Indonesia’s Ministry of Health reported Thursday that more than half of students participating in the government’s free dental checkup program were found to have tooth decay, with tens of thousands suffering from multiple cavities.
Siti Nadiatamiri, director of the Ministry of Health’s Non-Communicable Diseases Department, revealed that of the 180,000 students screened during the free dental checkup (CKG), approximately 52.67% had tooth decay, with 43,000 of these students having three or more cavities.
“Tooth decay remains the second or third most common health problem we encounter,” Nadiatamiri said at a press conference ahead of National Oral Health Day.
She noted that this trend was also evident among adults, with 45.75% of those screened having tooth decay, followed by missing teeth, loose teeth, and gum disease.
As of September 2, 24.3 million people had registered for the program. Of the 17 million adults aged 18 and over, 9.8 million had received a dental checkup.
According to the 2023 Basic Health Survey, Indonesia’s tooth decay prevalence rate is 82.8%, far exceeding the World Health Organization’s benchmark. Approximately 150 million Indonesians suffer from dental disease, but only 11.2% seek treatment.
Nadiyatamizh highlighted challenges such as high sugar intake, poor oral hygiene habits, and a lack of dental education. She also noted the uneven distribution of dental professionals, with only 73% of community health centers staffed by dentists or dental therapists.
Usman Sumantri, President of the Indonesian Dental Association, stated that it is unrealistic for dentists to cover multiple medical facilities and called for basic dental care training for nurses, midwives, and nutritionists.
He emphasized the need for integrated care and education, warning that oral diseases can affect other organs and contribute to systemic diseases such as heart and liver disease.
