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.