Implementation of SMART to Pre-School Children with Early Childhood Caries

Background: Gunung Kidul District at Yogyakarta Special Province is a rural area that has high prevalence of Early Child Caries (ECC). The management of ECC in that area is such a big challenge for dentist due to lack of instrument, material and technique. Simplified Modified Atraumatic Restoration Technique (SMART) is a minimal restoration that requires minimal instrument and procedure. It also has minimal pain, trauma and stress fear to young children.

Objective: The objective of this study is to observe whether SMART could be implemented in the rural area at Gunung Kidul District, Yogyakarta Special Province, Indonesia.

Methods: Observational descriptive study was conducted on 35 pre-school children, age 4-6 year-old, of Pertiwi Kindergarten. Capsulated GIC (Fuji IX^R) were used to fill occlusal caries with SMART by dentists who were part of Indonesian Dental Association Gunung Kidul. Thereafter, the teeth were evaluated by dentist who was in charge of that school for 12 months.

Results: Forty eight occlusal caries teeth from these 35 pre-school children were filled successfully with 37 capsules of glass ionomer cement (Fuji IX^R). It was noted that 48 SMART restorations were performed within only one and half hour by 23 dentists in one visit at the kindergarten field setting. During 12 months evaluation, the patients had no complaint about any pain or hypersensitivity on the restoration teeth .

Conclusion: It assumes that SMART could be implemented to children with ECC at Pertiwi Kindergarten, Gunung Kidul District, Yogyakarta Special Province, Indonesia.