Which factors are associated with the number of dental providers employed in correctional settings?

OBJECTIVES

Individuals experiencing incarceration are at increased risk of poor oral health. The purpose of this study was to identify state-level factors that influence the number of oral healthcare providers employed in US correctional settings.

METHODS

This ecological study utilized the National Survey of Prison Health Care (NSPHC) to identify the total number of dentists employed in US correctional facilities. Descriptive statistics were calculated and a linear regression was used to identify predictors of the total number of dentists employed in correctional settings by state.

RESULTS

The mean number of dentists and dental hygienists/assistants per 10,000 individuals experiencing incarceration was 9.33 ± 4.54 and 11.53 ± 7.02, respectively. The only significant contributor to dental employment was healthcare spending per individual experiencing incarceration (Coefficient = 0.96; p = 0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings illustrate the need to develop novel methods of encouraging oral healthcare providers to join the correctional healthcare workforce.