KNOWLEDGE AND BEHAVIOR OF BRUSHING TEETH WITH THE EXPERIENCE OF CARIES OF PEDIATRIC PATIENTS AGED 10-14 YEARS

Abstract

Background: The 2018 Base Health Research results recorded 57.6% of dental and oral problems,  caused by a lack of knowledge and behavior of brushing teeth properly and correctly. Children aged 10-14 are children who are vulnerable to dental and oral health problems. This study aims to determine the relationship between knowledge and behavior of brushing teeth with caries experience in pediatric patients aged 10-14 years at the dental polyclinic at Arjawinangun Hospital, Cirebon Regency. Research objective: To analyze the relationship between knowledge and behavor of brushing teeth with caries experience in pediatric patients age 10-14 years old at the dental polyclinic at the Arjawinangun Regional General Hospital. Methodology: The type of research used was quantitative research with a cross-sectional approach to 30 samples based on a purposive sampling technique. Data collection used a questionnaire to measure knowledge and behavior of brushing teeth and the DMF-T index for caries experience. Results: The study showed that 60% of the sample had moderate knowledge, 70% had moderate behavior, and 46.7% had low caries experience. Spearman correlation test results obtained p value = 0.000 meaning that there is a relationship between knowledge and behavior about brushing teeth with caries experience. Conclusion: Knowledge and behavior of brushing teeth are related to dental caries experience.