Dentist Fumihiko Kimura from Japan: “Prevention means extending the longevity of one’s health and lifetime.”

Inspiration is vital to nurture the ever-present need to grow.

Periodontist and endodontist Dr Fumihiko Kimura is relentlessly devoted to teaching other dental professionals how to treat endo-perio lesions, and to never give up. Dr Kimura is the kind of dentist who’s always full of beans, and ready to show kids how to look after their teeth – in the most entertaining way. In this short interview, you’ll also find out how his practice is connected to reggae music.

What routines do you find most critical for maintaining proper oral health?

To live one’s life to its full potential, one should take care of themself on multiple levels – and by this I don’t only mean going for regular dental recalls and taking care of their mouth. Leading a healthy lifestyle also means exercising, cooking, reading books, even going to beauty salons. To be able to do all this, keeping ourselves motivated is key – and a foundation for everything else.

What does the word prevention mean to you?

In my point of view, prevention means to extend the longevity of one’s health and lifetime.

What is your “golden rule” or advice that you tell your patients often?

Inspiration is vital in order to nurture the ever-present need to grow and have a quality life.

What’s the biggest challenge of your job?

The biggest challenge for me is to establish a new classification for endo-perio disease in cooperation with clinicians from all over the world.

What’s the thing that you like about your job the most?

In my daily practice, I often come up with many new things in terms of processes or approaches that aren’t universal yet. I love sharing my findings and views with other dentists around the world, and seeing that I can contribute to a better preventive care.

What’s the most important thing in the terms of oral care routine from your point of view?

From my perspective, any dental professional has to find out what’s precisely going on with patient’s mouth and determine the diagnose correctly. To do that, us dentists also need someone trustworthy who can coach us.

What’s the biggest oral health myth that you fight against?

A false prognosis that endo-perio disease cannot be cured. If you understand the strategy of preserving teeth, there is a good chance to save them.

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