Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has become a global health issue and has had a major impact on education. Consequently, half way through the second semester of the academic year 2019/2020, learning methods were delivered through distance learning (DL). We aimed to evaluate the student perspective of DL compared to classroom learning (CL) in the undergraduate dentistry study program at the Faculty of Dentistry Universitas Indonesia. Methods: An online questionnaire was sent at the end of the semester. A total of 301 students participated in the study. Results: Duration of study influenced student preference. Higher number of first-year students preferred DL compared to their seniors (p < 0.001). Students preferred CL for group discussion, as DL resulted in more difficult communication and gave less learning satisfaction. Only 44.2% students preferred DL over CL, although they agreed that DL gave a more efficient learning method (52.6%), it provided more time to study (87.9%) and to review study materials (87.3%). Challenges during DL included external factors such as unstable internet connection, extra financial burden for the internet quota and internal factors such as time management and difficulty to focus while learning online for a longer period of time. Conclusion: Despite some challenges, dental students could adapt to the new learning methods of full DL and the majorities agreed blended learning that combined classroom and distance learning can be implemented henceforth. This current COVID-19 pandemic, changes not only the utilization of technology in education but the pedagogy strategies in the future.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has become a global health issue and has had a major impact on education. Consequently, half way through the second semester of the academic year 2019/2020, learning methods were delivered through distance learning (DL). We aimed to evaluate the student perspective of DL compared to classroom learning (CL) in the undergraduate dentistry study program at the Faculty of Dentistry Universitas Indonesia. Methods: An online questionnaire was sent at the end of the semester. A total of 301 students participated in the study. Results: Duration of study influenced student preference. Higher number of first-year students preferred DL compared to their seniors ( p <0.001). Students preferred CL for group discussion, as DL resulted in more difficult communication and gave less learning satisfaction. Only 44.2% students preferred DL over CL, although they agreed that DL gave a more efficient learning method (52.6%), it provided more time to study (87.9%) and to review study materials (87.3%). Challenges during DL included external factors such as unstable internet connection, extra financial burden for the internet quota and internal factors such as time management and difficulty to focus while learning online for a longer period of time. Conclusion: Despite some challenges, dental students could adapt to the new learning methods of full DL and the majorities agreed blended learning that combined classroom and distance learning can be implemented henceforth. This current COVID-19 pandemic, changes not only the utilization of technology in education but the pedagogy strategies in the future.

Periodontitis is a highly prevalent periodontal disease in Indonesia. Black pigmented bacteria, such as Porphyromonas gingivalis and Prevotella intermedia, are the major pathogens associated with chronic periodontitis. Binahong has been scientifically proven to have an antimicrobial effect. This study investigated the effectiveness of a binahong leave infusion as an antibacterial agent against black pigmented bacteria in vitro. The concentrations of the infusion used in the study were 50%, 65%, 80%, 95%, and 100%. The blank disc diffusion method was performed to measure the zone of inhibition in brucella agar. From the diffusion test on brucella agar, the inhibitory zones were 0.42 mm (50%), 1.21 mm (65%), 1.18 mm (80%), 1.19 mm (95%), and 1.36 (100%). In conclusion, a binahong leaf infusion inhibits the growth of black pigmented bacteria.

Most common oral diseases are directly related to oral biofilm, a complex community of microorganisms inhibiting the oral cavity. Recent studies provide deeper knowledge on how free-floating bacteria form a structurally organized microecosystem and on its pathogenicity and its self-defense mechanisms; thus, creating an understanding of the challenges in eliminating oral biofilm and maintaining the balance of oral ecosystem. Chlorhexidine has been the standard oral antimicrobial agent for decades. However, studies showed that it is less effective against bacteria in the form of biofilm that leads to an ongoing search of another method to fight against biofilm, including the use of plant-derived compounds. Medicinal plants are known to contain secondary metabolites, which are not only important in protecting the plant from any harmful environment but also potential as antimicroorganism and antioral biofilm for humans. Curcuma xanthorrhiza Roxb., containing xanthorrhizol (XNT), an essential bioactive compound, is an Indonesian native medicinal plant proven to have antibacterial and antibiofilm activities by several in vitro studies. The understanding of biofilm formation, its resistance to common drugs, and the potential role of C. xanthorrhiza-derived compounds as antibacterial and antibiofilm may contribute to developing C. xanthorrhiza into the alternative weapon against oral biofilm-related diseases.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the effect of ethanol Curcuma extract on the viability of S. mutans and Streptococcus sanguinis in a dualspeciesin vitro biofilm model.Methods: Dual-species biofilms of S. mutans and S. sanguinis were exposed to ethanol Curcuma extract at various concentrations. The sample ofsaliva was gathered from healthy volunteers. Chlorhexidine 0.2% was used as a positive control, and bacterial culture without intervention servedas a negative control. The total suspensions of 10−as were prepared for S. mutans and S. sanguinis cells. The bacteria were incubated for 20 h (activematuration phase) and 24 h (maturation phase).Results: The result showed decreased S. mutans and S. sanguinis viability after exposure to 0.2%–25% Curcuma ethanol extracts during the activeaccumulation and maturation phases. The decrease in bacterial viability was significantly different in all concentrations of Curcuma ethanol extractscompared with negative controls (p<0.05) in the active accumulation and maturation phases.Conclusion: Temulawak ethanol extract (starting at 0.2%) can decrease the viability of S. mutans and S. sanguinis in a dual species in vitro biofilmmodel during the accumulation and maturation phases.

Objective: Black-pigmented bacteria represent one of the most prominent causes of chronic periodontitis. The objective of this study is to investigate the in vitro antibacterial effect of an infusion of binahong leaves (Anredera cordifolia (Ten.) Steenis) against black-pigmented bacteria. Methods: The black-pigmented bacteria were isolated from the periodontal pocket of a patient with chronic periodontitis. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined by means of a dilution test using 105 cfu/ml of bacteria cultured on Brucella broth containing blood and kanamycin, which was exposed to a 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 65%, 80%, and 95% infusion of binahong leaves and then incubated for 24, 48, and 72 h. In the blank disc diffusion test, a 50%, 65%, 80%, 95%, and 100% infusion was dripped onto a paper disc placed at the center of a Brucella agar bacterial culture and then incubated for 24 h. Results: The MIC and MBC of the binahong leaf infusion were >65% and 80%, respectively, while the antibacterial activity was not correlated with the duration of the exposure to the infusion. The diffusion test showed that an increased concentration of the infusion resulted in an increased diameter of the inhibition zone that ranged from 0.42 mm (50% infusion) to 1.42 mm (100% infusion).Conclusion: Binahong leaves infusion has potential efficacy against black-pigmented bacteria