Dental caries experience of female inmates

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the extent of dental caries and level of unmet dental need among female offenders in a federal prison in Connecticut. Methods: All inmates admitted into the Federal Correctional Institution at Danbury, Connecticut, from May 31, 1997, to May 21, 1998, were given oral screening examinations (n=500; age range=20-65 years). The data were analyzed in terms of race/ethnicity and age groupings. DMF and D/DF scores were determined. Results: The mean DMFT and DMFS scores were 16.8 and 57.0, respectively; the scores were higher for non-Hispanic whites and Hispanics than non-Hispanic blacks, and increased with age. The mean DT/DFT and DS/DFS scores were 36.8 percent and 36.0 percent, respectively. These scores were higher for non-Hispanic blacks than non-Hispanic whites and Hispanics, and decreased with age. Conclusions: Female prisoners had high levels of dental caries and racial disparities persisted in the prison.