Dental caries experience of female inmates.
OBJECTIVE
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.
Heng
Christine K
CK
Federal Correctional Institution, Route 37, Danbury, CT 06811, USA. cheng@bop.gov
Morse
Douglas E
DE
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D044383:Black People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003237:Connecticut / Q000453:epidemiology; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011329:Prisoners / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000453:epidemiology; D014095:Tooth, Impacted / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001741:Black or African American