The Role of Dentists in Realising the Values of Citizenship
The dental profession has traditionally been viewed through the lens of medical science rather than citizenship. However, upon closer examination, a dentist not only performs clinical tasks related to dental and oral care but also bears social responsibilities closely tied to citizenship values. In a country like Indonesia, which still faces disparities in access to healthcare services, dentists are in a highly strategic position to realise the principles of social justice and collective welfare.
Citizenship values derived from Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia include, among others, justice, equality of rights, social concern, and responsibility towards fellow citizens. The fifth principle of Pancasila, “Social Justice for All Indonesian People,” explicitly mandates that every citizen has the right to equal access to various public services, including healthcare. Dentists, as one of the components of the national health workforce, have a moral and professional obligation to embody this mandate in their daily practice.
In the context of the national health system, Law No. 36 of 2009 on Health affirms that every person has the right to safe, quality, and affordable healthcare services. Dentists working in primary health facilities such as community health centres (Puskesmas) or village clinics directly translate this legal mandate. They are present not merely as medical personnel but as active citizens contributing to the fulfilment of constitutional rights for the community. This is the tangible manifestation of active citizenship in the context of the health profession.
One of the most evident dimensions of citizenship in dental practice is social concern. Community service programmes offering free dental check-ups, health education on dental and oral hygiene to the public, and emergency dental care in remote areas are concrete forms of the spirit of mutual cooperation (gotong royong), which is one of the characteristics of Indonesian nationhood. Hakim and Handayani (2020) in their study showed that the involvement of dentists in community-based health promotion activities significantly increases public awareness of the importance of dental health while strengthening the relationship between healthcare workers and citizens.
Furthermore, the professionalism of dentists also reflects citizenship values in the form of respect for human rights. Every patient, regardless of economic background, ethnicity, religion, or social status, has the right to equal, dignified, and non-discriminatory services. The Indonesian Code of Dental Ethics (KODEKGI), established by the Central Board of the Indonesian Dentists Association (PBPDGI), strictly regulates the obligation of dentists to prioritise patient interests and avoid discrimination in services. From a citizenship perspective, such professional ethics are a concrete expression of the principle of equality before the law and civilised humanity.
Dentists also play a role in building citizenship awareness through health education. When a dentist provides guidance to primary school students on the correct way to brush teeth, they are not only transferring medical knowledge but also instilling healthy living habits that are part of the nation’s long-term investment. According to data from the 2018 Basic Health Research (Riskesdas), the prevalence of dental and oral problems in Indonesia still reaches 57.6 percent, with most cases occurring among communities with limited exposure to health education. This figure underscores the crucial role of dentists as agents of social change, not just as clinicians.
In the framework of decentralisation and regional autonomy, dentists serving in remote and border areas also carry out an equally important citizenship mission: narrowing the health gap between the centre and the regions. Their presence in previously marginalised areas is a tangible realisation of the spirit of national unity and integrity. The Healthy Archipelago programme managed by the Indonesian Ministry of Health has deployed thousands of health workers, including dentists, to disadvantaged, frontier, and outermost regions (3T) as evidence of the state’s commitment to equitable healthcare distribution, which is imbued with citizenship values.
The values of integrity and responsibility upheld in the dental profession align with those taught in citizenship education. A dentist who is honest in diagnosis, transparent in treatment costs, and accountable in every medical action is demonstrating the character of a good citizen. These characters do not emerge in a vacuum but are built gradually through education, experience, and an appreciation of social responsibilities as part of the national community.
Thus, the role of dentists in realising citizenship values through healthcare services is not an abstract concept but a reality that continues in daily medical practice across Indonesia. Strengthening citizenship awareness among health workers, including dentists, means strengthening the foundation of public health as well as the foundation of the nation itself. It is time for the dental profession to be seen not only as a medical profession but also as a citizenship profession that makes real contributions to realising a healthy, just, and dignified Indonesia.