Fujitsu and Hokkaido Village Launch Dental Health Initiative

JAPAN: Fujitsu Japan Limited has partnered with Kamoenai Village in Hokkaido to launch an innovative oral healthcare initiative. The project, set to commence on June 27th and 28th, 2024, will utilize cutting-edge technology to promote preventative dentistry among schoolchildren.

Cloud-Based Service for Early Detection

At the heart of this initiative is the Fujitsu Preventive Dentistry Cloud Service, a state-of-the-art system designed to detect the likelihood of tooth decay. This service will be implemented during oral checkups for approximately 40 students at a local school.

A spokesperson for Fujitsu explained, “The Fujitsu Preventive Dentistry Cloud Service detects the likelihood of tooth decay and enables students and their guardians to monitor their results on their smartphones. This promotes personal oral awareness and allows preventative measures.”

Addressing Low Dental Checkup Rates

Kamoenai Village has long been concerned about the low rate of dental checkups among its adult population, despite subsidizing the cost for many years. This new initiative aims to address this issue by extending the use of the Fujitsu Preventive Dentistry Cloud Service to adult and infant health examinations.

“Preventive Dentistry for the Whole Village”

The village has adopted an ambitious slogan: “preventive dentistry for the whole village.” This approach includes subsidizing the cost of dental checkups, including oral examinations such as saliva tests, for all generations.

A representative from Kamoenai Village stated, “We aim to reduce the risk of diabetes and dementia and lifetime medical expenses by continuing home care and promoting regular dental checkups.”

Potential Wider Impact

Fujitsu Japan sees this collaboration as a potential model for improving oral health awareness on a broader scale. The company intends to use the efforts in Kamoenai Village as a blueprint for similar initiatives elsewhere, contributing to the improvement of people’s wellbeing across Japan and potentially beyond.

Technology for Sustainability

This initiative aligns with Fujitsu’s broader mission to leverage technology for societal benefit. As stated in their company overview, “Fujitsu’s purpose is to make the world more sustainable by building trust in society through innovation.”

With this dental health project, Fujitsu demonstrates how digital transformation can be applied to address fundamental health issues, potentially reducing long-term healthcare costs and improving quality of life for communities.

As this initiative unfolds, it will be closely watched by health professionals and technologists alike, potentially setting a new standard for preventative healthcare in the digital age.