Dental Caries Severity Based on The Nutritional Status of Preschool Children in Jatinangor
Abstract: The prevalence of
dental caries in Indonesia is still high. The pain caused by dental caries
could interfere with children’s ability to eat and even their growth. This
study aimed to discover the proportion of dental caries severity related to nutritional
status in children aged 3–5 years.
Methods: This descriptive study was carried out in 3 Pre-school Education
Centers (Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini, PAUD) in the sub-district of Jatinangor in
September 2014. Sixty four children were selected through cluster random
sampling as samples. The degree of caries was measured by def-t index.
Nutritional status was determined by anthropometric measurements, i.e. body
weight (BW)/body height (BH) or body mass index (BMI)/Age index.
Results: There were 59 (92%) children suffered from dental caries out of
which 48 (75%) children was severe, 6 (9%) children was moderate, and 10 (16%)
children was mild. Furthermore, 18 (28%) children were mildly undernourished
and 46 (72%) were well-nourished. Out of all the children with severe dental
caries, 16 (34%) children had mild undernourishment while out of all the
children with moderate-mild dental caries, 2 (12%) children had mild
undernourishment.
Conclusions: Children aged 3-5 years in the sub-district of Jatinangor
have a relatively severe dental caries even though their nutritional status are
generally good. Mildly undernourished children largely come from the group with
severe dental caries.
Keywords: dental caries,
nutritional status, preschool children
Author: Anggita Dwi Putri,
Etty Sofia MA, Julistio T.B. Djais
Journal Code: jpkedokterangg160220
