UNAIR NEWS – A student team from the Faculty of Dental Medicine Universitas Airlangga has once again delivered a notable achievement on the national academic stage. The FKG UNAIR team claimed second place in the International Essay Oral Presentation category at The 8th Hasanuddin Dentistry Scientific Competition 2025. The team was led by Hanif Azzikri Hidayatullah, with members Nabil Ahmad Wafiudin and Muhammad Azka Rizkil Muna, under the supervision of Dr. Desiana Radithia, drg., SpPM(K).
The recognition was awarded for their scientific paper titled “Saliva’s Silent Guardian: Saliva Swab Technology Unveiling Cardiovascular Risks Hidden in Periodontal Disease.” The study examines the relationship between periodontal disease and cardiovascular risk through an innovative saliva-based detection approach.
Saliva as pathway for early detection of systemic disease
The team chose this topic in response to the persistently high global death toll from cardiovascular disease, alongside the widespread prevalence of periodontitis in Indonesia and worldwide. Poorly controlled gum inflammation can lead to systemic inflammatory responses and vascular damage, increasing the likelihood of heart and blood vessel disease.
Through their research, the team underscored that saliva is more than a digestive fluid; it contains critical biological indicators that reflect overall health. By using a simple, non-invasive saliva swab, oral health can function as an initial gateway for the early identification of cardiovascular risk.
Technological innovation and idea presentation
Saliva was selected as the core focus of the study due to its easy availability, patient-friendly collection process, and rich content of biomarkers that signal both local and systemic inflammation. The team highlighted the technology’s potential as an affordable, fast, and widely accessible tool for large-scale health screening.
What sets the project apart is its integrated system, combining a specialized swab, a disposable microfluidic chip, and artificial intelligence–driven biomarker analysis. During the oral presentation, the team paired scientific data with visual explanations of inflammatory pathways linking the mouth and the heart, as well as live demonstrations of the system interface, to ensure clear understanding among judges and the audience.
Support, challenges, and future outlook
One of the team’s main challenges was translating complex technical concepts into clear, concise explanations while balancing competition preparation with final semester examinations. These obstacles were overcome through strong collaboration and consistent mentoring from their supervising lecturer.
Guidance from Dr. Desiana Radithia, drg., SpPM(K), was instrumental in strengthening the team’s arguments and refining a persuasive presentation. Securing second place served as a meaningful learning experience and reinforced their conviction that preventing systemic disease can begin with oral health as a gateway to a healthier body.
Author: Dara Devinta Faradhilla
Editor: Ragil Kukuh Imanto
