Of the 7,158 health community service centers in Indonesia, only 60 percent have dentists."Padang, North Sumatra (ANTARA News) - Currently, Indonesia has 25 thousand dentists, with 66 percent in Java Island and the rest spread across other regions, chairman of the General Bureau of the Great Society of Indonesian Dentists Association Endang Jeniati reported here on Saturday.
Endang explained that the number of 25 thousand was sufficient although not ideal.
"The uneven distribution of dentists across Indonesia and the disproportionate number of the population has led to a lack of dentists in some provinces," Endang pointed out.
According to the health indicator of the Ministry of Health, ideally, the comparative figure is 1 dentist for a population of 10 thousand.
"The current number of dentists compared to the Indonesian population is still so much below the ideal figure," Endang noted.
Currently, 23 provinces in Indonesia still suffer from a lack of dentists to serve when people have medical issues.
"Of the 7,158 health community service centers in Indonesia, only 60 percent have dentists," she said.
She explained that the presence of a dentist in the health center is crucial, not only to serve the people, but also to give advice on the importance of good dental hygiene and mouth care.
"The community health center is at the forefront of public health service, especially for dental health issues," Endang said.
Besides treating patients, the community health center also provides preventive promotional services, such as educating the community to maintain good health, including oral health.
Therefore, people can themselves identify in advance any health issues, thus preventing and overcoming serious diseases.
Meanwhile, Dean of Faculty of Dentistry, University of Baiturrahmah, Padang, Utmi Arma noted that West Sumatra currently has 562 dentists.
"For a population of 4.8 million in West Sumatra, one dentist is responsible for 8,500 patients," she said.
She added that the ratio is in line with the standard proportion recommended by the health indicator, which requires one dentist to serve 10 thousand patients.
"However, only about 7.8 percent of West Sumatra residents have a regular checkup of their oral health," she added.
(Uu.KR-LWA/INE/KR-BSR/O001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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