Did you know that Tokuyama Dental America’s journey began more than a century ago with soda ash production in Japan? Our rich history is a testament to our growth, rooted in the strong foundation laid by Tokuyama Corporation, our parent company. As you read this blog, I invite you to explore our journey—from manufacturing soda products to pioneering innovative dental materials. 

Roots and Origins

Like any company, we all began somewhere and for us, that somewhere is the town of Tokuyama in the Yamaguchi Prefecture of Japan (now known as Shunan City). In 1918, Nihon Soda Kogyo Co., Ltd. began manufacturing soda ash domestically, remedying what was then Japan’s total reliance on imports. The success of the company led to exponential growth and the eventual name change to Tokuyama Corporation. Now getting from soda ash production to manufacturing the world’s first single shade dental composite has been a journey to say the least, with each new industry and product laying the foundation of the well-rounded business we are today. From soda ash to cement to petrochemicals to probiotics, our founders created a vast network of products that touch every facet of everyday life. It was in April of 1978 that Tokuyama expanded into the dental industry. Tokuyama is one of few manufacturers in the industry that is capable of conducting in-house research and development as well as manufacturing from base chemicals to the finished product. In our strive to create value that enhances people’s lives, a century of accomplishments and knowledge in chemistry is now shaping the future of dentistry. The success of the first few products led to the creation of Tokuyama Dental America in March of 1989 in order to satisfy our mission to support the public’s health. 

Growth and Innovation

At Tokuyama, we are 100% committed to Innovating Tomorrow’s Dentistry, Today™. It is our mission to listen to your needs, incorporate your voice into the development of top-quality dental products, and ensure our products meet the highest standards of the industry. The primary goal is not to change the fundamental practice that all dentists know and rely on but focus on the innovation of new products to assure both clinician and patient satisfaction. To quote Jeff Bezos "we innovate by starting with the customer and working backwards. The focus is not the product, but the customer.” We began with the launch of Rebase II in 2002 then led to Estelite Sigma in 2004. Improving, simplifying, and building to Estelite Omega in 2012 and Shield Force Plus in 2015. All these developments and customer feedback guided our researchers to create a product that revolutionized the industry. In 2019 we were able to accomplish exactly what Jeff Bezos was referencing with the launch of OMNICHROMA, the world’s first single shade universal composite resin wholly reliant on structural color to match tooth shades from A1 to D4. The award-winning product led to the development of a whole new category of dental consumables—single and reduced shade composites. Next came OMNICHROMA Flow in 2021 and OMNICHROMA Flow BULK in 2023 to create a full line of dental composites to meet every restorative need. As we look toward the future, you can expect the same philosophy and level of quality will be applied as we aim to improve upon what we believe to be one of the greatest advancements in dental history.

Carbon Footprint and Social Responsibility

With a multitude of offices across the globe and a wide range of products, our dedication to the environment and community remains a top priority. We ensure all our business activities focus on improving daily lives and contribute to a sustainable future. In addition to developing processes to reuse waste material, Tokuyama Corporation has taken the initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. In support of our direct community through Tokuyama Dental America, we created Tokuyama Empowers in 2019. Tokuyama Empowers strives to increase access to dental care for uninsured and underserved populations. The program aims to remove the barriers to dental care by cooperating with nonprofits, free clinics, national and local associations, and volunteer dentists, enabling people to receive the care needed to improve their health and quality of life. We are proud to have partnered with more than 20 organizations across the United States and Canada and donated more than $100,000 in products. 

Committing to a Lifetime of Customer Satisfaction

One of the key takeaways in our history lesson is longevity. Both Tokuyama Corporation and Tokuyama Dental are not new companies, we have spent the last 100+ years developing, creating, learning, and growing to become the reliable business we are today. This is thanks to all our dedicated employees, our pursuit of excellence, and our commitment to the environment. Most importantly, we would not be here without each and every one of you inspiring our strive for innovation and allowing us to listen to your needs. We owe our success to you—our customers—and we’re deeply grateful for your continued support on our 35-year journey with much more to come. 

Resources:

Innovative Dental Health Products - Tokuyama Dental America (tokuyama-us.com)

Tokuyama Dental Corporation – Tokuyama Dental Corporation (tokuyama-dental.com)

Tokuyama Corporation