In Michigan prisons: Toothache = Pain in the butt!

One of my teeth broke a few months ago. I’ve learned that the teeth of octogenarians are not as strong and healthy as those of teenagers. I immediately contacted the office of my dentist, fearing the worst because it’s an incredibly busy office. No worries. A very nice member of the staff found a cancelation, and I was able to get an immediate appointment. 

That reminded me of a situation I encountered years ago. I was working solo in a much smaller Humanity for Prisoners back then. A Michigan prisoner complained by letter that he had suffered a broken tooth and was experiencing pain from an exposed nerve. Upon contacting the prison dentist he and was informed that he could be seen in about a month! 

I’ll bet money that that situation ended up with a removal of the tooth. We continue to hear horror stories about prison dentists…removing teeth instead of repairing them. One dentist explained to an inmate, “I don’t get paid to fix teeth!” 

I bring up the issue because our office just received a disturbing message from Mr. T at the Carson City Correctional Facility. ”There is no dentist here at this facility…it’s a BIG problem for ALL inmates! Over the weekend I had to be transported to the local ER. They said my abscess had spread to the saliva glands, and at the time it was pressing on my larynx. A CT scan showed even further complications. I feel it should have never gotten to this, but I am prejudiced…I am the one dealing with the pain. Can You help us to get proper dental care?” 

FYI, the Carson City Correctional Facility has a capacity of 2,526 adult prisoners. It's a multi-level facility with 15 housing units. And there’s no dentist? 

The Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) has 18.5 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions for dentists. Just how many dentists are actually on the payroll is a secret. Ombudsman Keith Barber reports that the MDOC shares in a national shortage of health care professionals, including dentists, nurses and psychologists. 

Here’s the other thing about going to the dentist in our state prisons: Offenders are eligible for routine dental services only after 12months from the first day of intake. That’s an actual quote from a MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS POLICY DIRECTIVE. For the first year, unless there’s an emergency, your teeth are on their own. 

Some tortures are physical and some are mental,

But the one that is both is dental

Ogden Nash

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