Dental treatment in Asia is shifting from a purely curative to a more elective approach due to increased consumer affluence and improved oral health awareness. To meet the region's growing demand for dental consumables, Shofu stays ahead with advanced techniques and technologies. Celebrating 92 years of innovation, Shofu is world-renowned for its advanced dental technologies and superior clinical and lab products such as ceramic systems, abrasives, polishers and restorative materials. "Our artificial teeth products are popular in Asia, especially Endura, Japan's first hybrid hard-resin teeth," says president Noriyuki Negoro. "We carefully analysed the Japanese teeth structure to create a natural-looking form that suits the Asian teeth. This demonstrates our dedication to research and development to meet market needs." Shofu successfully developed GIOMER, a group of bioactive materials containing surface pre-reacted glass (S-PRG) ionomer filler particles. S-PRG technology promotes anticariogenic and antiplaque effects, and releases and recharges fluoride for remineralisation. Shofu's GIOMER-based products include Beautifil II, a light-cured direct aesthetic composite resin, and BeautiSealant, a pit and fissure sealant system. Another revolutionary device is Shofu's EyeSpecial C-II, a lightweight and durable digital dental camera with eight preset dental shooting modes. It features an intuitive 8.9cm LCD touch screen and Shofu's proprietary FlashMatic System that neutralises ambient light for consistent image results. Shofu's products are sold globally in more than 100 countries through overseas subsidiaries in the United States, Germany, Britain, Singapore and China. It works closely with its Singapore and Shanghai offices to strengthen its regional foothold. "We localise our products by incorporating feedback from our overseas subsidiaries," Negoro says. "China is the fastest-growing dental market, and its higher requirement for quality lifestyle generates a huge demand for dental care." Leading up to its centennial anniversary, Shofu pursues to expand its business in Asia by creating groundbreaking products and partnering with local distributors. "We uphold our commitment to oral health care through our innovations and excellent customer service," Negoro says. Shofu www.shofu.co.jp