PARENTING PATTERN OF PARENTS WITH THE LEVEL OF ORAL HYGIENE FOR CHILDREN WITH MENTAL RETARDATION

Abstract

Background: The most common dental and oral health problems for people with mental retardation are gum tissue disease (periodontal), cavities and irregular teeth (malocclusion). This disorder is also coupled with the difficulty of the child being able to maintain healthy oral teeth independently and the inactivity of the oral muscles to get good natural cleaning of the teeth. Efforts to realize this healthy paradigm are carried out through a family approach and a healthy living community movement involving parents, especially in the parenting style of mentally retarded children. The aim of the study: to determine the relationship between parenting style and the level of dental and oral hygiene in children with mild mental retardation at SLB Tunas Indonesia, Cibitung District, Bekasi Regency. Methods: research with a cross-sectional design, a population of 60 people, consisting of parents and children with mild mental retardation at SLB Tunas Indonesia, taking samples using the total sampling method. Data were collected by examining oral and dental hygiene in children with mild mental retardation and filling out questionnaires by parents. Data were analyzed using the Spearman rank statistical test. Results: the results show that the parenting style of parents of mildly mentally retarded children is mostly democratic parenting (70%), dental and oral hygiene (OHI-S) of mildly mentally retarded children is mostly with good criteria (66.7%), and there is a relationship between parenting style and the level of dental and oral hygiene in children with mild mental retardation (ρ value = 0.000 < α : 0.05). Conclusion: in this study it can be concluded that there is a relationship between parenting style and the level of dental and oral hygiene in children with mild mental retardation at SLB Tunas Indonesia, Cibitung District, Bekasi Regency. It is recommended for SLB Tunas Indonesia to provide health education about dental and oral hygiene to parents and mentally retarded children outside of study hours and practice directly, for example how to clean teeth and mouth properly and correctly.