Prof. Dr. Drg. Ria Puspitawati, PBO., was inaugurated as a permanent professor in Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry (FKG), Universitas Indonesia (UI), on Saturday, January 25, at the Makara Art Center, UI Depok Campus. At the inauguration led by the Chairperson of the UI Board of Professors, Prof. Harkristuti Harkrisnowo, S.H., M.A., Ph.D., Prof. Ria delivered her inaugural speech titled “Analisis Aspek Biologis Korelasi antara Kondisi Stunting dengan Kesehatan Gigi dan Mulut” (Analysis of Biological Aspects of the Correlation between Stunting Conditions and Dental and Oral Health).
She explained that according to the Results of the Nutritional Status Study (HSSG) released in December 2021, in Indonesia there are 24.4% of toddlers experiencing stunting, which is a decrease of 3.3% compared to the 2019 data of 27.7%. However, this percentage is still considered high according to the World Health Organization (WHO) standards, which is no more than 20%. Twenty-eight provinces still have a stunting prevalence of more than 20%, including West Java and Banten. The province in Indonesia with the highest stunting prevalence is East Nusa Tenggara (37.8%).
“Chronic malnutrition such as that which occurs in stunting is correlated with decreased synthesis and levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). A 50% decrease in calorie intake and a 33% decrease in protein intake can cause a persistent reduction in IGF-1 concentration. Low IGF-1 levels trigger a secondary increase in Growth Hormone (GH) levels via a negative feedback mechanism on the pituitary gland axis that induces the GH secretion process,” said Prof. Ria.
She added that the end result is a shift in substrate from growth function to metabolic function to maintain homeostasis. Low IGF-1 expression can cause disruption of tooth eruption time because it interferes with the tooth maturation process.
Furthermore, Prof. Ria said that in the process of dentin formation and regeneration, IGF-1 plays a role in triggering the proliferation and differentiation of hard tissue-forming cells such as osteoblasts and odontoblasts. Recent research reports the role of IGF-1 in the proliferation and migration of dental tissue cells. When the process of tooth root formation begins, IGF-1 is expressed in the dental pulp tissue.
Meanwhile, Prof. Ria said that the prevalence of iron deficiency is quite high in developing countries including Indonesia. Iron deficiency is also associated with stunting in children. Iron deficiency is the main factor causing anemia or low hemoglobin (Hb) levels. Hemoglobin is essential because of its role in binding oxygen to red blood cells which will be delivered throughout the body and support metabolism to produce energy, somatic growth processes, or tissue regeneration processes.
“Iron deficiency can cause tissue growth disorders, and reduce the immune system so that the body is more susceptible to infection. Various studies have shown that iron deficiency anemia is indicated to be correlated with the prevalence of caries, chronic periodontitis, candidiasis, burning sensation and redness of the tongue mucosa, atrophy of the tongue papillae, dysphagia, and an increased risk of oral cancer,” said Prof. Ria.
She further explained that early detection of iron deficiency based on its manifestation in the oral cavity has been proven to be a diagnostic tool for systemic conditions underlying oral cavity disorders. Various population surveys have shown a significant relationship between Early Childhood Caries (ECC) and iron deficiency anemia.
In addition, various research results show that decreased saliva flow can disrupt the mastication process, leading to nutritional deficiencies. It has also been reported that in stunting conditions, there can be disruption of tooth maturation, disruption of enamel formation, and delays in the eruption of primary teeth. This phenomenon is in line with the results of research that reports a significant relationship between stunting and oral health status in children.
Prof. Ria said that in stunting conditions, there is a deficiency of various nutritional components such as carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, vitamins, and minerals so that the body does not get adequate nutritional intake, resulting in limited energy supply and raw materials for the formation of new tissue or for the metabolic process so that the somatic growth process cannot take place optimally.
Such conditions occur in the first 1000 days of life, namely the period of active growth of all organs and body systems, resulting in suboptimal quality of organ-forming tissue and suboptimal various physiological processes, including a decreased immune system so that the body becomes more susceptible to infection.
“Stunting also commonly causes iron deficiency anemia, decreased levels of IGF-1 and/or the GH-IGFs axis which play a role in the proliferation and differentiation of various cells including dental tissue cells, atrophy of salivary gland cells which causes decreased saliva secretion and changes in saliva character which have the effect of changing the pH of the oral cavity, decreased levels of salivary sIgA, and the self-cleansing capacity of the oral cavity,” said Prof. Ria.
Various studies related to Oral Biology have been conducted by Prof. Ria to date. Some of these studies are titled Decreased Activity of Phospholipase and Proteinase Enzymes of Candida albicans Biofilm Inhibited by Javanese turmeric (2024); Relationship Between Vitamin D Deficiency and Lipopolisaccharides Porphyromonas gingivalis Bacteria in Stunting Children (2024); and Three-Dimensional Analysis of Nasolabial Fold Depth as a Support for Facial Reconstruction Methods for Corpse Identification: A literature review (2024).
Before becoming the 9th UI professor who was inaugurated in 2025, Prof. Ria had completed her dental education at the FKG UI in 1986. Still at the same faculty, she successfully earned a Doctorate in Dental Science in 2008. Then, in 2018, she was inaugurated as an Oral Biology Expert by the Indonesian Dentists Association (PDGI).
