Caries Prevention Programs

Oct 13, 2025 by talynt.org 126 views

Introduction

Dental and oral health is one of the most crucial aspects in the growth of children, significantly influencing their health and quality of life. This is particularly true for children with special needs, such as blind children. Blind children have a higher risk of dental and oral health issues due to their inability to see the conditions of plaque on the surface of their teeth, leading to inadequate oral hygiene care. Consequently, they tend to experience an increase in dental caries compared to normal children.

Background

The research was conducted in Deli Serdang, one of the districts with a special foundation for blind children in North Sumatra. The purpose of this study is to determine whether there are differences in the experience of dental caries between blind children and normal children in Deli Serdang, based on the Decayed, Extracted, Filed Teeth (DeFT) index and Decayed, Missing, Filed Teeth (DMFT) index. Normal child samples were taken from the Anastasia Foundation, while the blind sample was taken from the Empowerment Foundation for the Blind Empowerment (Yapentra), both having a similar background.

Methodology

The research method used was an analysis with a cross-sectional design to find out the difference in the experience of dental caries between blind children and normal children. This study applied purposive sampling techniques with a total sample of 82 children, consisting of 41 blind children and 41 normal children. The sample was divided into two assessment groups: Mixed dentis period and permanent dentis period. The data obtained was processed using univariate and bivariate analysis. Considering the data was not normally distributed, this study also applied non-parametric tests, namely the Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis test.

Results

The results showed a significant difference in dental caries experience between blind children and normal children in the permanent dentis period, with a p-value of 0.029 (p < 0.05). However, the experience of dental caries between the two groups in the mixture dentis period did not show statistical significance, with a P-value of 0.457 (P > 0.05) for the DeFT index and a P-Value index of 0.846 (P > 0.05) for the DMFT index.

Discussion

This finding shows that the experience of dental caries in blind children and normal children in Deli Serdang is still in the low to moderate category. Therefore, it is essential to carry out caries prevention programs to achieve caries-free children in Deli Serdang. However, this research has limitations due to the lack of age distribution in the sample used, caused by the lack of data regarding the sample of blind children, which was taken only from the blind foundation in Deli Serdang. This study suggests that further research is carried out with a larger number of samples.

Conclusion

Dental and oral health not only affects physical conditions but also affects the confidence and quality of life of children. Therefore, special attention must be given to increase awareness about the importance of dental and oral care, especially for children with special needs, such as blind. In addition to caries prevention programs, education on how to maintain good oral hygiene must also be the main focus to ensure optimal dental health for all children, without exception.

Recommendations

Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations are made:

Caries Prevention Programs: Caries prevention programs should be implemented to achieve caries-free children in Deli Serdang.
Education on Oral Hygiene: Education on how to maintain good oral hygiene should be the main focus to ensure optimal dental health for all children, without exception.
Further Research: Further research should be carried out with a larger number of samples to overcome the limitations of this study.

Limitations

This study has several limitations, including:

Lack of Age Distribution: The lack of age distribution in the sample used, caused by the lack of data regarding the sample of blind children, which was taken only from the blind foundation in Deli Serdang.
Small Sample Size: The small sample size used in this study may not be representative of the larger population.

Future Directions

Future research should focus on overcoming the limitations of this study, including:

Increasing the Sample Size: Increasing the sample size to ensure that the results are representative of the larger population.
Including a Broader Age Range: Including a broader age range in the sample to ensure that the results are applicable to children of all ages.

By addressing these limitations and future directions, further research can be conducted to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the experience of dental caries in blind children and normal children in Deli Serdang.

Q: What is the main objective of this study?

A: The main objective of this study is to determine whether there are differences in the experience of dental caries between blind children and normal children in Deli Serdang, based on the Decayed, Extracted, Filed Teeth (DeFT) index and Decayed, Missing, Filed Teeth (DMFT) index.

Q: What is the significance of this study?

A: This study is significant because it highlights the importance of dental and oral health in children with special needs, such as blind children. It also emphasizes the need for caries prevention programs and education on oral hygiene to ensure optimal dental health for all children.

Q: What are the limitations of this study?

A: The limitations of this study include the lack of age distribution in the sample used, caused by the lack of data regarding the sample of blind children, which was taken only from the blind foundation in Deli Serdang. Additionally, the small sample size used in this study may not be representative of the larger population.

Q: What are the recommendations of this study?

A: The recommendations of this study include the implementation of caries prevention programs to achieve caries-free children in Deli Serdang, education on how to maintain good oral hygiene, and further research with a larger number of samples to overcome the limitations of this study.

Q: What are the future directions of this study?

A: The future directions of this study include increasing the sample size to ensure that the results are representative of the larger population, including a broader age range in the sample to ensure that the results are applicable to children of all ages.

Q: What is the importance of dental and oral health in children with special needs?

A: Dental and oral health is crucial in children with special needs, such as blind children, because it affects not only their physical conditions but also their confidence and quality of life.

Q: What are the implications of this study for dental and oral health professionals?

A: The implications of this study for dental and oral health professionals are to increase awareness about the importance of dental and oral care, especially for children with special needs, and to implement caries prevention programs and education on oral hygiene to ensure optimal dental health for all children.

Q: What are the implications of this study for policymakers?

A: The implications of this study for policymakers are to allocate resources for caries prevention programs and education on oral hygiene, and to develop policies that promote dental and oral health in children with special needs.

Q: What are the implications of this study for parents and caregivers?

A: The implications of this study for parents and caregivers are to be aware of the importance of dental and oral health in children with special needs, to implement good oral hygiene practices, and to seek professional help if their child experiences dental caries.

By addressing these FAQs, we hope to provide a better understanding of the experience of dental caries in blind children and normal children in Deli Serdang, and to highlight the importance of dental and oral health in children with special needs.