Teachers’ Role in Regular and Special Need Students’ Oral Health: A Narrative Review

• Main Authors: Tania Saskianti, -, Mega Moeharyono Puteri, -, Barnabas Bonardo, -, Brian Maulani, -, Nita Naomi, -, Alit Rahma Estu, -
• Format: Article PeerReviewed
• Language: English; English; Indonesian
• Published: JIDMR 2021
• Subjects: R Medicine; RK Dentistry
• Online Access: https://repository.unair.ac.id/123796/1/4.ARTIKEL.pdf; https://repository.unair.ac.id/123796/2/4.TURNITIN.pdf; https://repository.unair.ac.id/123796/3/4.KARIL.pdf; https://repository.unair.ac.id/123796/
• Institution: Universitas Airlangga

Globally, around 530 million children suffer from caries. Several attempts have been made to improve oral health, including oral health (OH) promotion in schools. Teachers as students’ role models are expected to play an active role in promoting OH, especially for special need students who need basic life skills for a better quality of life. Literature shows at the school age, children spend a large portion of their time with teachers, which leads to the possibility of their mother figure being replaced somewhat by their teacher. Teachers with good knowledge and attitudes about OH could effectively influence students and potentially play an important role in successful OH promotion. Literature findings indicate that teachers can demonstrate to regular students how to correctly brush teeth better than dentists; education by teachers decreases children’s plaque index, gingival index and caries risk, and increases brushing frequency and OH knowledge. For special needs students, findings show several different possible outcomes related to the special needs of each student. Regular repetition and strengthening by teachers can support the success of OH promotion programs in schools for regular students as well as special need students.