An Overview Of DMF-T And OHI-S Index Among 10-12 Years Old Elementary School Students

Introduction: Caries is a common oral health problem among Indonesian children and is strongly influenced by poor oral hygiene. RISKESDAS data indicate that caries prevalence remains high, with the DMFT index measuring caries experience and the OHI-S assessing oral hygiene. This study describes oral hygiene status and dental caries among primary school children as a basis for preventive program planning. Method: This research is a cross-sectional study, was conducted during a social service activity by the Faculty of Dentistry, UMEDS, in Bojong Village, Purwakarta. The sample included 5th–6th grade students aged 10–12 years who underwent clinical examinations. Caries was recorded using the DMFT index, and oral hygiene was assessed using the OHI-S. Data were analyzed using SPSS. Results: OHI-S results showed 8.6% good, 55.7% moderate, and 35.7% poor hygiene. DMFT scores indicated 11.4% very low, 10% low, 32.9% moderate, 22.9% high, and 22.9% very high categories. Conclusion: These findings show that most children have suboptimal oral hygiene and considerable caries experience, reinforcing the association between poor hygiene and higher DMFT and OHI-S values. The results provide essential information for planning oral health promotion and prevention efforts.