Perbedaan pengalaman karies pada anak berkebutuhan khusus berdasarkan pengetahuan orang tua tentang pemeliharaan kebersihan mulut dan diet: studi cross-sectional ABSTRAK Pendahuluan: Anak Berkebutuhan Khusus memiliki risiko lebih mengalami masalah kesehatan gigi dan mulut dibandingkan anak normal, salah satunya disebabkan oleh keterbatasan mental maupun fisik dalam menjaga kebersihan mulut. Pengetahuan orang tua yang rendah tentang pemeliharaan kebersihan mulut dan pola diet menyebabkan tingginya angka karies gigi pada anak, penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis perbedaan pengalaman karies pada anak berkebutuhan khusus berdasarkan pengetahuan orang tua tentang pemeliharaan kebersihan mulut dan diet anak. Metode: Jenis penelitian observasional analitik dengan desain cross-sectional. Sampel terdiri dari 60 anak (30 anak laki-laki dan 30 anak Perempuan) yang dipilih dengan teknik total sampling. Data dikumpulkan menggunakan kuesioner dan pemeriksaan karies. Data diolah secara univariat dan bivariat menggunakan uji Kruskal wallis. Hasil: Rerata pengalaman karies sebanyak 33 anak berusia 6-12 tahun kategori rendah dengan rerata deft 1,55±1,872 dan rerata DMFT 2,24±1,985, anak berusia 13-17 tahun kategori sedang dengan rerata DMFT 4,37±3,764. Uji Kruskal wallis menunjukkan adanya perbedaan signifikan antara pengalaman karies pada anak berkebutuhan khusus berdasarkan tingkat pengetahuan orang tua tentang pemeliharaan kebersihan mulut dan diet (p=0,001) pada kedua kelompok usia. Simpulan: Terdapat perbedaan pengalaman karies pada anak berkebutuhan khusus berdasarkan tingkat pengetahuan orang tua tentang pemeliharaan kebersihan mulut dan diet anak. Kata kunci anak berkebutuhan khusus, pengetahuan orang tua, kebersihan mulut, diet anak, karies Differences in caries experience among children with special needs based on parental knowledge of oral hygiene maintenance and dietary habits: a cross-sectional study ABSTRACT Introduction: Children with special needs have a higher risk of oral health problems than typically developing children, partly due to mental and physical limitations in maintaining proper oral hygiene. Low parental knowledge of oral hygiene practices and dietary habits is a contributing factor to the high prevalence of dental caries. This study aimed to analyze differences in caries experience among children with special needs based on parental knowledge of oral hygiene maintenance and children’s dietary habits at the Arnhemia Special Needs Institution. Methods: This was an analytical observational study with a cross-sectional design. The sample consisted of 60 children (30 boys and 30 girls) selected through a total sampling technique. Data were collected through questionnaires and dental caries examinations. Data were analyzed using univariate and bivariate methods.. Results: Among the participants, 33 children aged 6–12 years showed a low caries experience, with a mean deft score of 1.55 ± 1.872 and a mean DMFT score of 2.24 ± 1.985. In contrast, children aged 13–17 years demonstrated a moderate caries experience, with a mean DMFT score of 4.37 ± 3.764. The Kruskal-Wallis test revealed a significant difference in caries experience among children with special needs based on parental knowledge of oral hygiene maintenance and diet (p=0.001) in both age groups.Conclusions: There was a difference in caries experience among children with special needs based on parental knowledge of oral hygiene maintenance and dietary habits. Keywords special needs children, parental knowledge, oral hygiene, diet, dental caries