An alarming figure stands at 88.8 percent. This is the proportion of Indonesia’s population reported to suffer from dental and oral diseases according to the 2018 Basic Health Research (RISKESDAS)—a number that should have raised widespread concern but is often overlooked. In Sleman Regency alone, 41,235 cases of dental caries were recorded, and in 2019, this disease ranked among the ten most common health problems in the region. Ngaglik District is one of the affected areas.
This was where Dr. drg. Indra Bramanti, M.Sc., Sp.KGA(K) from the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Gadjah Mada, together with a multidisciplinary team from several institutions, decided to take direct action. They did not simply bring educational materials—they brought a fundamental question: how well do the people of Ngaglik understand their own dental and oral health?
Only Visiting the Dentist When the Tooth Hurts
The pattern identified by the team in the field was not new, yet it remained concerning. Most residents only visited dentists when their teeth had already developed severe cavities, surrounding tissues had become inflamed, or the pain was unbearable. Prevention was not yet considered a priority. Education about proper toothbrushing techniques, the role of sugar in dental caries formation, and the importance of regular dental check-ups had not become part of their daily habits.
This situation was further reinforced by an acknowledgment from the management of the Ngaglik Branch Leadership Council of Muhammadiyah (PCM Ngaglik): there had never been a dental and oral health education program conducted in their area. Not because the community was unwilling, but simply because no such initiative had previously reached them.
The community service team, consisting of Dwi Aji Nugroho from the Department of Dental Biomaterials, Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta; Fitri Yuniawati from the Department of Periodontology, Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta; and Dr. drg. Indra Bramanti from the Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Gadjah Mada, designed the intervention in two stages. The first stage involved technical coordination with the leaders and staff of PCM Ngaglik. The second stage was the core activity: direct dental health education provided to 30 community participants, accompanied by pretests and posttests to objectively measure changes in knowledge.
The Numbers Speak for Themselves
The results were more significant than initially expected. Before the education session, female participants achieved an average pretest score of 62.5, while male participants recorded an average score of 73.33. After the educational intervention, male participants achieved a perfect posttest score of 100. Female participants followed closely with a score of 95.83.
Interestingly, age-based analysis revealed an important pattern. Participants aged over 60 years demonstrated the greatest improvement—from an average score of 55 before the session to 95 afterward, representing a 40-point increase. Participants aged 51–60 years showed a 36-point improvement. These findings indicate that older adults are not incapable of absorbing health information; rather, they simply had not previously received information in a format that was appropriate and easy to understand.
Statistical analysis using the Paired Sample T-test confirmed that the difference between pretest and posttest scores was statistically significant, with a p-value of 0.000. This means that the observed improvement was not due to chance.
“Knowledge is the result of knowing, which occurs when humans perceive a particular object. This demonstrates how oral health education influences information, knowledge, attitudes, and community behaviour in maintaining and improving oral health.”
This statement from the research literature referenced by the team became the philosophical foundation of the entire program: behavioural change begins with changes in knowledge, and changes in knowledge begin when accurate information meets people who are ready to receive it.
Primary Teeth Are Not Merely Temporary
One important aspect that is often overlooked by the public emerged during the team’s discussion: the role of parents, particularly during children’s dental development. Primary teeth are frequently considered unimportant because “they will eventually fall out anyway.” However, the condition of primary teeth plays a crucial role in determining the development and alignment of permanent teeth, especially among elementary school-aged children. Untreated cavities in primary teeth can interfere with the space required for permanent teeth, affect children’s eating patterns, and potentially influence overall growth and development.
This is why the involvement of Dr. drg. Indra Bramanti, a pediatric dentistry consultant specialist from the Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Gadjah Mada, was essential in this program. Preventive approaches for children cannot be separated from educating their parents.
From Ngaglik, Towards a Broader Impact
This program may have only reached 30 participants in a single session. However, behind this small number lies an important lesson: a simple intervention through structured health education can significantly improve knowledge within a short period. The challenge is not the community’s ability to learn, but rather the availability of accurate and accessible health information.
The team recommended that similar activities become a routine program at PCM Ngaglik rather than a one-time event. Dental caries does not develop overnight, and prevention requires long-term behavioural changes.
Sleman already has the data. What is needed now is more teams willing to engage directly with communities and more opportunities for people to gain proper knowledge.
Authors: Nanda Ayu; drg. Achmad Zam Zam Aghasy, M.Kes.
Photo: Pexels