A warm and sincere welcome to you from all of us at Kikuzuki Dental Clinic. For over 30 years, we have been more than just a dental practice; we are a dedicated part of the Morioka community, a family of professionals committed to safeguarding the oral health of your family. Here, we blend the wisdom of decades of experience with the precision of modern dental technology to create a patient experience that is rooted in trust, comfort, and outstanding clinical results. We believe that a healthy smile is a cornerstone of a happy life, and it is our profound honor to be your chosen partners on your journey to lifelong dental wellness.
A Message from Our Director: A Story Rooted in Our Hometown
Hello, my name is Keigo Kikuzuki, and I am the director of Kikuzuki Dental Clinic. Our story is not just one of a dental practice, but of a lifelong commitment to the city and people who raised me.
My roots run deep in the soil of Morioka. I was born and raised here, in a family of dedicated civil servants—my father a teacher, my mother a postal worker—who instilled in me the profound value of community service. This upbringing shaped my path, leading me to our esteemed local Iwate Medical University School of Dentistry, from which I graduated in March 1979. Eager to build upon this foundation, I enrolled in the dental prosthodontics department at my alma mater. There, under the mentorship of the brilliant Professor Hisatoshi Tanaka, I was taught the intricate art and science of restoring smiles, a discipline that requires both technical precision and a deep understanding of human anatomy.
My education was not confined to the university. I also had the privilege of serving as the director of the Muronemura Dental Clinic in the southern part of the prefecture. It was there, amidst the bustling flow of numerous patients from all walks of life, that I honed my skills in comprehensive general dentistry, learning to address a vast spectrum of needs with speed, empathy, and expertise.
In 1983, my wife, Yuriko, also a proud alumnus of Iwate Medical University, graduated. We shared a powerful, unifying dream: to return to our beloved hometown of Morioka and establish a family-run dental practice. We envisioned a clinic that would be a cornerstone of the community, a place where our neighbors could receive world-class care from people they knew and trusted—their local family doctors.
In July 1984, this dream became a reality. We opened our first clinic in a renovated house in Matsuzono 1-chome with just three dental units and a great deal of hope. The community embraced us, and as the number of patients who entrusted us with their care steadily grew, we knew we had to expand to better serve them. In April 1988, we took a significant step forward, moving to our current location in Matsuzono 2-chome into a newly constructed building with five units.
Our commitment to our patients’ convenience and comfort has driven every decision since. We incorporated in 1993, which allowed us to further invest in our facilities. We have since added a second floor to our building, secured a second parking lot to ensure you always have a place to park, and even installed road heating to provide safe and easy access during Morioka’s challenging winters.
Today, after more than 30 years, our passion for dentistry and our community is stronger than ever. In 2002, we were honored with the designation of a clinical training facility for new dentists, a testament to the high standards of care we uphold. Our clinic has grown to six state-of-the-art dental units, supported by a remarkable team of 10 professionals. This includes three highly skilled dental hygienists, two in-house dental technicians who craft beautiful restorations with artistic precision, three dedicated dental assistants, and two warm and friendly receptionists who are the welcoming face of our practice. We are also fortunate to have a dentist dispatched to us on a part-time basis from Iwate Medical University, keeping us connected to the latest academic advancements.
We take immense pride in the fact that most of our staff have been with us for a long time. This longevity has fostered a culture of seamless teamwork and a shared understanding of our patient-first philosophy. We are not just colleagues; we are a work family, and we extend that sense of family to every person who walks through our doors.
Our Comprehensive Dental Services: A Holistic Approach to Your Smile
We offer a full spectrum of dental treatments designed to meet the diverse needs of your entire family, from the youngest child to the most senior member. Our approach is comprehensive, addressing not only immediate concerns but also focusing on the prevention and long-term stability of your oral health.
General and Preventive Dentistry: The Foundation of Lifelong Health
The most effective dental care is preventive care. Our goal is to protect your natural teeth and gums for a lifetime, preventing complex problems before they begin.
- Comprehensive Examinations: Your visit begins with a thorough oral examination, supplemented by advanced diagnostics like digital X-rays and detailed model examinations. This allows us to gain a complete, three-dimensional understanding of your oral health and detect any potential issues at their earliest, most treatable stage.
- Periodontal (Gum) Therapy: Healthy gums are the foundation of healthy teeth. We provide expert treatment for gingivitis and periodontitis, from professional cleanings and the meticulous removal of tartar to more advanced surgical treatments for severe cases. We are committed to helping you maintain healthy gums to prevent tooth mobility and loss.
- Endodontic Therapy (Root Canals): If the delicate nerve inside a tooth becomes infected or inflamed, it can cause severe pain. Our precise endodontic therapy, or root canal treatment, is a tooth-saving procedure. We carefully remove the infected tissue, disinfect the inner chamber of the tooth, and seal it to prevent reinfection, relieving your pain and preserving your natural tooth.
- Fillings and Inlay Restorations: When a cavity develops, we restore the tooth’s integrity and function. We offer modern composite resin fillings that blend seamlessly with your tooth color, as well as custom-crafted inlays. For inlays, an impression is taken and a durable metal or ceramic restoration is created in our lab to fit the cavity perfectly, providing exceptional strength and longevity.
Restorative Dentistry: Rebuilding Your Smile with Confidence and Artistry
If you have damaged, decayed, or missing teeth, our restorative solutions can bring back the function, comfort, and aesthetic beauty of your smile. Dr. Keigo Kikuzuki’s advanced training in prosthodontics ensures that every restoration is crafted with the utmost precision.
- Crown Restorations (Caps): A crown is a protective cap that covers the entire visible portion of a tooth, restoring its shape, size, and strength. We offer a range of options to suit your needs and budget:
- Insurance-Covered Crowns: For back teeth, durable metal crowns are available. For front teeth, we offer veneer crowns, which have a metal base for strength and a tooth-colored resin surface for a pleasing appearance.
- Dental CAD/CAM Crowns: We embrace modern technology. Using advanced CAD/CAM (Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing), we can digitally design and mill incredibly precise, all-white ceramic crowns for premolars right here in our clinic. This technology often allows for beautiful, durable restorations to be covered by insurance.
- Premium Private Options: For those seeking the highest level of aesthetics and biocompatibility, we offer Metal-Bond crowns (porcelain fused to a metal alloy) and state-of-the-art All-Ceramic crowns, which offer unparalleled, life-like translucency.
- Prosthetic Replacements (Bridges & Dentures): Missing teeth can affect your ability to chew, speak, and smile confidently. We offer several excellent solutions:
- Bridges: A fixed, non-removable solution that “bridges” the gap left by one or more missing teeth. It involves placing crowns on the adjacent teeth (abutments) and attaching a prosthetic tooth (pontic) between them.
- Partial and Complete Dentures: We design custom, comfortable removable dentures to replace multiple missing teeth (partial denture) or an entire arch of teeth (complete denture). We also offer advanced options like non-clasp dentures for improved aesthetics and comfort, and highly durable metal-based dentures for a superior fit and function.
Advanced and Specialized Treatments for Complex Needs
Our expertise extends to more complex dental and oral health conditions, allowing us to provide truly comprehensive care.
- Dental Implants: Widely considered the gold standard for replacing missing teeth, dental implants are a permanent, stable solution that looks, feels, and functions just like a natural tooth. We work in close, seamless partnership with the specialists at Matsuura Dental Clinic for the surgical placement of the implant, after which we complete the restoration process here by crafting a beautiful, custom crown.
- Orthodontics (Braces): A straight smile is not only more beautiful, but it is also significantly healthier and easier to clean. Dr. Yuriko Kikuzuki, an active member of the Japanese and Tohoku Orthodontic Associations, provides expert orthodontic care for both children and adults. She can correct misaligned teeth, crowded smiles, and bite issues, improving both aesthetics and long-term oral health.
- Sleep Apnea Syndrome Treatment: Loud, chronic snoring and persistent daytime fatigue can be signs of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), a serious condition where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. This deprives your body of necessary oxygen and can lead to significant health problems. We can perform simple screening tests in our clinic. If OSA is suspected, we can refer you to a specialized medical institution or discuss the fabrication of a custom oral appliance, which is worn at night to help keep your airway open for a safe and restful sleep.
A Holistic Approach to Oral Wellness
We understand that your oral health is intrinsically linked to your overall well-being. We go beyond treating teeth and gums to support your body’s systemic health.
- Dry Mouth (Xerostomia) Examination: Saliva is your body’s natural defense against tooth decay and gum disease. A lack of saliva, or dry mouth, can significantly increase your risk of oral health problems. We can perform a simple, non-invasive test using a tasteless paraffin gum to measure your saliva volume, allowing us to diagnose and help you manage this condition effectively.
- Innovative Oral Care with Lactoferrin: We stay at the forefront of oral science. Lactoferrin is a remarkable multi-functional protein found in breast milk that protects newborns. In oral care, it has been shown to be effective in improving the health of the oral mucosa, fighting bad breath, supporting patients with periodontal disease, and providing relief from stomatitis and angular cheilitis.
- Nutritional Supplements for Systemic Support: We recognize the power of targeted nutrition. We can provide information on beneficial supplements that support oral and systemic health, such as “Euglena,” a miraculous microorganism with the properties of both animals and plants, and “Tenaka Danachi,” a potent herbal extract rich in flavonoids and saponins, which is known to be effective in supporting periodontal health and overall wellness.
Our Invitation to You
For over 30 years, our greatest reward has been the trusting smiles of our patients and the relationships we have built across generations. At Kikuzuki Dental Clinic, you are more than just a patient; you are a valued member of our extended clinic family. We invite you to experience a different kind of dentistry—one that is built on a legacy of trust, driven by a passion for excellence, and delivered with the warmth and compassion you deserve.