Founder of Ita Lestari Clinic Outlines Strategy to Expand Dental Healthcare Access
Under the theme “Dental Clinic Expansion in 2026: Strategies to Expand Access,” the founder of FDC Dental Clinic, Dr Ita Lestari, MARS, presented FDC’s strategy to broaden dental healthcare access in Indonesia. The plan involves technological innovation, strengthening customer experience, human resource development, and a target to expand to 100 branches by the end of 2026.
“We exist not merely as a network of dental clinics, but as a technology-based company (health-tech), striving to address various societal challenges regarding dental healthcare. Many people still perceive visiting a dentist as expensive, frightening, and difficult to access,” said Ita, speaking on the Closing Bell programme last week.
According to Ita, FDC was established to provide solutions to these challenges by developing technology-based dental services with a customer-experience approach, ensuring services are comfortable, modern, accessible, and affordable. Currently, FDC operates approximately 70 branches spanning from Medan to Sorong, serving over 60,000 patients monthly.
“Through this network development, FDC aims to narrow the gap in dental healthcare access between urban areas and regions that still face limited health facilities,” she explained.
Ita noted that the company’s expansion strategy considers not only business potential but also the public’s need for dental services. Regions with low access levels are a priority for new branch development. In addition to expanding the service network, the company is continuously strengthening digital transformation within its operations.
“Various technology-based innovations are being developed to increase service efficiency, ranging from digital reservation systems and electronic medical records to the implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI), which can reduce the patient reservation process to just about 15 seconds,” she stated.
Regarding human resource development, FDC conducts various programmes through the FDC Foundation, including providing scholarships to dentistry and dental nursing students. This programme is part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to support the emergence of competent dental health professionals and strengthen the equitable distribution of healthcare in Indonesia.
“Through the FDC Foundation, we strive to contribute to the development of healthcare human resources, not only through patient care but also by supporting the education of future dentists and dental health workers in Indonesia,” she added.
Ita stated that the opportunity for dental healthcare development in Indonesia remains vast, though public awareness regarding dental health needs continuous improvement. Data shows that the prevalence of dental health issues in Indonesia remains high, making education and expanded access a sustainable challenge. Consequently, FDC targets 100 branches by the end of 2026 as part of its commitment to providing more equitable dental services across various regions.
FDC hopes that more members of the public will understand the importance of early dental health maintenance and recognise that dental services can now be accessed more easily, comfortably, and affordably through the company’s ongoing technological innovations.
As part of the effort to expand dental access beyond major cities, FDC Dental Clinic has recently opened a new branch in Sukabumi Regency, West Java. All medical personnel have undergone selection and competency testing according to company standards to ensure consistent service quality across the entire clinic network.