UNAIR NEWS – Another Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) lecturer has brought home a gold medal from an international competition. Dr. Alexander Patera Nugraha, DDS, M. Imun, M. Kes, Sp. Ort., a lecturer of UNAIR’s Faculty of Dental Medicine, earned 1st place in the Case Report category at the 17th Indonesian Association of Orthodontists Annual Meeting. The event, held from Wednesday to Saturday (September 18-21, 2024), took place in Nusa Dua, Bali.
Dr. Nugraha explained that this annual event is an international scientific meeting. It features two main competitions: case reports and original research articles. “This is an international scientific gathering for orthodontists across Indonesia,” he said.
Highly competitive selection
The case report category is known for its intense competition and prestige, attracting many participants. The competition serves as a key platform for orthodontic clinicians to demonstrate their skills and knowledge.
“Initially, participants must pass a selection process based on their abstracts. Those who succeed advance to the evaluation of their case report posters and presentation, leading to the selection of six finalists,” he explained.
In the final round, Dr. Nugraha presented his work to a panel of judges from renowned institutions, including Universitas Indonesia (UI), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), UNAIR, Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), Universitas Hasanuddin (UNHAS), and Trisakti University. Additionally, two international judges were present: Prof. Kee Joon Lee, DDS, PhD, an orthodontist and professor at Yonsei University, and Dr. Daljit Gill, a consultant orthodontist and senior lecturer at University College London Hospitals.
Reflections and judging criteria
Dr. Nugraha expressed immense pride in being able to uphold the reputation of his alma mater through his achievements. “This proves that UNAIR’s Faculty of Dental Medicine excels not only in research but also in clinical expertise, particularly in successfully treating complex cases,” he said.
He explained that several factors contributed to his win, including the attractiveness of the poster, the thoroughness of the treatment stages, the quality of the images, and the scientific clarity of the case report.
“Additionally, the uniqueness of the case I presented involved comprehensive, interdisciplinary treatment that considered not only the stomatognathic function but also the facial aesthetics of a patient with skeletal class III malocclusion, characterized by small lateral incisor sizes on both the upper jaw’s right and left sides. This approach significantly improved the patient’s quality of life,” he added.
Dr. Nugraha hopes that orthodontic camouflage treatments for malocclusion, especially those involving jaw size discrepancies and dental-skeletal misalignments, will become a recognized alternative treatment option. With accurate diagnosis, treatment planning, and execution, this method could advance dental health practices, particularly in orthodontics.
Author: Ahmad Hanif Musthafa
Editor : Edwin Fatahuddin
