Visits to dentist ineffective for 30 years<\/p>\n
Sari P. Setiogi
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
Hundreds of billions of rupiah have been spent on the School
\nDental Health Care Unit (UKGS) program for elementary students
\nover the past few decades without producing satisfactory results,
\nprompting the government to introduce fit-fissure sealant.<\/p>\n
Head of the Department of Dental Public Health and Preventive
\nDentistry at the University of Indonesia Budiharto said fit-
\nfissure sealant would protect children's teeth from caries better
\nthan natural fluoride (NaF), which has been widely used since the
\nprogram started four decades ago.<\/p>\n
"The project costs about Rp 14 billion per year and so far it
\nhas achieved almost nothing," Budiharto told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
NaF is given to students as a mouthwash twice a week during
\nthe visit of a dentist to a state elementary school. In Jakarta
\nthe program is effective, but in remote areas it sometimes takes
\nplace twice a year only, due to the absence of dentists.<\/p>\n
"Jakarta has more dentists than other cities. While here a
\ndentist is able to handle four UKGS, nobody wants to work in
\nremote areas," he said.<\/p>\n
Budiharto said the use of fit-fissure sealant would remain
\nviable to prevent caries for up to two months, making it
\nunnecessary for a dentist to visit a school very frequently.<\/p>\n
Besides, the use of fit-fissure sealant will slash a lot of
\nstate budget allocated to UKGS, as it costs Rp 4,625 (54 US
\ncents) per student, compared with NaF at Rp 12,065 (US$1.4).<\/p>\n
UKGS is intended for first- to sixth-year elementary students,
\nwho learn how to brush their teeth properly. Those who arrive
\nwith dental problems can also get treatment at a community health
\ncenter (Puskesmas).<\/p>\n
Dentist Febriana S. Sugito said on Saturday that students who
\nwashed their mouths with NaF solution twice a week managed to
\nimprove their resistance to caries by 30 percent to 40 percent.<\/p>\n
Caries is a nonspecific bacterial disease in which infecting
\norganisms penetrate the enamel coating of teeth. A high
\nconsumption of sugar predisposes people to the development of
\ncaries.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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