Journal of International Dental and Medical Research ISSN 1309-100X Oral Health Status http://www.jidmr.com Fuad Husain Akbar, and et al Volume ∙ 10 ∙ Number ∙ 3 ∙ 2017 Page 921 Relationship between Oral Health Status with Knowledge, Attitude, and Behavior of Elementary School Children Fuad Husain Akbar 1 *, Rini Pratiwi 1 , Reagan Cendikiawan 2 1. Departement Dental Public Health, Faculty of Dentistry, Hasanuddin University, Indonesia. 2. Clinical Student Departement Dental Public Health, Faculty of Dentistry, Hasanuddin University, Indonesia. Abstract The purpose of this study was to assess the relation of oral health status with knowledge, attitude, and behavior among elementary school children in Tallo District, Indonesia. This cross sectional study was performed out among 1233 children who studied at elementary school in Tallo District. DMF-T/df-t index was used to measure oral health status. A structured, interviewer-guided questionnaire was used to measure children knowledge, attitude, and behavior that adapted from World Health Organitation. The 1233 children consisted of 597 males (48.4%) and 636 females (51.6%). There were 58 children aged 6 years (4.7%), 218 children aged 7 years (17.7%), 261 children aged 8 years (21.2%), 238 children aged 9 years (19.3%), 236 children aged 10 years (19.1%), 161 children aged 11 years (13.1%), and 61 children aged 12 years (4.9%). The chi - square test was used to assess the relation of oral health status with knowledge, attitude, and behavior. There is a significant relationship between oral health status with knowledge, attitude, and behavior of elementary school children (p < 0.05). The oral health status of elementary school children is in very low caries category. However, the level of knowledge, attitudes, and behavior can not be said well. Clinical article (J Int Dent Med Res 2017; 10(3): pp. 921-926) Keywords: Oral health status, knowledge, attitude, behavior, children, Indonesia. Received date: 16 June 2017 Accept date: 11 September 2017 Introduction Caries is a disease caused by microbes that attack tooth tissue, characterized by demineralization of inorganic parts and destruction of organic parts of the teeth. 1 Caries affects everyone, age, gender, ethnicity, race, and every level of socioeconomic status. 2 There is no countries in the world that free from caries. Although, caries prevalence has dropped dramatically in developed countries, it is still a major health public problem in developing countries, including some countries in Asia. 3 Oral disease with a high prevalence in Indonesia is caries. Caries prevalence among school children also has increased from 13.7% in 2007 to 42.6% in 2013. 4 In South Sulawesi, Indonesia, the mean of DMF-T index of children aged 12 year old was 1.4. Even, the mean of DMF-T index of children aged over 12 year old was 6.0. 4 This may be due to the low level of knowledge, attitudes, and behavior of children in maintaining their oral health. 5 Tallo District is one of 14 districts in Makassar City, South Sulawesi. However, Tallo District does not have sufficient health data, especially in oral and dental health of children. 6 Awareness of the importance of oral and dental health can be seen from the level of knowledge. Children have limited knowledge about oral and dental health that makes them susceptible to caries. Previous studies reported that there was an influence between knowledge that children received about oral health with their attitude and behavior in maintaining oral hygiene. 7,8,9 Therefore, dental health education should be introduced as early as possible to the children so they can know how to maintain good oral health. In this case, the role of parents as family members is very influential in maintaining oral and dental health children. 10 The impact of an untreated caries can affect the quality of life of *Corresponding author: Fuad Husain Akbar, DMD, MS, Ph.D Departement Dental Public Health, Faculty of Dentistry, Hasanuddin University. Jalan Perintis Kemerdekaan Km. 10, Tamalanrea, Makassar, 90245, Indonesia. E-mail: fuadgi2@gmail.com