Prof. Dr. drg. Juni Handajani, MKes., PhD., PBO served as a speaker at an expert lecture held in the auditorium of the Dental and Oral Hospital (RSGM) at Universitas Muhammadiyah Semarang (UNIMUS) on the topic of “Saliva as a Biomarker for Oral Health” on 6 March 2024. The event was attended by students and faculty from the Faculty of Dentistry (FKG) at UNIMUS.
In her lecture, Prof. Juni discussed the important role of saliva in maintaining oral health and body defense. Saliva is recognized as a mirror reflecting the health conditions of the oral cavity as well as overall systemic health. “Recent research indicates that saliva can be used as a biomarker to detect various abnormalities or disorders in the oral cavity and their relation to other health conditions,” she stated.
According to Prof. Juni, with easy and non-invasive sampling, saliva can detect health conditions ranging from dental caries to periodontal disease, as well as systemic diseases such as diabetes.
This activity aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 on good health and well-being, SDG 4 regarding quality education, SDG 9 related to innovation in industry and infrastructure, and SDG 17 about partnerships to achieve the goals. Thus, research on saliva as a biomarker is expected to contribute to the early detection of oral and systemic diseases, as well as strengthen collaboration between universities and research institutions.
Through this lecture, participants are expected to gain new insights that encourage further development in research and dental practice, thereby enhancing overall public health.
Authors: Prof. Dr. drg. Juni Handajani, MKes., PhD., PBO and Tryanindita
