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International Arab Journal of Dentistry

Abstract

Introductions: Dental caries and poor oral hygiene remain major public health problems among children in Indonesia. Conventional dental health education has shown limited effectiveness in achieving sustainable behavioral change. Digital media, such as an animated video and an electronic dental booklet (e-Saku Gigi), offer a promising strategy to improve oral hygiene behavior in children.

Aim: This study evaluated the effectiveness of a Dental Health Education (DHE) intervention using an animated video and e-Saku Gigi on oral hygiene status (OHI-S), dental caries experience (DMF-T), and the knowledge–attitude–behavior pathway.

Methodes: A two-stage design was used. The first stage employed an observational analytic design with Partial Least Squares–Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to examine relationships among knowledge, attitude, and behavior. The second stage used a one-group pretest–posttest design to assess changes in OHI-S and DMF-T after the DHE intervention in 211 children.

Results: Statistical analyses included normality testing, homogeneity testing, paired t-tests, and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) analysis. The intervention produced a significant reduction in mean OHI-S scores from 3.26 ± 1.39 to 2.35 ± 1.04 (p < 0.001), indicating improved oral hygiene, and a modest decrease in mean DMF-T scores from 7.90 ± 1.61 to 7.25 ± 1.55 (p < 0.001), which requires cautious interpretation due to the cumulative nature of DMF-T and short follow-up.

Conclusions: These findings suggest that DHE delivered through an animated video and electronic dental booklet (e-Saku Gigi) can improve oral hygiene and support better oral health behavior in children.

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