Speaking in front of a classroom is part of a teacher’s daily routine. However, tooth loss makes some teachers feel less comfortable while teaching or interacting with students.
Rudi Hartanto, a teacher at SMAN 3 Yogyakarta, has experienced this condition. He admitted that several of his teeth were fragile and some had already fallen out. During a dental examination in the “Bring Back Indonesia Teachers’ Smiles” program, dentists discovered remaining tooth roots that needed to be extracted before denture fabrication could begin.
“I do have dental problems. Some teeth are missing as well,” said Rudi during the event on Monday (26/5).
The Faculty of Dentistry at Universitas Gadjah Mada (FKG UGM), in collaboration with PT Haleon, organized dental health examinations for teachers in Yogyakarta City. The program served as the initial stage before teachers underwent denture fabrication procedures.
For Rudi, programs like this are still quite rare. He said that general health services are commonly provided for teachers, but programs specifically focused on dentures are still limited.
“General health checkups may be common, but for dental care like this, this is my first time participating,” he said.
Teachers who attended did not immediately undergo denture impressions. Dentists first examined each teacher’s oral condition. Some teachers still required scaling, fillings, and tooth root extractions before proceeding to the next stage.
Lecturer and dentist from the Prosthodontics Department of FKG UGM, drg. Mohammad Fadyl Yunizar, M.PH., Ph.D., stated that the most common cases found among teachers were dental caries and tartar buildup. In addition, some teachers were already using dentures, but their condition was no longer optimal.
“Some dentures had changed color and their bite positions had shifted, so they really needed replacement,” he explained.
The program involved the Prosthodontics Department of FKG UGM together with professional dental students. Clinical students assisted with patient screening and examinations under dentist supervision.
According to drg. Fadyl, the activity also became part of the students’ educational process. Besides gaining clinical experience, students were able to directly encounter various patient conditions within the community.
On the other hand, PT Haleon Indonesia viewed teachers as a group with significant needs for denture services. Haleon Yogyakarta representative Apt. Fauzia stated that teachers rely heavily on communication during classroom teaching.
“Teachers speak in front of students every day. When they lose teeth, their confidence can also decrease,” she said.
Through this program, Haleon and FKG UGM targeted teachers in Yogyakarta City who needed dentures. Out of around 170 registered teachers, participants would undergo examination stages before entering the denture impression process.
Mass denture impressions are planned for July 2026, while denture installation is scheduled for August 2026.
Author: Fajar Budi Harsakti
Photo: Fajar Budi Harsakti
