Nebraska Prisons Struggle to Provide Basic Dental Care

Nebraska’s prison system is facing a critical breakdown in dental care, with access to routine services, such as prophylaxes and restorative therapy, severely limited. For many incarcerated individuals, the only option for treating dental issues is extraction, leading to long-term oral health problems that are largely preventable. As oral health professionals across the country work to promote preventive care, Nebraska’s correctional facilities offer a stark example of what happens when prevention is not an option.

Although Nebraska law mandates the provision of medical and dental care to incarcerated individuals, the reality falls short. According to recent reporting, individuals in state prisons routinely wait months or even years for dental appointments. Many report receiving prophylaxes only at intake and again years later, if at all. Caries and infections are often left untreated until they reach crisis levels, at which point extraction becomes the default solution.

This neglect isn’t due to apathy, but rather a combination of overcrowding, understaffing, and lack of prioritization. At the end of 2023, Nebraska’s prisons operated at 140% of their designed capacity. Meanwhile, the state employed just two full-time dentists and three dental assistants to care for more than 5,500 incarcerated individuals. Four dentist positions and two dental assistant roles remained unfilled. Even if fully staffed, the system would still fall short of meeting demand.

Nationally, the picture is similarly troubling. With more than 10,000 dentist vacancies across the United States, underserved communities, including those behind bars, often fall through the cracks. Preventive dental care, while proven to reduce long-term costs and improve outcomes, is often sacrificed in favor of emergency interventions.

This cycle of neglect not only affects oral health but has broader implications. Research consistently shows a connection between poor dental health and systemic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory infections. In an already vulnerable population, the lack of timely care exacerbates existing health disparities and diminishes quality of life.

Adding to the complexity, the incarcerated population in Nebraska is aging. As more individuals over the age of 40 enter the system, the demand for restorative and preventive dental services increases.

The problem is not unique to Nebraska. Across the country, prison healthcare systems struggle with the same issues: limited funding, recruitment challenges, and overwhelming demand. However, Nebraska’s persistent prison overcrowding and vacancy rates make it a particularly dire case. Click here to read more.