Oral health is an important aspect in maintaining the quality of life of the elderly. However, the elderly often face challenges in maintaining oral hygiene due to decreased physical abilities, changes in cognitive status, and lack of knowledge and access to dental health services. This study aims to identify factors that influence oral hygiene in the elderly and to develop an effective community-based intervention to improve oral hygiene among the elderly. The methods used in this study included a survey of knowledge, attitudes, and oral hygiene practices before and after counseling, as well as direct observation of oral hygiene in 50 elderly in the local community. The intervention was carried out through counseling, training, and providing support from family and community. The results showed a significant increase in knowledge of the elderly, from 60% before counseling to 85% after. Positive attitudes also increased, with more than 80% of the elderly showing a stronger intention to maintain oral hygiene independently. Oral hygiene practices also improved, with 75% of participants reporting brushing their teeth at least twice a day after the intervention, compared to 40% before the intervention. In addition, family and community support play an important role in facilitating these behavioral changes. The conclusion of this study is that a comprehensive community-based intervention is effective in improving oral hygiene in the elderly. This approach, which combines education, attitude change, and social support, can be a model adopted in oral health programs in other communities to improve the quality of life of the elderly.

Cross-infection is one of the main risks faced in medical procedures, including tooth extraction in health facilities such as the dental clinic of the Health Center. This infection can occur through direct contact with blood, saliva, or non-sterile medical equipment, as well as through transmission from patients to medical personnel or vice versa. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of efforts to prevent and control cross-infection in tooth extraction procedures at the Dental Clinic of the Kassi - Kassi Health Center. The methods used in this study include counseling to medical personnel regarding cross-infection prevention protocols, including hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and sterilization of equipment. Evaluations were conducted before and after counseling through questionnaires filled out by the participants. The evaluation results showed a significant increase in understanding, awareness, and implementation of cross-infection prevention protocols. Before counseling, only 60% of participants had a good understanding of cross-infection, while after counseling, this figure increased to 90%. Improvements were also seen in awareness of hand hygiene, knowledge of PPE use, sterilization procedures, implementation of SOPs, and handling of high-risk patients. The conclusion of this study shows that counseling and strict implementation of protocols can significantly reduce the risk of cross-infection in tooth extraction procedures. Therefore, it is recommended that similar counseling be held routinely to ensure consistent and sustainable implementation of infection prevention in the Puskesmas environment.