Lecturers from Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), led by drg. Tanti Deriaty, Sp.Ort., MDSc, and team members drg. Aditya Rachmawati, Sp.Ort(K) and drg. Zulfi Amalia Bachtiar, MDSc, conducted a community service program on Tuesday, August 23, 2022. The program focused on the prevention and treatment of dental malocclusion for students at SLB-E Negeri Pembina Provincial Level, a school that has frequently collaborated with USU in community service initiatives.
According to 2014 WHO data, around 360 million people worldwide have hearing impairments, comprising 328 million adults and 32 million children. Hearing and/or speech limitations pose challenges for individuals with hearing disabilities in acquiring oral and dental health knowledge, including malocclusion prevention and treatment. These factors significantly influence their ability to maintain proper oral hygiene and health.
Mardi Panjaitan, S.Pd, the principal of SLB-E Negeri Pembina Provincial Level, explained, “Our school has 470 students across elementary, middle, and high school levels. Classes are categorized based on specific disabilities, including intellectual disabilities, hearing impairments, visual impairments, physical disabilities, and autism.”
Drg. Tanti Deriaty, Sp.Ort., MDSc, the program leader, stated, “Our team was inspired to create a socialization program on preventing and treating dental malocclusion through animated videos with sign language. This approach aims to make the information accessible to hearing-impaired students, addressing communication barriers and the lack of tailored educational materials for children with special needs.”
The activities included an educational session on harmful habits that lead to improper dental alignment, followed by a toothbrushing practice session, during which students were provided with dental models and toothbrushes to demonstrate proper techniques.
After the event, Principal Mardi Panjaitan, S.Pd shared his appreciation, saying, “This program has provided our students with valuable knowledge and a different learning method using dental models and videos specifically designed for hearing-impaired children.”
Both Drg. Tanti Deriaty, Sp.Ort., MDSc, and Mardi Panjaitan, S.Pd expressed their hopes for the students to better understand proper oral care and the importance of avoiding habits that lead to dental malocclusion. The principal also suggested conducting dental check-ups in the future to assess students' oral health.
The students of SLB-E Negeri Pembina enthusiastically welcomed the program, as demonstrated by their active participation in the quiz sessions. This initiative is hoped to expand their knowledge and encourage healthier dental practices, ensuring improved oral health for all students.
