Dental Health Education for Deaf Children with Ka Gi Ni Cards

Casal dels Infants – Every child has the right to receive dental and oral health education, including children with special needs, such as those who are Deaf. Addressing this challenge, Drg. Amandita Parameswari launched the Colorful Dental Health Education Cards, known as Ka Gi Ni Cards.

These cards serve as an effective learning tool for Deaf students. They help students understand how to care for their teeth and prevent oral health problems. This innovation is based on my thesis research,” said Amandita, as quoted from the University of Indonesia (UI) official website.

An Innovative Program in Special Schools

The Faculty of Dentistry (FKG) UI, particularly the Department of Oral Medicine (IPM) and the Department of Community and Preventive Dentistry (IKGMP), implemented this innovation through a community service program (Pengmas).

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The program was conducted at Santi Rama Junior High School for Deaf Students (SMPLB) in Cilandak, South Jakarta and involved 28 Deaf students. The goal was to enhance their knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to dental and oral health.

Visual Learning for Better Understanding

A key strength of the Ka Gi Ni Cards is their visual approach. It is supported by educational videos presented in sign language. These videos cover three main topics:

• Let’s Learn SAMURI (Self-Examination of the Mouth): Teaching simple ways for children to independently check their oral condition.
• Understanding Common Oral Diseases: Introducing students to conditions such as mouth ulcers and bleeding gums.
• Maintaining Oral and Dental Health: Explaining the anatomy of the oral cavity. And also the differences between baby teeth and permanent teeth, and effective oral care methods.

In addition to the videos, students practiced SAMURI in groups, guided by teaching staff and postgraduate dental students specializing in dentistry.

Commitment to Inclusive Education

Drg. Masita Mandasari, Chair of the FKG UI Community Service Team, emphasized the importance of the program’s sustainability. “Community service activities should ideally be carried out continuously to ensure more significant benefits in improving students’ knowledge and understanding of dental health,” she stated.

She also highlighted that this initiative reflects FKG UI’s commitment to fostering inclusive health education. “The collaboration between FKG UI and special schools like Santi Rama demonstrates our dedication to creating accessible educational programs for all segments of society. It is especially for those with hearing impairments,” Masita concluded.

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