Year: 2024
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Dental caries is one of the most common diseases found in the oral cavity. Based on the 2018 Basic Health Research, 65.5% of 12-year-old children and 67.4% of 15-year-old children experienced caries or cavities, with a national DMF-T index of 7.1. This study aims to determine the level of knowledge about dental caries and the DMF-T index among adolescents. This analytical study used a cross-sectional approach involving 90 randomly selected seventh-grade students. The results showed that 53.3% of respondents had moderate knowledge about dental caries, with an average knowledge score of 8.21. The average DMF-T index was 3.41, with 51.1% of respondents falling into the moderate category. Analysis indicated a tendency for respondents with better knowledge to have a lower DMF-T index. Additionally, 26.7% of respondents with moderate knowledge had a moderate DMF-T index, suggesting a positive relationship between the level of knowledge and oral health status. The term "moderate" reflects a sufficient but not optimal understanding of oral health and a middle-level degree of tooth decay. Further research is recommended to use longitudinal designs to analyze causal relationships, explore the influence of social factors such as family support, and develop school-based educational programs to enhance awareness and prevent caries among adolescents.
Source: Dental Therapist Journal
Authors: Etty Yuniarly, Quroti Ayun, Dewi Erwanti Kumalasari, Dwi Eni Purwati
Institution: Poltekkes Kemenkes Yogyakarta
Language: English
Subfield: Periodontics
Field: Dentistry
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4407683082