Project Overview

Approximately 11.5 million people worldwide are housed in correctional settings (e.g. prison/jails) on any given day. In NSW, as of December 2023, 42 274 people were living in prison. The oral health of people in custodial settings is an important aspect of public health that is often overlooked and remains largely unaddressed globally. Studies have shown oral health inequalities exist among of people in contact with the criminal justice system, reporting a high prevalence of periodontal disease, dental caries and tooth decay. Oral health conditions, especially periodontal disease, can be severe, debilitating, and serve as risk factors for other non-communicable diseases including cancers, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, and diabetes and can lead to considerable health, social, and economic burdens that further contribute to disadvantage and inequality. Early detection of oral diseases is essential as most are largely preventable. For many people in prison, their first interaction with dental services occurs during incarceration. However, dental professionals are often unevenly distributed in prisons which limits access.

Improving oral health among people in prison is grounded in the 2022 World Health Organization (WHO)’s “Global Oral Health Status Report: towards universal health coverage (UHC) for oral health by 2030”, the draft WHO Global Oral Health Action Plan 2023-2030 and the NSW Oral Health Strategic Plan 2022-2032. Integrating oral health into primary health care is the common goal. 

Non-dental correctional professionals such as Aboriginal health workers, nurses and correctional officers are well placed to incorporate oral health promotion into routine care yet have not been traditionally involved in oral health promotion. Non-dental correctional professionals could provide oral health promotion however, limited evidence exists on their involvement in custodial settings. An opportunity exists to address the epidemic of non-communicable disease and oral health to optimise the health and wellbeing of people in prison and return healthier people to their communities upon release.

Our research closely aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By providing access to oral health care, our research directly relates to SDG3 improving the ‘health and wellbeing’ of key populations. Additionally, by focusing on custodial settings, our research contributes to advancing equitable healthcare delivery by addressing the needs of key populations at increased-risk of oral health conditions a population often overlooked in healthcare research (SDG 10 – reduced inequalities). Lastly, our novel contribution of a collaborative approach, comprising experts by lived experience of incarceration, academics, clinicians, stakeholders, and industry professionals aligns with SDG 17 ‘Partnerships for Goals’. By addressing the SDGs, our research aims to contribute to broader efforts to promote health and wellbeing for all by 2030 to ensure no one is left behind, including people in contact with the criminal justice system as prison health is public health