The Faculty of Dentistry at Universitas Gadjah Mada (FKG UGM) provided free dental examinations and treatments for 70 residents of Tanjungsari in the Baron Beach area, Gunungkidul, on Monday (20/4). This community service activity was organized as part of the 78th anniversary celebration of FKG UGM to expand healthcare access for residents in coastal areas.
A representative of the Gunungkidul District Health Office, Lucilla Mintati, welcomed the strategic initiative from FKG UGM. According to her, this proactive outreach effort is highly appropriate considering that complaints related to dental and oral diseases remain relatively high among the community. The presence of the medical team on-site was considered very helpful in providing residents with proper treatment access without requiring long-distance travel to healthcare centers.
For the academic community of FKG UGM, this community service activity carried particular significance. The Dean of FKG UGM, Suryono, explained that directly engaging with the community offers an important perspective, especially for healthcare professionals. “For a long time, we have often heard stories from patients facing distance barriers in accessing healthcare facilities. Today, we are present among the community to provide healthcare services,” he said.
The services, which included basic examinations, dental scaling, and fillings, brought relief to local residents. Rifa Afriyani (30), one of the patients, stated that she was greatly helped by the free treatment. “I had long experienced throbbing tooth pain. After examination, it turned out the diagnosis was caused by tartar buildup. The presence of doctors from FKG UGM was very helpful because I could immediately receive scaling treatment. The service was excellent,” she said.
A similar benefit was felt by Tri Rahayu (26), who came with complaints of cavities. She received complete treatment on-site. “I am very grateful for the presence of the medical team here. Four of my teeth were filled earlier. The doctors provided excellent service and greatly helped us as coastal residents,” she concluded.
Author: Fajar Budi Harsakti
Photo: Fajar Budi Harsakti
