Jakarta (Antara) – The Ministry of Health cooperates with the Ministry of Elementary and Secondary Education for Health Education Efforts with Material Priorities on Dental Health, according to the findings in the Free Health Control Program that shows the high dental problems in the community.
“We have spoken with the Ministry of Education. Now the curriculum returns to compulsory education. So dental health material must be admitted as a priority. Children must learn to clean teeth well at a young age,” Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin as confirmed in Jakarta on Sunday.
Based on data collected in CKG, he said, the dental health problems as the highest in the community, even exceed the hypertension.
He explained that about 50 percent of the total community of 0-60 years of cavities experienced, 37 percent of the loss of teeth and 12.4 percent of gum problems.
That is why his party encourages the strengthening of the dental health services as a whole, ranging from early education to the equal distribution of medical staff to all corners of the country.
He emphasized the importance of promotion and preventive approaches through early education, also by integrating dental health material into the compulsory curriculum in Paud, TK and primary school.
Also read: Tocroet is supported by BPJS Health, this is the conditions and procedure
He invited the community to get used to dental research every six months and to encourage the active role of dentists as a friendly educator and close to children.
In addition, asking for the Indonesian dental association (PDGI) to put together basic standards of the basic doctoral health care in the puskesmas, including research, patching, root treatment, extraction, gum treatment, to offer dentures for the elderly.
As part of the distribution of services, the Ministry of Health has proposed special reimbursements for specialized doctors who are placed in remote areas.
It also opens similar possibilities for stimuli for dentists in minimal services.
“I work on the basis of ranking. If data demonstrates the highest dental problem, we must give priority to the intervention. Don’t let the health of dentist be ignored,” he said.
The chairman of the PDGI board DRG Usman Sumantri quoted the Indonesian Health Survey Data (Ski) 2023, which showed that 56.9 percent of the population was older than three years with dental and oral problems, with 88 percent of those suffering from caries. About 6.2 percent of people brush their teeth well.
“It means that only one in 16 people brush their teeth correctly,” he said.
That is why Usman emphasized his dedication to strengthen the role of dentists, especially in primary services.
In addition, his party offers a number of policy input, including the placement of dentists in the puskesmas, strengthening equipment such as dental X series and basic scaling, as well as the development of educational and occurring programs since school age.
“We are ready to help the contents of the puskesmas that do not have a dentist. At the moment there are still 26.8 percent of the puskesmas that are not filled,” he said.
Read also: Experts call one of the two CKG participants have dental problems
Also read: active smokers are vulnerable to dental and gum problems
Read also: Get to know cavities and trigger factors
Reporter: Mecca Yumna Ning Prision
Editor: M. Atmoko Day
Copyright © between 2025
