Dentistry

Abstract

The Trend Analysis of the Availability of Dental Caries and Dental Health Personnel in Indonesia

Niniek Lely Pratiwi*

Background: The behavior of public health in Indonesia in maintaining oral hygiene is low. Lack of awareness about dental health, results in treatment delays at dental health care facilities. This study aims to provide an overview trend of dental caries and dental health personnel in Indonesia.

Methods: Data was analyzed from National report on basic health research, RISKESDAS, 2007 and 2013 and the descriptive analysis was made according to the type of data.

Results: The results of the basic health research of community (Riskesdas) for the year 2013 showed that there was an increase in the prevalence of active caries in Indonesian population compared to the year 2007, from 43.4% (2007) to 53.2% (2013). Almost all provinces had an increase the prevalence of active caries from 2007 to 2013, only four provinces (North Maluku, West Papua, Yogyakarta and Riau) experienced a decline. The highest increase was found in the province of South Sulawesi (29.1%) and Lampung (23.6%), which is 2 times more than the national increase (9.8%). The health centers in the provinces of Papua, West Papua and Southeast Sulawesi do not have dental health professionals (dentists/dental nurse) in the percentages of 88.8%, 78.7% and 61% respectively.

Conclusions: The high prevalence of active caries requires promotion of the importance of prevention of dental caries. Use of toothpaste containing fluoride among different age groups must be implemented. Lack of dental health workers in health centers requires an increase in community development by establishing a cadre of health in order to perform promotion of food consumption behavior with a high fiber content of fruits, vegetables, and calcium so that it becomes a necessity of society.