Invisalign instructor
Align-certified dentists Dr. Hiroshi Samoto, Dr. Koji Tokuhisa and Dr. Shuichiro Okano create treatment plans and provide Invisalign treatment.
OUR CLINIC
Our Clinic
Experience and expertise for each patient’s orthodontic care.
4,611 Invisalign cases
As a long-standing Invisalign Diamond Provider, we draw on the experience of treating each patient in our daily clinical care.
Treatment planning and progress reviewed by Dr. Samoto and Dr. Tokuhisa
They are involved from creating the treatment plan through monitoring progress and completing treatment.
Nine Invisalign awards in total
Dr. Hiroshi Samoto has received the prestigious Invisalign Award (Japanese) nine times. Dr. Tokuhisa and Dr. Okano have also received awards, and they apply what they have learned through these achievements to their approach to treatment.
Remote monitoring to help reduce travel
Virtual Care supports progress reviews; procedures that require an in-person visit are performed at the clinic.
Care in Tokyo Aoyama and Osaka Namba
Consult us at the clinic that is convenient for you.
Case count as of April 20, 2026.
Our Dentists
- 佐本博
- 徳久幸司
- 岡野修一郎
- 根岸千冬
- 豊城あずさ
- 藤巻良
- 米村美香
- 佐本良
- 上田桂子
- 魚田洋実
OUR APPROACH
Director & Treatment Philosophy
Experience built over time, focused on each individual.
Adult orthodontics | Preserving teeth and balancing your profile.
We aim for well-aligned teeth, a healthy bite and a profile in harmony with your face, while preserving your natural teeth wherever possible. We carefully develop individual plans to avoid extracting healthy teeth as far as clinically appropriate.
We refine the sequence and method of tooth movement to limit attachment sites and numbers, and the sites and amount of interproximal reduction (IPR), to what treatment requires. We refine plans with appearance, function and comfort in mind.
Every patient’s treatment simulation is created by Dr. Hiroshi Samoto at our Tokyo clinic or Dr. Koji Tokuhisa at our Osaka clinic. They take time to review and revise it against the examination records before finalizing the treatment plan.
Children’s orthodontics | Supporting growth and everyday comfort.
Children’s treatment may extend over a longer period while we monitor jaw growth and the eruption of permanent teeth. Throughout this time, we prioritize comfortable treatment with as little disruption to school and everyday activities as possible.
Depending on tooth eruption, treatment progress and the appliance used, there may be phases when wear can be limited to sleeping hours. We aim to balance necessary care with everyday comfort and tailor wear schedules and appointment intervals to each child’s oral condition.
The need for extractions and the required wearing time depend on oral condition, appliance type and treatment stage, and are determined by the treating dentist.
HIROSHI SAMOTO
Hiroshi Samoto
Chair, R Medical Corporation / Director, Tokyo Clinic
PhD in Dentistry / Certified Orthodontist, Japanese Orthodontic Society
Experience since 2006,
applied to your individual treatment plan.
Careful attention to your orthodontic concerns.
As a dentist who has personally experienced orthodontic treatment, I consider treatment while listening to each patient's concerns and wishes. I apply the clinical experience and knowledge I have gained to a treatment plan suited to each person's oral condition.
Our achievements
OUR EXPERIENCE
Invisalign treatment experience
Building our experience with each patient since opening in 2006.
Total cases4,611 casesFrom 2006 to April 20, 2026View cases by year
Cases by year
Available records: 2006–2021
| Year | Cases |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 149 |
| 2007 | 225 |
| 2008 | 206 |
| 2009 | 192 |
| 2010 | 229 |
| 2011 | 174 |
| 2012 | 198 |
| 2013 | 227 |
| Year | Cases |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 241 |
| 2015 | 229 |
| 2016 | 242 |
| 2017 | 239 |
| 2018 | 258 |
| 2019 | 243 |
| 2020 | 253 |
| 2021 | 264 |
Total for the 16 listed years: 3,569 cases
The annual figures are based on records for 2006–2021. Their period differs from the total of 4,611 cases as of April 20, 2026. Annual figures from 2022 onward are not shown.
Aoyama R Orthodontics opened in 2006 as a clinic specializing in Invisalign treatment. Our experience with complex cases informs each patient’s treatment plan.
Invisalign Awards recognition (recognition of treatment cases)
Case numbers are one indication of experience, but they alone do not establish the quality of treatment planning or results. We value each patient’s plan and outcome. Our Invisalign Awards record reflects recognition of actual treatment cases arising from these efforts.
These awards, organized by US-based Align Technology, recognize outstanding Invisalign treatment cases. Held annually on a global scale with participation from more than 28 countries, they select three recipients—first through third place—from hundreds of nominees worldwide. Since 2017, selection has been by region—Americas, Europe and Asia—with nine recipients in total.
Regions and categories vary by year. See our awards page for details.
View awards → (Japanese)Case numbers and awards do not guarantee individual treatment outcomes.
Award ceremonies overseas
Award plaques displayed at the clinic
A message from the director
Welcome
Aligning the teeth and improving the bite through orthodontic treatment can bring many wonderful changes beyond a more attractive appearance. It can also have positive emotional effects, such as greater confidence in your smile and a more positive, outgoing outlook.
Having undergone orthodontic treatment myself, I deeply understand the joy of seeing my teeth beautifully aligned, overcoming my insecurities and feeling more at ease. I approach treatment every day with the wish to share that experience with as many patients as possible.
With the aim of providing orthodontic treatment with as little stress as possible, we introduced transparent, discreet Invisalign clear aligners when the clinic opened and have since accumulated extensive experience. Today, we welcome patients of all genders and a wide range of ages, from elementary school children to people in their sixties.
I especially want to recommend clear aligner treatment to people who have given up on orthodontics because they believe it would be difficult alongside sports, playing a musical instrument, customer-facing work, sales or other activities.
The wish to have beautifully aligned teeth is, of course, important. But our goal goes beyond appearance: we place the greatest emphasis on achieving a healthy, functional bite that can be maintained over the long term.
Depending on your oral condition, we may therefore suggest combining clear aligners with fixed braces to make treatment more efficient and effective. Even in those cases, we consider appearance by placing wires only on the back teeth where possible and strive to keep the period of use to a minimum. We respect your preferred appliance while aiming for a comfortable treatment experience.
We also make the most of the appliance's characteristics and focus on non-extraction treatment wherever possible. Even if extraction becomes necessary, treatment with clear aligners is possible. We will do our best to help you feel glad that you came to us, even if you had almost given up, so please feel free to visit for a consultation.
The R in Aoyama R Orthodontic Clinic represents positive steps forward: Reborn, Restart, Recover and Refresh.
All of us at the clinic sincerely hope that your orthodontic treatment here will be a step toward a richer, brighter life.
Career, professional memberships and qualifications
Professional memberships and qualifications
Degrees and qualifications
- PhD in Dentistry (Orthodontics, Graduate School of Nihon University, 2003)
- Certified Orthodontist, Japanese Orthodontic Society
- Vice President, Aligner Orthodontics Certification Association (ABAO)
Professional memberships
- Member, Japanese Orthodontic Society
- Member, American Association of Orthodontists
- Member, Japan Dental Association
- Member, Tokyo Dental Association
- Member, Azabu-Akasaka Dental Association, Minato-ku, Tokyo
- Member, Japanese Academy of Sports Dentistry
- Member, Azabu-Akasaka Orthodontists Association
Editorial activities
- International editorial board member, Journal of Aligner Orthodontics (Quintessence)
Selected awards
- 1997
- Received the Dean's Award, Nihon University School of Dentistry
- 2003
- Received the Dentsply Award, Japanese Society of Conservative Dentistry
- 2004
- Received the Encouragement Award, Japanese Society of Conservative Dentistry
- 2012
- Received the 2012 Invisalign Peer Review Award
- 2016
- 2016 Invisalign Global Gallery Treatment of the Month
award received - 2017
- Received the 2017 Invisalign Peer Review Award
- 2018
- Received the 2018 Invisalign Peer Review Award
Selected international conference presentations during graduate studies
- 2001
- Lectured at the 79th IADR (International Association for Dental Research) meeting
- 2001
- Presented at the 7th ICCBMT (International Conference on the Chemistry and Biology of Mineralized Tissues)
Career history
April 1991
Entered Nihon University School of Dentistry
March 1997
Graduated from Nihon University School of Dentistry (received the Dean's Award)
After graduation, devoted his time at the university hospital to research and clinical practice in orthodontics and periodontology.
April 1998
Joined the Department of Orthodontics, Nihon University School of Dentistry at Matsudo
April 1999
Specialized in orthodontics at Nihon University Graduate School
March 2003
Awarded a doctorate for research into bone sialoprotein (BSP), which is involved in bone metabolism
April 2003
Appointed research associate, Department of Periodontology, Nihon University School of Dentistry at Matsudo
December 2003
Became a Certified Orthodontist of the Japanese Orthodontic Society
After certification, studied periodontal treatment for three years in the Department of Periodontology at Nihon University School of Dentistry at Matsudo.
2006
Opened Aoyama R Orthodontic Clinic in Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, and began providing Invisalign treatment
2009
Opened Aoyama R Orthodontic Clinic Osaka in Namba, Osaka
2013
Selected as an Invisalign APAC Advisory Board member
Won first place in the Invisalign Peer Review Award six times (2012–2014 and 2016–2018) in the Invisalign Gallery organized by Align Technology, USA, with participation from 27 countries.
Lectures at conferences around the world as an Invisalign speaker
Research and lectures
Selected activities: research presentations, lectures, conferences and publications
This book was written for clinicians specializing in orthodontics, bringing together information to help them correctly learn the basic process of aligner treatment and how to identify suitable cases.
Dr. Samoto's article, A Customized Staging Procedure to Improve the Predictability of Space Closure with Sequential Aligners, was published in the internationally renowned Journal of Clinical Orthodontics (JCO).
September 17–20, 2026
Participated in the 2026 Align Global Faculty Meeting in Vienna, Austria
August 8, 2026
Lectured at ABAO Team Orthodontics Forum 2026 in Tokyo
June 2025
Presented at the Invisalign APAC Summit in Bangkok, Thailand
April 2025
Lectured at the 10th ICD XV-WOHLI International Conference in Malaysia
September 2024
Lectured at the Align Global Faculty Meeting in London
August 2024
Lectured at the Department of Orthodontics, Nihon University School of Dentistry at Matsudo
June 9, 2024
Presented at Invisalign Japan Forum 2024 in Tokyo
March 2024
Lectured at Align Southeast Asia Forum 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand
December 2023
Lectured at TAO (Taiwan Association of Orthodontists) in Taiwan
Please see our main activities in 2023 and earlier.
View earlier activities (Japanese)R BLOG
R Blog
Read R Blog (Japanese)YOUR FIRST STEP
Let's start with a conversation.
Tell us about your concerns about your teeth or orthodontic treatment.
LANGUAGE & RESERVATIONS
Languages and appointments
We provide care in Japanese and English. For consultations in Chinese, Korean or other languages, please bring an interpreter.
Some pages, including treatment cases and blog articles, are currently available in Japanese only.