@article {Treadwell323, author = {Henrie M. Treadwell and Starla H. Blanks and Carlos C. Mahaffey and Whitney C. Graves}, title = {Implications for Improving Oral Health Care Among Female Prisoners in Georgia{\textquoteright}s Correctional System}, volume = {90}, number = {5}, pages = {323--327}, year = {2016}, publisher = {American Dental Hygienists{\textquoteright} Association}, abstract = {Georgia has the eighth-highest state rate of incarceration and fourth-highest number of prisoners in the country. Aside from receiving a dental examination at intake to assess oral health needs, there are no efforts to determine the barriers and determinants that contribute to the presenting oral health status of Georgia{\textquoteright}s state prisoners. Also, there is no prerelease planning to establish a health care home for prisoners being released back into the community to continue oral health care services in an effort to support successful reentry.This study assessed the barriers that impact N=98 female inmates{\textquoteright} access to oral health care, prior to incarceration, within Georgia{\textquoteright}s prison system using a 21-item survey developed by a division of an academic institution and administered by the staff of a state department. Majority of the survey respondents reported that they do not have a regular dental provider (83\%), lack insurance coverage (66\%), and had their last dental visit more than a year ago because they did not have money for service or treatment (64\%). The data collected from this study will be utilized to inform future project efforts to both reduce costs and increase access to oral health care for Georgia{\textquoteright}s uninsured and underinsured, and especially the incarcerated and reentry populations.}, issn = {1553-0205}, URL = {https://jdh.adha.org/content/90/5/323}, eprint = {https://jdh.adha.org/content/90/5/323.full.pdf}, journal = {American Dental Hygienists{\textquoteright} Association} }