By: Salsabila Ayudya )*
Dental cavities remain one of the most common health issues experienced by Indonesians. This condition is often considered trivial because it doesn’t always cause pain in the early stages. However, long-term tooth decay can impact quality of life, productivity, and overall health. Cavities are not only experienced by adults, but are also frequently found in school-age children who are undergoing a crucial growth period.
Public awareness of the importance of maintaining dental health still needs to be strengthened. Many people only seek medical check-ups when the pain is already severe. Yet, prevention is much easier and cheaper than treatment when the damage is already severe. Simple habits like brushing your teeth regularly, reducing the consumption of high-sugar foods, and undergoing regular check-ups have yet to become a strong health culture.
The Director of Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Siti Nadia Tarmizi, stated that dental caries or cavities are the most common cases found during free health check-ups, especially among school-age children up to 18 years of age. Nadia added that dental problems should not be taken lightly, as they can have long-term impacts on quality of life. She emphasized the importance of utilizing free health check-ups, which are readily available without having to wait for birthdays, and encouraged people to care more about their teeth from an early age.
Dental health problems are not isolated. Cavities can lead to infections, eating disorders, reduce children’s concentration in school, and even disrupt adult productivity. In the long term, these conditions can impact the quality of human resources nationally.
Therefore, a preventative health approach is becoming increasingly important. Regular health check-ups are necessary to detect diseases early before they develop into more serious problems. In this context, the Free Health Check (CKG) program plays a crucial role in expanding access to public health services.
The CKG program exists as a form of strengthening health services that are more accessible to the public. Health check-ups are no longer seen as expensive or difficult to access, but rather as a basic necessity that all levels of society can benefit from. This program also provides an opportunity to detect dental health problems early before they develop into serious damage.
Regular check-ups help people understand their health condition and receive education about healthy lifestyles and proper dental hygiene. This step is crucial because changing health behaviors requires consistent education and easily accessible support services.
The importance of dental health is closely linked to the quality of the future generation. Children with healthy teeth have a better chance of learning, growing, and developing optimally. Conversely, dental health problems at an early age can have long-term impacts on a child’s growth and development and self-confidence.
The Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA), Arifatul Choiri Fauzi, stated that the Dental Health Checkup (CKG) program was initiated by President Prabowo Subianto to prepare the next generation for Indonesia’s 100th anniversary in 2045. He also revealed that children’s dental health in Indonesia is quite concerning. Data shows that approximately 93 percent of children’s teeth have cavities, and only seven percent are in good condition.
This data shows that dental health issues require serious attention. The high rate of tooth decay in children reflects the weak culture of healthy living within families and communities. If not addressed early, this condition has the potential to impact the quality of the future generation.
Therefore, strengthening the culture of health checkups from school age is a crucial step. Awareness of maintaining health needs to be instilled from an early age so that it becomes a habit throughout adulthood. Regular checkups through public health programs can be the gateway to building a broader healthy lifestyle.
The shift in the health paradigm from treatment to prevention also reflects a more modern direction of national health development. The state is not only present when people are sick, but also strives to ensure the community remains healthy through stronger preventive services.
In recent years, access to health services has continued to expand through various health screening programs, strengthening basic service facilities, and public health education. These steps demonstrate that health development is a crucial part of overall national development.
In the modern era, society’s health is increasingly complex due to high-sugar consumption patterns and unhealthy lifestyles. Children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable to dental health problems. Without education and regular checkups, cases of cavities at a young age may continue to increase.
Programs like the Dental Health Checkup (CKG) are crucial in raising public awareness about the importance of regular health checkups. When people become accustomed to checking their health before they become ill, their overall quality of life improves. A healthy population is better able to learn, work, and contribute to national development. Therefore, strengthening health checkup services like the Dental Health Checkup (CKG) is a strategic step in creating a healthy, productive society that is ready to face Indonesia’s future in 2045.
*) The author is a Content Writer at Galaswara Digital Bureau