The Costs of Little to No Dental Care Within US Prison Systems

The United States has serious access-to-care problems among many populations—from those of low socioeconomic status to individuals living in rural areas to ethnic minorities. Another population that has little to no ability to receive professional dental care is the incarcerated. Now those who have committed crimes and are serving prison time may not engender much sympathy, but the costs of denying a large number of people dental care are great. Oral pain that goes untreated has long-term effects on health and can hinder individuals’ ability to obtain employment and build relationships once they are released. Untreated pain may spark addictions that had been controlled during their time spent incarcerated. The esthetic effects of poor oral health also hurt former inmates’ self-confidence and may impede their ability to get jobs. Click here to read more.