Patients who have age-related problems, physical, psychological and mental barriers may hinder their ability to achieve optimal dental health status. Patients with special needs require special treatment as well, and this is where the role of the nurse/caregiver is needed.
To understand the role of these dental nurses in providing dental health, the Department of Oral Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Indonesia carried out community service activities in the form of counseling to caregivers of individuals with special needs who are treated at the Palsigunung Double Impaired House, Jl. Raya Bogor, Pekayon, Kec. Ps. Rebo, East Jakarta. This activity carries the theme “Dental and Oral Health Solutions for Persons with Multiple Disabilities” and is held in a mixed/hybrid(online and offline) manner.
The purpose of this activity is to provide information about the importance of maintaining oral health, prevention of gum disease for individuals with special needs, as well as first aid that can be given by caregivers when facing emergency situations in carrying out their daily duties.
Head of the Department of Oral Medicine Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Indonesia, Dr. drg. Febrina Rahmayanti, Sp.PM (K), through her speech said that this activity was useful for understanding the dental health needs of patients with special needs. “It seems that it is necessary to collaborate between educational institutions and PDGI professional institutions, and on this occasion the chairman of the East Jakarta PDGI was also present, hopefully we will work together next time to increase the understanding of dentists related to special needs,” she said. special needs dentistry,” he said.
Vice Dean for Education, Research and Student Affairs of Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Indonesia, Prof. Dr. Ellyza Herda, drg. M.Si., in her speech said that this community service activity is a form of implementation of Higher Education Tri Dharma Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Indonesia, for the community. “In this case, the Department of Oral Medicine in collaboration with the Department of Periodontia Faculty of Dentistry Universitas Indonesia, held training activities on caregiver for individuals with special needs at Wisma Tuna Ganda. This activity is expected to improve the ability of caregivers in maintaining oral health, especially in individuals with special needs and later can achieve overall body health,” said Ellyza.
The counseling material in this activity was delivered by three speakers, namely, drg. Yanti Yulianti (a student of the oral disease specialist program class of 2020) who delivered a presentation on “Anatomy and Normal Variations of the Oral Cavity”. The second Speaker, drg. Benso Sulijaya, Ph.D., Sp.Perio(K) (Staff of Department of Periodontia FD UI) discussed about “Gum Disease and Its Prevention”, and drg. Cytha Nilam Chairani (a student of the 2020 oral disease specialist program) discussed “Handling Daily Emergencies”.
The Head of Wisma Tuna Ganda Social Home, Kristianti, said “We really appreciate this counseling activity organized by the Department of Oral Medicine Faculty of Dentistry Universitas Indonesia, because it is very beneficial in providing insight and knowledge to caregivers about handling oral health in individuals with special needs. I hope this activity can also be organized in other orphanages that need a lot of information related to oral diseases for individuals with disabilities, so that the benefits can be felt by more people.”
Through the material presented by the speakers, it is hoped that it can increase the insight of the nurse / caregiver in providing the best care to individuals with special needs, so that full body health, especially oral health, can be achieved. This activity was held on 27 October 2021 which was attended by 32 participants who work as nurses / caregivers of individuals with special needs, and was also attended by the Chairperson and Staff of the Department of Oral Medicine and Periodontia Faculty of Dentistry Universitas Indonesia and students of the Oral Medicine Specialist Dentist Education Program aculty of Dentistry Universitas Indonesia.
