Articles

Why choose DENKEN-HIGHDENTAL?

President and CEO: Hiroshi Okuno

Born in Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture in 1965. After working in development at a materials manufacturer, he joined Highdental Japan Co., Ltd. in October 1999. He was involved in the development of dental materials at the company for many years, and after the merger with Denken Co., Ltd. in July 2014, he worked as a technical staff member in the Materials Division. In June 2017, he was appointed Managing Director of DENKEN-HIGHDENTAL Co., Ltd. In June 2018, he was appointed President and Representative Director of the same company.

As a comprehensive manufacturer of dental prosthetics, we rely on "steadiness" and "teamwork" to meet the rapidly changing needs that support the industry.

The dental industry is currently undergoing rapid digitalization. Digital technology is advancing at a rapid pace compared to analog methods, and if we're not careful, we'll be left behind in no time. That's why we never neglect our diligent information gathering. In addition to analyzing the latest technologies presented at academic conferences, we also visit domestic and international exhibitions to check the product trends and developments of various manufacturers. On top of that, we identify various needs through conversations with our customers and use that to develop new products. Since I originally came from a technical background, I ask for regular reports on the progress of development within the company. As a "manufacturer," it is my minimum responsibility as the top executive to always be aware of the stage of product development. On the other hand, I encourage employees to actively contribute any ideas they have. Just the other day, a female employee found a cosmetic brush at a general store and asked, "Could this be used in dentistry?" I don't have that kind of sensibility myself, so I want to continue to cherish it.

What's important is not the result,
Understanding the factors and moving forward

"Okuno, don't just get up empty-handed. Grab onto something, even a pebble, and get up," these were the words of my mentor during my university days. At the time, I didn't really understand them, but after becoming a working adult, I've come to truly grasp their meaning. When you try something, the probability of success is much lower than the probability of failure. The probability of failure is overwhelmingly higher, but giving up at that point is out of the question. When you try again, it's important to thoroughly analyze why you failed the first time. Within the company, we are thorough in analyzing the causes and reporting them, and we encourage everyone to think carefully not just about what didn't work, but why it didn't work and what to do next. By doing so, we believe that the probability of success will naturally increase.

Especially in times of hardship,
We will take on the challenge with a "never give up" spirit.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the dental industry. Unfounded rumors have spread, and it seems that the number of patients visiting dental clinics has decreased by about 30% compared to previous years. We too have gone through a difficult period where we were unable to operate as we would like, but we have been thinking about how to turn the negative aspects of the pandemic into positives, such as producing product description videos, holding online seminars, and even performing simple repairs that would have previously required a visit by watching videos. In fact, overseas customers have given us positive feedback on how easy our videos are to understand, and this has led to orders.

We will continue to support people's smiles and quality of life through healthy teeth.

Currently, our business is limited to treating cavities or teeth after they have been lost. While this area will continue to be the core of our company, we also plan to develop products that prevent cavities before they develop, as well as materials and equipment that can be used for home visits for patients who cannot come to the hospital. In today's medical industry, the concept of QOL (Quality of Life), that is, improving the quality of life, is highly valued, and teeth are indispensable to achieving this. We often see denture adhesives advertised on TV as allowing you to chew food properly, but being able to chew food with your own teeth or dentures, and feeling that soft foods are soft and hard foods are hard, is very important and enjoyable. As a comprehensive manufacturer of dental prosthetics, we want to continue to support people's healthy lives.