Your first dental consultation at a new clinic — especially in a country where you don't speak the local language fluently — is one of those experiences that's worth understanding before you walk in. This guide walks through exactly what happens at your first visit to Rodin Dental Office Tokyo: how to prepare, what to bring, what the 60-90 minute appointment covers, what it costs, and most importantly, what you leave with.
Two paths to a first consultation are available: a free online consultation (photos and a brief history submitted via web form, with a doctor's written response typically within 48 hours), and an in-person visit (¥19,900, full diagnostic workup). Most international patients start online and book in-person only after the preliminary plan is agreed in writing.
Prices and treatment timelines mentioned throughout are general estimates. Individual cases vary; specific recommendations require in-person assessment.
Before your consultation — preparation
Option A — Start with a free online consultation
Most international patients use the online consultation as their first step. The web form takes 5-10 minutes to complete — you upload current smile photos (selfies are fine; we provide guidance on what to capture), describe your concerns in your own words, and share any relevant history. A doctor — not a coordinator — reviews the case and typically responds within 48 hours with a written preliminary plan. There is no charge for the online consultation and no obligation to proceed.
Option B — Book the in-person diagnostic visit directly
If you're already in Tokyo or know you'll be travelling soon, the in-person visit can be booked directly through our website. The ¥19,900 fee covers the full diagnostic workup; you do not pay for the online consultation in addition to this fee.
What to bring on the day
- Photo ID (passport or residence card for international patients; Japanese driver's licence or My Number card for residents)
- Insurance information if you intend to claim reimbursement — international insurance card details, policy number, and any pre-authorisation documentation
- Current medication list including over-the-counter medications, supplements, and recreational substances (the latter remains confidential and is used only for sedation safety screening)
- Recent dental records from your previous dentist, if available — particularly X-rays from the past 12 months and any treatment-plan documents
- Any prior CT scans on a CD or USB drive (we can read most DICOM-format scans)
- A list of questions you want to ask during the visit
- A friend or family member if you'd like company for the first appointment (welcomed)
Pre-appointment habits
- Skip alcohol for 24 hours before the visit (helps with accurate gum tissue assessment)
- Eat a light meal 1-2 hours beforehand if possible — long appointments are easier on a non-empty stomach
- Brush and floss normally; you do not need to deep-clean before the visit
- Arrive 10-15 minutes early to complete the medical history form without time pressure
During your consultation — the step-by-step flow
A typical first in-person consultation runs 60-90 minutes and follows the four-step flow below. The pace adjusts to your case — straightforward cases finish closer to the 60-minute end; complex multi-treatment scenarios run longer.
Step 1 — Welcome, documentation, and brief history (10-15 minutes)
Reception greets you in English, walks through any remaining medical-history form items, and confirms your contact details and insurance information. You'll be escorted to a private treatment room — Rodin uses private rooms for all consultations and treatments, not open chairs.
Step 2 — Comprehensive clinical examination (20-30 minutes)
The clinical team performs a full-mouth assessment in private. The examination typically includes:
- Visual inspection of every tooth, gum margin, and soft-tissue area
- Periodontal probing — measuring gum pocket depth around each tooth (mildly uncomfortable but not painful)
- Bite analysis — checking how upper and lower teeth meet
- Jaw joint (TMJ) assessment
- Digital intraoral photographs — for your records and for treatment planning
- Intraoral 3D scan with the Medit i700 wireless scanner where indicated (single-tooth replacement, orthodontic, or smile-makeover planning) — full-mouth scan in under five minutes, no impression material required
- Digital X-rays as needed (panoramic, individual bite-wing, periapical)
- 3D CT scan if your case requires it (typical for implant planning, complex root canals, or surgical cases)
Step 3 — Discussion with the doctor (15-25 minutes)
The doctor reviews findings with you in private. This is the conversational core of the consultation: explanation of what was found, what the treatment options are, why one approach might be recommended over another, what each option would cost, and what the timeline would look like. The tone is informational rather than directive — international patients are typically presented with two or three options to choose between, not a single recommendation to accept or reject.
Step 4 — Written treatment plan (10-15 minutes)
Before you leave, you receive a written treatment plan in English. The plan documents the findings, the recommended treatment options, the materials and brands that would be used, the itemised cost estimate for each option, and the recommended visit schedule. You take this home; there is no pressure to decide on the day.
What does the first consultation cost?
Initial in-person diagnostic visit — ¥19,900
The ¥19,900 fee is comprehensive and covers everything in the 60-90 minute appointment:
- Full-mouth clinical examination by a doctor (not a hygienist)
- Digital X-rays as clinically indicated
- 3D CT scan if your case requires it
- Intraoral photography
- Smile simulation when appropriate (for cosmetic / restorative planning)
- Written treatment plan with itemised cost estimates
- Q&A session with the doctor
There are no add-on fees within the diagnostic visit itself. If your case requires follow-up imaging or specialist referral, those costs appear on the written treatment plan you take home — you decide whether to proceed.
Free online consultation — ¥0
The pre-visit online consultation costs nothing. You can use it to confirm Rodin is the right fit for your case before committing to the in-person fee. The two are not duplicative — patients who do the online consultation first typically arrive better-prepared for the in-person diagnostic visit.
What happens after your consultation?
If you decide to proceed with treatment
- Treatment scheduling — we work with your travel calendar (for tourism patients) or your local schedule (for Tokyo residents)
- Payment options walked through: credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB), bank transfer (Japanese furikomi for local patients, international wire for overseas), cash (JPY only)
- Pre-treatment instructions specific to your case — what to do in the days before, what to bring, fasting requirements if sedation is involved
- For dental tourism patients: travel coordination support, partner-hotel recommendations within walking distance
If you want more time to decide
- The written plan is yours — take it home, share it with family, get second opinions from other clinics
- Many international patients use the Rodin plan as a baseline to compare against home-country or other-country quotes
- You can re-contact us at any time via email, WhatsApp, or LINE with follow-up questions — typical response within business hours
- No follow-up sales pressure: we don't make outbound calls or pestering follow-up emails after a consultation
Language support during your visit
Rodin delivers all consultations and treatment plans in English by default. Multilingual support beyond English is available on request — confirm your preferred language at booking so we can confirm the team composition for your appointment.
- English (primary) — clinical examinations, treatment plans, consent forms, post-treatment instructions
- Japanese (native) — for Japanese-speaking residents or visitors who prefer it
- Chinese Simplified (简体中文) — common for visitors from mainland China and ethnic Chinese expatriates
- Chinese Traditional (繁體中文) — for patients from Taiwan and Hong Kong
- Korean (한국어)
- Spanish (Español) — for patients from Spain, Latin America, and Spanish-speaking US residents
- Arabic (العربية) — RTL-supported documentation and verbal support
For diplomatic patients (designated by their embassy) and very specialised language requirements, professional interpreter services can be arranged in advance. Embassy staff identifying themselves as such at booking receive priority scheduling.
Special considerations for dental tourists
Combining the first consultation with treatment planning
If you're travelling to Tokyo specifically for dental work, schedule the in-person consultation for Day 1 of your trip. The written plan is delivered same-day; if you're proceeding with treatment, the actual procedure can typically start the next day (or sometimes the same afternoon for simpler work). For complex cases that require lab work, your trip itinerary is built around the clinical-and-lab rhythm.
Remote pre-consultation before you fly
Dental tourism patients should use the free online consultation first, not the in-person visit, as the entry point. The preliminary written plan tells you what to expect in terms of trip length, total cost, and number of visits required — letting you plan flights and accommodation around the actual treatment scope rather than guesswork. The ¥19,900 in-person visit then refines the plan with the full diagnostic workup.
Special considerations for specific patient groups
For patients with dental anxiety
Anxiety-driven postponement of dental care is more common than most people assume — surveys suggest 20-30% of adults avoid routine dentistry because of fear. If this applies to you, mention it in your online consultation or at booking. The first visit can be adjusted: extended chair time so nothing feels rushed, IV sedation discussed up front if you're considering it for actual treatment, and the diagnostic workup itself broken into smaller steps with breaks. Many anxiety patients who postponed care for a decade or more complete their full treatment plan at Rodin under IV sedation.
For elderly patients
First consultations for elderly patients (typically 70+) involve extended history-taking, especially around current medications and chronic conditions. We accommodate companion family members and mobility aids; the clinic is ground-floor accessible. Treatment plans for elderly patients prioritise comfort, predictability, and minimum-invasive interventions where appropriate.
For children and families
Pediatric care is available at Rodin, including preventive care and early orthodontic intervention (Myobrace, Smartee, Invisalign First). For very young children or special-needs cases, we may recommend a specialised pediatric clinic — this is discussed during the family consultation. Parents are welcomed into the treatment room throughout the visit.
What you take home
Every patient leaves the first consultation with a standard package of documents:
- Written treatment plan (English) — findings, recommended options, materials, timeline
- Itemised cost estimate — line-by-line breakdown of each procedure with JPY figures
- Pre-treatment instructions — what to do before any procedure begins
- Post-treatment care notes for any work done on the day (rare for first visits but covered if applicable)
- Medication list (if applicable) — prescriptions issued for any immediate need, with English usage instructions
- Receipt with the ¥19,900 fee itemised in English (suitable for insurance reimbursement)
