Handling Children Dental Caries through Parents Awareness on Community Service

Abstract

Elementary school children have been categorized as high risk caries group. Maintaining dental health of elementary school need parents’ role on making dental care decisions. Srondol Kulon Elementary School and Meteseh Elementary School are 2 elementary schools assisted by Poltekkes Kemenkes Semarang. Two schools located at urban and rural area therefore they have different characteristics of parents. Community service was carried out in 2 elementary schools with the aim to find differences of parental involvement in the promotion, prevention and treatment of children's dental health. Screening was done in class III, then their parents with children who have caries were counseled and educated about dental health. The parents were also given information about children's dental health plan treatment. Informed consent was given to parents in children who would be curated (fillings and extractions). Parent participation in Srondol Elementary School was higher than Meteseh. There was a change in the composition of caries prevalence, increasing in the number of filling permanent and milk teeth (f and F) and extracted (e). Parents' awareness of the importance of treating caries in children as early as possible is higher in Srondol Kulon Elementary School compared to SD Meteseh. Besides, the level of education and parents' socio-economic influenced parents' attitudes in giving decisions of dental treatments.