What does it take to create smiles that don't just look good on day one — but stay beautiful for decades?

In this episode of All Pulp No Fiction, Dr. Akram Al-Wahabi sits down with Dr. Tadahiko Nakano, award-winning clinician and third-generation dentist, to explore the thinking behind truly predictable aesthetic dentistry.

Dr. Nakano shares how his mentors at Harajuku Dental Office — including SJCD founder Dr. Masao Yamazaki — shaped his interdisciplinary philosophy, and why modern aesthetics is no longer just about white teeth.

From managing "pink aesthetics" and gummy smiles to microsurgical soft-tissue techniques, digital facial scanning, and knowing exactly when to choose indirect ceramic restorations over direct composites, this conversation is a masterclass in comprehensive treatment planning.

In this episode:

- Why Dr. Nakano became a dentist — and the mentors who shaped his career.

- White aesthetics vs. pink aesthetics: why the gum matters as much as the tooth.

- Function first: bite force, oral function testing, and data gathering in an aging society.

- Digital workflow: intraoral scanning, facial scans, and communicating with technicians.

- Direct vs. indirect restorations — the decision-making framework.

- Microsurgery and avoiding scar formation in crown lengthening and root coverage.

- Advice for young dentists entering interdisciplinary dentistry.

See Dr. Nakano live at the 6th GC International Dental Symposium:

Dr. Nakano will be lecturing on "Advantages of Periodontal Microsurgery in the Esthetic Zone" as part of the Next-Generation Dental Leadership session — a program bringing together top-voted speakers from previous NextGen editions, integrating restorative and periodontal excellence.

Saturday, October 3

If today's conversation on interdisciplinary care, white & pink esthetics, and microsurgery sparked your interest, don't miss the chance to see these concepts demonstrated live through his clinical cases.

Register:

https://www.gc.dental/japan/6thsymposium/en/registration

Session details:

https://www.gc.dental/japan/6thsymposium/en/session/sessions33-34

All Pulp No Fiction is presented by GC Corporation, Academic Division – Dental Information Center.

What does 50 years of clinical excellence teach you about what really matters in dentistry?

In this episode of All Pulp No Fiction, Dr. Akram Al-Wahabi sits down with Dr. Masao Yamazaki — founder and president of SJCD, one of the largest dental study clubs in the world with over 3,000 members — for a conversation spanning five decades of dentistry.

Dr. Yamazaki opened his private practice in Harajuku in 1974 and, inspired by his mentor Dr. Raymond Kim in the United States, went on to shape comprehensive dentistry in Japan. He has witnessed — and driven — every major shift in the field: from the occlusion-focused 1970s, through the periodontal revolution of the 1980s, to aesthetics, implantology, and the digital era. His prediction for the next frontier may surprise you: not digital, but sleep dentistry.

Along the way, he shares his definition of good treatment ("not a hot dog" — a minimum 10-year prognosis), why misdiagnosis is where complex cases fail, why there is only ever one diagnosis but many treatment plans, why hygienists are partners rather than assistants, and his warning to a social-media generation of dentists chasing aesthetics while forgetting endo, perio, and orthodontic fundamentals. At the end, he reveals something he has never seen anywhere else in the world: his own clinical cases documented for 40 to 50 years.

In this episode:

- From Harajuku, 1974 to founding SJCD — and the mentor who changed everything

- The evolution of dentistry: occlusion → perio → aesthetics → implants → digital → sleep

- "Not a hot dog": defining good treatment by long-term prognosis, minimum 10 years

- One diagnosis, many treatment plans — where complex cases really fail

- Social media aesthetics vs. the fundamentals: endo, perio, and ortho first

- Communication, national insurance, and elevating patients to informed decisions

- The role of hygienists, tissue biotypes, and material selection (lithium disilicate vs. zirconia)

- Japanese dentistry's world-class precision — and its one weak point

- His final message to young dentists: always back to the basics, and keep working.

See Dr. Yamazaki live at the 6th GC International Dental Symposium

Dr. Yamazaki will be lecturing in the "Esthetic Restorative Dentistry" session alongside Prof. Marco Ferrari and Dr. Kazunori Otani at the 6th GC International Dental Symposium — held October 3–4, 2026 at the Tokyo International Forum, on GC's 105th anniversary.

If today's conversation on long-term prognosis, comprehensive treatment planning, and five decades of documented cases sparked your interest, don't miss the chance to see his clinical work presented live.

Register: https://www.gc.dental/japan/6thsymposium/en/registration

Symposium details: https://www.gc.dental/japan/6thsymposium/en

All Pulp No Fiction is presented by GC Corporation, Academic Division – Dental Information Center.

Get the latest information on the 6th International Symposium here: https://tinyurl.com/nhhc5anx

In this episode of the All Pulp No Fiction Dental Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Celine Higton to explore her journey from architecture to dentistry, her first-ever visit to Japan, and how culture, artistry, and precision shape her approach to modern adhesive dentistry. She discusses the evolution of adhesive techniques, the critical steps that determine long-term success—especially dentine bonding and rubber dam isolation—and practical insights on shade matching, composite shrinkage, and balancing direct vs. indirect restorations. Outside the clinic, Dr. Celine shares her passion for motorbikes, the challenge of finding balance, and her advice for young dentists striving for excellence. She closes with a message to attendees of the upcoming 6th International Dental Symposium: it’s a lineup and experience not to be missed.

Dr. Celine's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drcelinehigton/

Paper mentioned in the interview:

Clinical in-situ evaluation of the effect of rubber dam isolation on bond strength to enamel. (Link: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jerd.12979)

Get the latest information on the 6th International Symposium here: https://tinyurl.com/nhhc5anx

In this episode of the All Pulp No Fiction Dental Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Bora Korkut for a deep and energetic conversation spanning culture, dentistry, photography, and clinical philosophy. Fresh from his hands-on courses in Japan, Dr. Korkut reflects on the unique spirit of Japanese dentistry, his academic path, and why combining research with clinical practice keeps him inspired. We dive into one of his favorite topics—shade matching—as he breaks down the science behind color selection, the power of cross-polarized photography, and how modern composite materials simplify aesthetic challenges. He also discusses treatment planning mistakes, the importance of isolation, curing, materials, and instrumentation, as well as his approach to direct vs. indirect restorations, minimally invasive workflows, and pre-restorative aligner therapy. Finally, Dr. Korkut offers advice for young dentists and shares why the upcoming 6th International GC Symposium is an event no clinician should miss.

Dr. Bora's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.borakorkut/

Papers Mentioned in the Interview:

Paraflash Photography Technique: A Novel Paraflash-Softbox Setup for Standardized Anterior and Posterior Intraoral Photography. ( Link: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/376811418_A_Novel_Paraflash-Softbox_Setup_for_Standardized_Anterior_and_Posterior_Intraoral_Photography_Anterior_ve_Posterior_Standardize_Intraoral_Fotograflama_icin )

Effect of prerestorative short-term clear aligner therapy in restorative treatment planning. (Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37179153/ )

Join us in the 6th International Symposium. More information https://tinyurl.com/nhhc5anx

Today's guest is Prof. Marco Ferrari. Professor Ferrari is a distinguished figure in the field of dental medicine, currently serving as a full professor at the University of Siena's School of Dental Medicine. With a robust academic background that includes degrees in Medicine and Dentistry, as well as a Ph.D. from the University of Amsterdam, he has held significant positions such as Dean of the School of Dental Medicine and Vice Rector for International Relations at the University of Siena. His contributions have been pivotal in advancing dental research and education on both national and international levels.

More information on the 6th International Symposium Here:

https://tinyurl.com/nhhc5anx

Dr. Tobias Klur is an orthodontist from Germany with a focus on functional dentistry and dental sleep medicine. He is the co-owner of a practice and a researcher at the University Hospital of Cologne.

https://www.instagram.com/kfo.euskirchen

More information on the 6th International Symposium Here:⁠https://tinyurl.com/nhhc5anx⁠

Injection moulding is all about fully guided composites and achieving a pre-determined outcome in direct restorations. In this podcast indications, limitations and latest evolutions are discussed to offer an introduction to the injection moulding technique. My name is Kostas, I am a Prosthodontist in London and I have been teaching the technique at Prosthoworks for 5 years in collaboration with GC.

https://www.instagram.com/kostas_karagiannopoulos/

More information on the 6th International Symposium Here:

https://tinyurl.com/nhhc5anx

Dr. Gertrud Fabel is a passionate speaker on topics related to her profession as a female digital dentist in Munich. Dedicated to redefining workflows to make the patient experience in her practice as pleasant as possible, she collaborates with colleagues from universities and organizations around the world.

https://www.instagram.com/dr.gertrudfabel/