UNAIR NEWS – Department of prosthodontics is one of the departments under the management of Faculty of Dental Medicine, Universitas Airlangga (FKG UNAIR). The department led by Prof. Dr. Nike Hendrijantini, drg., M.Kes., Sp.Pros. (K.) has only one study program, namely Prosthodontics Specialist program.
Prof. Nike said that the department has many advantages, including its five-year research collaboration with Tohoku University, Japan. Until now, the development of research being carried out is about the effect of Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSC) from the umbilical cord on dental implants.
“The research that I have done is research on animals with symptoms of osteoporosis, and I gave the experimental animals the MSC content obtained from the baby’s umbilical cord. The research was successful because there was a union between dentures and bone when dental implants were installed,” she said.
Other promoted activities also support this advantage by the department, such as collaborating with the Prosthodontic Specialist Professional Association (IPROSI) to conduct seminars and online hands-on activities with domestic and international speakers.
“The seminar was held so that department members and staff could update their knowledge even during a pandemic like this,” she said.
In addition, the department also has annual activities such as annual seminars, webinar series, regular community service every year with assisted villages in various cities in Indonesia. One of the cities with an assisted village was Probolinggo, where lecturers and students of the Dental Specialist Education Program (PPDGS) conducted counseling on nutrition and the need for tooth replacement and examining, molding, and inserting dentures.
“Then we also did a community service in Bangkalan, Madura. There, we do community service about the importance of dental and oral health for pregnant women,” she explained.
Prof. Nike said that the department has produced many outstanding graduates in the field of prosthodontics, for example, the Dean of the Faculty of Dental Medicine, Jember University, drg. Rahardyan Parnaadji, M.Kes., Sp. Pros. and the previous Health Service Health Division Head of the Lantamal XIII in Tarakan, drg. Agam, Sp. Pros.
Asked about the department’s future challenges, Prof. Nike answered that the department still had to carry out the university’s tri dharma activities even in difficult times due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The department will continue to innovate in the teaching system, community service and research so that all these activities continue to run safely for students and teaching staff.
“The seminar and hands-on sessions with IPROSI was an example of our innovation in updating the knowledge of the teaching staff,” she concluded.
Author: Adelya Salsabila Putri
Editor: Khefti Al Mawalia
