EduAsiaNews, Depok — Three students from the Faculty of Dentistry at Universitas Indonesia (UI) won first place in the Public Poster category at the 2026 Udayana Dentistry Scientific Competition (UDSC). The winners were Naura Septiara Putri Ramadila, Davina Natasha Ongsono, and Audrey Thalia Christovani, all members of the 2024 cohort of the undergraduate dentistry program. They earned the award with their poster titled “Don’t Underestimate Moringa Leaves! The Green Plant Packed with Benefits for Oral Health.”
UDSC 2026 is a scientific competition in dentistry organized by the Student Association of Dentistry at the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Udayana. The competition attracted 53 teams from 22 universities. The selection process began with a preliminary round involving the submission of application materials. Ten teams were subsequently selected as finalists and traveled to Bali to present their work in the final round on Saturday, October 17.
The students’ poster addressed dental caries, or tooth decay, which is associated with bacterial activity in dental plaque. These bacteria metabolize sugars and produce acids that can demineralize the hard tissues of teeth. As a natural ingredient with potential for further research, the team explored moringa leaves (Moringa oleifera) as a possible resource for supporting oral health.
Naura said the team chose moringa leaves because they are already widely used in everyday life.
“After reviewing the literature and research conducted by one of our lecturers, we found that moringa leaves contain bioactive compounds with antibacterial potential that have been explored in the development of oral healthcare products, such as toothpaste and mouthwash,” she said.
The poster presented four groups of bioactive compounds found in moringa leaves: flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and polyphenols, along with their potential roles in inhibiting microbial growth and maintaining oral health. The team also examined opportunities to develop moringa leaf extracts for use in mouthwash and toothpaste. In addition, they compared natural ingredients with conventional products in terms of local resource utilization and environmental considerations.
The three students collaborated throughout the project, from brainstorming and literature reviews to poster design, under the guidance of several FKG UI supervisors with relevant expertise. Their biggest challenge was managing the workload alongside a demanding schedule of lectures and examinations, even as their departure for Bali approached.
“However, through good communication and teamwork, we worked to ensure that all our preparations proceeded as smoothly as possible,” Davina said.
Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry at UI, Prof. drg. Lisa Rinanda Amir, Ph.D., PBO, praised the students’ achievement.
“We appreciate students who actively develop their creativity and scientific skills through competitions. Work that explores the potential of natural ingredients for oral health demonstrates how academic knowledge can be communicated to the public through engaging educational materials. We hope students will continue developing innovative ideas supported by scientific evidence, contributing meaningfully to advances in dentistry and greater public health awareness,” she said.
Through their poster, the team sought to highlight the potential of moringa leaves while reminding the public that the use of natural ingredients should be based on scientific evidence and must not replace established, effective dental care practices.
Participation in UDSC 2026 also provided the students with an opportunity to strengthen their academic competencies, creativity, and scientific communication skills. Their achievement is expected to encourage further research into natural ingredients and reinforce dental students’ role in promoting oral health education among the public.
