F: HUBUNGAN PENGETAHUAN SISWA TENTANG KEBERSIHAN GIGI DAN MULUT DENGAN DEBRIS (Siswa Kelas 4 SDN Grabagan Kecamatan Tulangan Kabupaten Sidoarjo)

Abstract

Oral hygiene is an important aspect of maintaining the health of elementary school-aged children. The high prevalence of dental caries among fourth-grade students at SDN Grabagan in Tulangan Subdistrict, Sidoarjo Regency, can be attributed to the students’ low level of knowledge regarding oral hygiene and health. One measure that can be taken to reduce the caries rate is to improve students’ knowledge through ongoing education and counseling on oral health. This study aims to determine the relationship between students’ knowledge of dental and oral hygiene and the plaque index among fourth-grade students at SDN Grabagan in Tulangan Subdistrict, Sidoarjo Regency. The study employed an analytical survey with a cross-sectional design. The independent variable in this study was students’ knowledge of oral hygiene, while the dependent variable was the plaque index. The study population consisted of 48 fourth-grade students at SDN Grabagan in Tulangan Subdistrict, Sidoarjo Regency. A sample of 48 students was drawn from the population for this study. Data collection was conducted using a knowledge questionnaire and a dental plaque index examination. Data analysis was performed using the Spearman’s rank correlation test with a significance level of α = 0.05. The results of the study indicate a relationship between students’ knowledge of dental and oral hygiene and dental plaque. The results of the Spearman’s test yielded a P-value of 0.000 (p < 0.05) with a correlation coefficient of r = 0.588. It can be concluded that there is a significant relationship between students’ knowledge of dental and oral hygiene and their debris levels among fourth-grade students at SDN Grabagan, Tulangan Subdistrict, Sidoarjo Regency. The better the students’ knowledge of dental and oral hygiene, the lower their debris levels.

Keywords: Knowledge, Oral Hygiene, Plaque, Elementary School Students