UNAIR NEWS – Pride, joy, and emotions overcame Prof., Dr., drg., Ira Widjiastuti, M.Kes., S.KG(K) on Wednesday, October 6, 2021, as the lecturer of Conservative Dentistry, Faculty of Dental Medicine (FKG) Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) received the highest functional title as a lecturer.
The woman born in Surabaya, May 14, 1963, was officially inaugurated as a Professor of FKG UNAIR in Conservative Dentistry. Prof. Ira became the 34th active FKG Professor, the 522nd UNAIR Professor, and the 230th Professor of UNAIR PTN-BH.
On that occasion, Prof. Ira delivered an oration entitled Potential Combination of Calcium Hydroxide-Propolis as a Vital Pulp Therapy Medicament. Her oration was a response to the 2018 Basic Health Research data showing 57.4 percent of the Indonesian population had dental and oral problems, especially caries.
Prof. Ira explained how dental caries are caused by bacteria that damage the enamel, dentin, and pulp. In some cases, the exposed pulp can become inflamed, known as pulpitis. Prof. Ira highlighted the treatment of reversible pulpitis through pulp capping to maintain the vitality of the pulp.
An alternative composition offered by Prof. Ira for pulp capping is calcium hydroxide. “Calcium hydroxide is the gold standard for pulp capping treatment. However, it still has shortcomings because cell surface necrosis and tunnel defects still occur in the formed dentin, which can cause the entry of bacteria,” explained the 230th Professor of UNAIR PTN-BH.
Prof. Ira assessed that calcium hydroxide for pulp capping still needs to be added with antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and biocompatible properties. Thus, to find new treatment innovations, Prof. Ira also tried to consider the cost, convenience, and intervention. One of the needed interventions is the addition of materials to speed up treatment and maintain pulp vitality.
In this regard, Prof. Ira offered propolis as a good vehicle for calcium hydroxide. The combination of calcium hydroxide-propolis has been proven to have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects and can increase the proliferative activity of pulp cells.
“With this, new fibroblasts will transform into odontoblast-like cells and increase the expression of type-one collagen to replace damaged odontoblasts,” said the lecturer who received undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral education at UNAIR.
The formation of a dentine bridge over the injured area will protect the pulp tissue so that the pulp will remain vital. Based on these results, Prof. Ira believed that the combination of calcium hydroxide-propolis has potential as a vital pulp therapy medicament.
She closed the oration with a series of thanks to each party in FKG, the UNAIR academic community, and the extended family who provided endless support throughout her educational and career journey.
Besides Prof. Ira, UNAIR Rector also inaugurated two other professors, Prof. Dra. Esti Hendradi, M.Si., Ph.D., Apt. as Professor of the Faculty of Pharmacy in the Field of Pharmaceutics and Prof. Dr. Mustofa Helmi Effendi, drh., DTAPH. as Professor of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in the Field of Veterinary Public Health. (*)
Author: Intang Arifia
Editor: Binti Q. Masruroh
