Students of the Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Syiah Kuala (FKG USK), have once again achieved an outstanding accomplishment on the international stage. Through their innovative project, DENTIDOLL: Bridging Acehnese Culture and Children’s Oral Health Through Interactive Dental Education Dolls, a team of USK students won a Silver Medal at the 2nd Youth Preneur Summit (YPS) 2026 Malaysia Chapter, held in Malaysia on August 15–16, 2026.
In addition to the Silver Medal, DENTIDOLL also received the Favorite Poster and Favorite Paper awards. These achievements demonstrate that student innovation addressing children’s oral health while highlighting Acehnese cultural heritage can gain recognition at the international level.
The DENTIDOLL team was led by Talita Talbiyah from the Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Syiah Kuala, with Azka Fariz Hidayat, also from FKG USK; Muhammad Naufal from the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) USK; and Khalisha Maisura, also from FEB USK. The team was mentored by Dr. drg. Diana Setya Ningsih.
DENTIDOLL originated from an idea to introduce a more engaging approach to children’s oral health education. Traditionally, dental health education is often delivered through counseling sessions, posters, or conventional learning media. DENTIDOLL seeks to transform this experience into something more enjoyable through an interactive educational doll designed to connect with the world of children.
What makes DENTIDOLL unique is its combination of oral health education and Acehnese culture. The doll characters are designed with elements of local cultural identity, allowing children not only to learn how to maintain good oral and dental health but also to become familiar with the cultural heritage of Aceh.
This concept makes DENTIDOLL more than just a toy. It is an educational medium that integrates health, education, culture, and entrepreneurship. Through an interactive approach, children are encouraged to better understand the importance of brushing their teeth, maintaining oral hygiene, and developing healthy habits from an early age.
DENTIDOLL’s success in Malaysia was also supported by the team’s interdisciplinary collaboration. The dentistry background provided a scientific foundation for developing oral health content, while the economics perspective contributed to business development, market opportunities, and the product’s commercialization potential.
At the 2nd Youth Preneur Summit 2026 Malaysia Chapter, the team’s ability to develop the concept, present the innovation, and communicate DENTIDOLL’s social impact and business potential received appreciation from the judges. The Silver Medal became the team’s main achievement, complemented by the Favorite Poster and Favorite Paper awards.
For the DENTIDOLL team, these achievements are not merely about bringing home awards. They represent an opportunity to demonstrate that innovations inspired by local community needs can be developed into works with international competitiveness.
DENTIDOLL also carries an important message: Acehnese culture can serve as a source of inspiration for modern innovation. The combination of local identity and a global health issue gives the product broader value, particularly in supporting efforts to improve children’s awareness of oral health.
Moving forward, DENTIDOLL is expected to develop beyond a competition project into an educational oral health product that can be utilized in schools, dental clinics, healthcare facilities, and various community health promotion programs.
The achievement in Malaysia serves as further evidence that FKG USK students are capable of bringing ideas from Aceh to the international stage. DENTIDOLL carries a simple yet meaningful message: oral health education can be made fun and innovative while simultaneously introducing Acehnese culture to the world.