Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) installed three professors simultaneously from the Faculty of Dentistry (FKG UGM) on Tuesday (Jan. 14) in the Senate Hall of the UGM Central Office.
The three newly installed professors are Professor Sri Kuswandari, Professor Heni Susilowati, and Professor Dewi Agustina.
Professor Dewi Agustina, inaugurated in geriatric oral diseases, delivered a speech titled “Improving Oral Health to Achieve Optimal Quality of Life for the Elderly.”
According to Professor Agustina, a noticeable global population increase, including in Indonesia, leads to a growing number of elderly individuals.
This creates unique challenges in healthcare, including oral health.
“Oral health has not yet become a priority, resulting in deteriorating oral health and function as people age. This is also influenced by the concept of ageism, commonly accepted by the elderly,” she said.
Ageism reflects the attitude of elderly individuals who accept their deteriorating oral condition as natural and inevitable, seeing it as part of aging rather than a problem. This causes the elderly to feel less motivated to improve their oral condition.
“Deteriorating oral health in the elderly is not merely due to aging but is also the result of accumulated oral diseases that have long been neglected,” she explained.
Professor Agustina also mentioned that many systemic diseases or their treatments manifest in the oral cavity and, conversely, oral diseases can affect the management of systemic diseases, even increasing the risk of systemic illness.
“This connection is increasingly evident in elderly care, as most elderly individuals have compromised medical conditions,” she stated.
Meanwhile, Professor Susilowati, inaugurated in the field of oral microbiology and immunology, delivered a speech titled “The Role of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa in Oral Cavity Infections.”
In her presentation, Professor Susilowati emphasized the importance of comprehensive oral health care for all children through occlusal guidance.
Occlusal guidance involves guiding the eruption and development of teeth from the milk teeth phase through the mixed and permanent phases to achieve stable, functional, and aesthetically acceptable permanent teeth.
Orthodontic treatment results in children will not be stable if bad oral habits are not stopped. Therefore, dentists need to introduce comprehensive dental care concepts to children.
Cooperation between dentists, maternal and child healthcare providers, maternity hospitals, and midwives is essential.
Early intervention is needed to prevent malocclusion or abnormal teeth and jaw alignment, even from birth. Physiological stimulation is crucial to supporting the normal growth of the craniofacial complex.
“Recognizing and stopping children’s bad oral habits early on will prevent the development of malocclusion,” she explained.
Professor in pediatric dentistry Sri Kuswandari delivered a speech titled “Improving Oral Health to Achieve Optimal Quality of Life for the Elderly.”
According to her, dry mouth, a condition caused by reduced saliva production, commonly occurs in the elderly and is often a side effect of uncontrolled systemic diseases like diabetes mellitus and regular medication use, such as antihypertensives.
“Dry mouth makes the elderly more prone to oral infections such as gum disease and cavities due to poor oral hygiene,” she explained.
According to Professor Kuswandari, gum disease and cavities can cause the elderly to experience pain in their teeth and mouth, eating difficulties, and a loss of confidence, ultimately lowering their quality of life.
“In healthcare, quality of life is generally assessed based on overall health, while oral health is often overlooked,” she added.
She presented research conducted at elderly health centers in Yogyakarta, which showed that around 70% of the elderly have very low oral health-related quality of life. Poor oral health is the result of inadequate oral care, which makes the mouth unable to fulfill its functions.
Professor Kuswandari shared tips for the elderly to improve their oral health and achieve optimal quality of life, including maintaining oral hygiene, managing diagnosed systemic diseases, seeking further examinations if abnormal symptoms or signs arise, quitting smoking, stopping mouth breathing, and managing psychological issues such as stress, anxiety, and depression.
“Equally important is staying hydrated with at least 1.5 liters of water per day, having regular dental check-ups every six months, and never neglecting oral health,” she concluded.
Authors: Kezia Dwina Nathania and Tiefany Ruwaida Nasukha
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Afifudin Baliya
Photographer: Donnie