Craig A. Yamamoto, DDS

Though Dr. Yamamoto was born in Urbana, IL, he was raised in Honolulu, HI, after his family returned to their roots. Originally, Dr. Yamamoto wanted to be a social worker so that he could help people. After a couple of years gaining social service experience, he decided he wanted a change, so he chose to return to Illinois and attend dental school. He was inspired by his uncle, who was a dentist, and felt that he’d enjoy the profession and the opportunity to work with his hands.

After beginning his education and volunteering to gain experience, Dr. Yamamoto discovered his passion for surgery. His wife encouraged him to pursue his dream, and so Dr. Yamamoto began his journey to become an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. Dr. Yamamoto is extremely interested in orthognathic and trauma therapy but ultimately found his niche in implants. The most rewarding part of his job is his ability to restore someone’s health with implant therapy. He enjoys the chance at completely changing someone’s life with treatment.

Dr. Yamamoto completed his undergraduate education at the University of Hawaii, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology. After realizing later on that he wanted to pursue dentistry, he was encouraged to apply to dental school. He chose to return to Illinois to attend Northwestern University. In 1988, he was inducted into Omicron Kappa Upsilon (OKU) National Dental Honor Society and received his Doctorate of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree.

After dental school, Dr. Yamamoto participated in a one-year general practice residency at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. During this residency, he discovered his love for surgery and chose to continue his training by completing a four-year oral and maxillofacial residency at the University of California in San Francisco. During this residency, Dr. Yamamoto completed specialized training in the full scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery. He gained hands-on experience in the treatment of a wide range of oral and facial afflictions, and he also trained alongside licensed anesthesiologists, making him the highest qualified dental professional to safely administer all forms of sedation.

Outside of work, Dr. Yamamoto enjoys a variety of hobbies and activities. He enjoys teaching dental residents at the Lutheran Medical Center's AEGD program at Kokua Kalihi Valley Health Center. He enjoys spending time with his family, and he also enjoys traveling with his wife now that his children are grown up and out of the house. In addition to traveling, Dr. Yamamoto enjoys music and the arts, and when he gets the opportunity to visit colder climates, he also enjoys snowboarding.