EXPLORING THE ORAL HEALTH STATUS IN INCARCERATED POPULATIONS: A NARRATIVE REVIEW

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Oral health is an important part of the overall well-being of an individual, especially among the vulnerable sections,
including inmates
AIM:The evidence suggests that inmates are more likely to fall prey to poor oral health conditions.
METHODS: This review draws inferences from important evidence from 20 countries worldwide to assess the status of oral health in the incarcerated population. The analysis also highlighted the contributing factors (barriers and causative factors) affecting the oral health of inmates in prison. Furthermore, a fishbone diagram has been generated to communicate better the root cause of the current oral health of the inmates.
RESULTS: The overall analysis reflects that the incarcerated population suffers from poor oral health, which has worsened over time,
leading to increased pervasiveness of oral disease in them. The analysis concluded that DMFT remained the most concerning issue
among them, followed by untreated caries, periodontal diseases, gingivitis, teeth pain or discomfort, and, in rare cases, cancerous lesions and oral sub-mucous fibrosis. The study identified a high frequency of these oral conditions, ranging from 50% to over 90% in most cases.
Further analysis revealed that not only were dental healthcare services in prison inaccessible, but several important causative factors also contributed to the detrimental oral health of the inmates.
CONCLUSION: These findings highlight the important issue of poor oral health in the incarcerated population in prisons, especially among adolescents and old age inmates. The review also documented key measures taken to manage poor oral health among them. However, limited evidence on the impact assessment has restricted our understanding of the effects of these measures. Therefore, the authors of this review emphasize the urgent need for comprehensive and detailed impact evaluation studies to inform policy actions in this regard.