Oral Health Status and Oral Healthcare System in Indonesia: A Narrative Review

Aim: To assess the current situation regarding oral health status and system in Indonesia through the existing literature and government documents, identify challenges, and propose recommendations for the future.

Materials and methods: A literature search was conducted from June to October 2023 through the scientific databases of PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, including published articles from 2013 to 2023. The following main keywords were used: "Indonesia," "oral health system," "oral healthcare system," "oral health policy," "oral health promotion," "oral health coverage," and "oral health status." Articles without any restrictions on study design, review articles, regional or national oral health reports, and Indonesian health laws or regulations were included. Data extracted from the included studies were synthesized and presented into several subgroups.

Results: Despite the establishment of a health system in 1982, the oral health status of Indonesian people remains unsatisfying. The prevalence of untreated caries and periodontal disease is still high. Several policies and programs have been implemented to tackle those problems; however, Indonesia still has many challenges to overcome, including geographic constraints, uneven distribution of dental personnel, low public awareness and information on oral care utilization, insufficient resource allocation, and lack of prevention and promotion programs.

Conclusion: The oral health status of the Indonesian population remains unsatisfactory. Future actions should emphasize on equal access and distribution of dental care, strengthen monitoring and evaluation of ongoing programs, integrate oral health into the national health agenda, and allocate adequate resources to support oral health initiatives.