval of American-style dental care. Since moving to Japan in 2020, her family has relied on off-base clinics for checkups and has noticed differences in care duration compared to U.S.
standards.
Morrison mentioned that they have not sought reimbursement from their insurers for off-base visits due to the hassle involved and the relatively low cost of care. She welcomed the idea of an on-base clinic that could directly bill insurers.
In 2022, the Defense Health Agency limited DOD civilians’ access to military health facilities, prioritizing service members.
Civilians have been directed to seek local care, with a pilot program starting in January 2023 to assist them in obtaining services from Japanese providers who typically do not accept U.S. health insurance. This program aims to complement existing insurance plans and help avoid high upfront costs for care.
