About 52.67 percent of the 180,000 students checked under the Free Health Checkup (CKG) program were found to have dental caries, with 43,000 of them having cavities in three or more teeth, the ministry’s Director for Non-communicable Disease Siti Nadia Tarmizi said.
“Dental caries consistently ranks second or third among health problems we detect,” Tarmizi told a briefing ahead of National Dental Health Day.
The trend was also seen in adults, with 45.75 percent of those checked found to have caries, followed by missing teeth, loose teeth and gum disease, she said.
As of Sept. 2, 24.3 million people had registered for the program. Among 17 million adults aged 18 and older, 9.8 million underwent dental screening, she added.
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According to the 2023 Basic Health Survey, dental caries prevalence in Indonesia is 82.8 percent, far above the World Health Organization standard. About 150 million Indonesians have dental problems, but only 11.2 percent seek treatment.
Tarmizi cited challenges including high sugar consumption, poor brushing habits and a lack of dental education. She also noted uneven availability of dental professionals.
Only 73 percent of community health centers have dentists or therapists, she said.
National Dentist Association chairman Usman Sumantri said it was unrealistic for doctors to cover multiple facilities, and called for nurses, midwives and nutritionists to be trained in basic dental care.
He stressed the need for integrated care and education, warning that oral diseases can affect other organs and contribute to systemic conditions such as heart and liver disease.
Related news: Over 8 million Indonesians receive free health screenings: minister
Reporter: Mecca Yumna Ning Prisie
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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