Dental and oral health are still often considered non-urgent. Many people only visit the dentist when pain becomes unbearable—often with regret for delaying treatment. Some regret neglecting regular check-ups, while others feel disappointed after relying too much on product claims that fail to meet expectations.
For dental experts, particularly in periodontology, problems with the supporting tissues of the teeth are far from trivial. Such conditions can serve as indicators of more serious systemic disorders and may worsen chronic diseases such as diabetes.
In his inaugural speech as Professor of Periodontal Medicine at the Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Prof. Dr. drg. Ahmad Syaify, Sp.Perio., Subsp.RPID(K), FISID, emphasized the importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration in addressing the complexity of diabetic periodontitis. The inauguration ceremony took place on Tuesday, 24 June 2025 at the Senate Hall, UGM Main Building.
“Oral health is not a peripheral issue. It can be the gateway to various systemic diseases,” Prof. Ahmad Syaify asserted in his lecture titled Diabetic Periodontitis: Disease Complexity and Multidisciplinary Challenges.
He highlighted that periodontitis—often marked by bleeding gums and loose teeth—is not merely a local issue. In diabetic patients, chronic gum inflammation can worsen blood sugar control and increase the risk of severe complications, including cardiovascular disease. Conversely, diabetes also accelerates periodontal tissue damage.
Prof. Ahmad stressed that collaboration among dentists, internists, nutritionists, and psychologists is essential. “The human body has no departments. Everything is connected. Thus, gums and glucose, plaque and pancreas, must be seen as one integrated system,” he remarked.
According to the 2018 National Basic Health Research (Riskesdas), the prevalence of periodontitis in Indonesia reached 74.1% among people over 15 years old. At the same time, Indonesia ranks among the top five countries with the highest number of diabetes patients. Prof. Ahmad described this combination as a “ticking time bomb” for the healthcare system.
With more than two decades of work in periodontics, Prof. Ahmad has extensively studied the connection between periodontitis and diabetes, including how inflammation contributes to insulin resistance. He has also developed innovative therapeutic approaches, such as using natural materials (torch ginger) and integrating technologies like artificial intelligence and telemedicine.
He expressed his hope that dentists will no longer be seen merely as “tooth fillers” but as key partners in public health systems. “If periodontitis and diabetes can work together in causing harm, then we—academics and healthcare practitioners—must also work together to save patients,” he concluded.
Author: Fajar Budi Harsakti
Photographer: Dody Hendro W.
