Initial Treatment is the most common treatment

Oct 13, 2025 by windailys.com 24 views

Introduction

Dental and oral health in children is a crucial aspect of their growth and development. Dental caries is one of the most common dental health problems in children, affecting their overall well-being and quality of life. This study aims to analyze the needs and care of dental caries in children aged 6-12 years at the USU RSGM IKGA Clinic in 2019-2020.

Methodology

This study uses an analytic method with a cross-sectional design and analyzes secondary data from 722 patient examination sheets. The Treatment Need Index (TNI) is used to measure caries care needs, which are divided into several categories: Do not require maintenance, preventive, silen, initials, moderates, advanced, radicals, and extraction.

Results

The results showed that the most common caries care requirements were Initial care (score 3.89), followed by Radical treatment (score 2.26). This indicates that many children need one surface patches on their teeth. Furthermore, Initial Treatment is the most common treatment, followed by Radical treatment, showing that most children who need the treatment have gained it.

Significant Differences in Caries Care Needs

Significant differences are found in caries care needs based on the age of the child. This shows that the needs of dental care vary in each child's age range. Additionally, the difference is also found in the type of treatment carried out based on the sex and age of the child.

Unmet Caries Care Needs

Despite the efforts to provide dental care, the results of this study show that there are still many children who need caries care that has not been met. Only 33.59% of maintenance needs with one surface patched that is met, and Overall, 43.29% of the caries maintenance needed has been carried out.

Factors Contributing to Low Caries Care Coverage

Some factors that can be the cause of low caries care coverage in children in the USU RSGM IKGA Clinic, including:

Low public awareness about the importance of oral health in children.
Limited access to dental and oral health services, especially for children in remote areas.
Expensive dental care costs for some parents.

Recommendations

Increasing public awareness, service accessibility, and efforts to reduce dental care costs are important steps that can be taken to increase the coverage of caries care in children.

Limitations

This study has several limitations, namely using only secondary data from the USU RSGM IKGA Clinic and does not cover the entire population of children aged 6-12 years in Medan.

Future Research Directions

Further research with broader population coverage and factors that influence the needs and care of dental caries in children can be done to get a more complete picture.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the need for caries dental care with one surface patches is the most common case. However, caries care that has been carried out is still low. Efforts to increase caries care coverage in children should be a priority to achieve optimal oral health for children in Indonesia.

Implications for Practice

The findings of this study have significant implications for dental care providers, policymakers, and parents. It highlights the need for increased awareness, accessibility, and affordability of dental care services to ensure that children receive the necessary care to prevent and manage dental caries.

Future Directions for Research

Future research should focus on identifying the factors that contribute to low caries care coverage in children and developing effective strategies to address these issues. Additionally, research should aim to explore the impact of caries care on children's oral health and overall well-being.

Recommendations for Policy and Practice

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

Increase public awareness about the importance of oral health in children.
Improve access to dental and oral health services, especially for children in remote areas.
Reduce dental care costs for parents.
Develop and implement effective strategies to increase caries care coverage in children.

By implementing these recommendations, we can work towards achieving optimal oral health for children in Indonesia.

Q: What is dental caries, and why is it a concern in children?

A: Dental caries, also known as tooth decay, is a bacterial infection that causes demineralization of tooth enamel, leading to cavities and potentially more severe problems. It is a significant concern in children because it can lead to pain, infection, and even tooth loss if left untreated.

Q: What are the common caries care requirements in children aged 6-12 years?

A: The most common caries care requirements in children aged 6-12 years are initial care (score 3.89) and radical treatment (score 2.26). This indicates that many children need one surface patches on their teeth.

Q: What are the significant differences in caries care needs based on the age of the child?

A: Significant differences are found in caries care needs based on the age of the child. This shows that the needs of dental care vary in each child's age range.

Q: What are the factors contributing to low caries care coverage in children in the USU RSGM IKGA Clinic?

A: Some factors that can be the cause of low caries care coverage in children in the USU RSGM IKGA Clinic, including:

Low public awareness about the importance of oral health in children.
Limited access to dental and oral health services, especially for children in remote areas.
Expensive dental care costs for some parents.

Q: What are the recommendations to increase caries care coverage in children?

A: Increasing public awareness, service accessibility, and efforts to reduce dental care costs are important steps that can be taken to increase the coverage of caries care in children.

Q: What are the limitations of this study?

A: This study has several limitations, namely using only secondary data from the USU RSGM IKGA Clinic and does not cover the entire population of children aged 6-12 years in Medan.

Q: What are the future research directions?

A: Further research with broader population coverage and factors that influence the needs and care of dental caries in children can be done to get a more complete picture.

Q: What are the implications for practice?

A: The findings of this study have significant implications for dental care providers, policymakers, and parents. It highlights the need for increased awareness, accessibility, and affordability of dental care services to ensure that children receive the necessary care to prevent and manage dental caries.

Q: What are the recommendations for policy and practice?

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

Increase public awareness about the importance of oral health in children.
Improve access to dental and oral health services, especially for children in remote areas.
Reduce dental care costs for parents.
Develop and implement effective strategies to increase caries care coverage in children.

Q: What can parents do to help prevent dental caries in their children?

A: Parents can help prevent dental caries in their children by:

Encouraging good oral hygiene habits, such as brushing and flossing regularly.
Limiting sugary and acidic foods and drinks.
Scheduling regular dental check-ups and cleanings.
Educating their children about the importance of oral health.

Q: What can dental care providers do to help increase caries care coverage in children?

A: Dental care providers can help increase caries care coverage in children by:

Providing education and awareness about the importance of oral health in children.
Offering accessible and affordable dental care services.
Developing and implementing effective strategies to prevent and manage dental caries.
Collaborating with parents and other healthcare providers to ensure comprehensive care.