<![CDATA[This study aims to explore patients’ perceptions of dental and oral care behavior at RSUD Ir. Soekarno. This research employed a qualitative approach with a descriptive design. The informants were patients visiting dental and oral health services, selected using purposive sampling techniques. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and observations, and analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings revealed that patients’ perceptions of dental and oral care are influenced by their level of knowledge, daily habits, prior experiences, and access to healthcare services. Most patients still have limited understanding regarding the importance of routine dental care, resulting in suboptimal oral health practices. In addition, factors such as distance, cost, and availability of services were identified as barriers to accessing dental care. This study concludes that improving dental health education and enhancing service accessibility are essential to promote better patient behavior. The findings are expected to contribute to the development of more effective dental and oral health promotion strategies.]]>
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