Inmates at Goose Creek Correctional Center in Point MacKenzie, Alaska, have not been given timely or accurate dental care, according to a Feb. 26 report from the Alaska Beacon.
A report from the state ombudsman's office found that more than 20% of inmates at the center are on the waitlist to receive dental care. GCCC has not had a dental hygienist in two years, and the number of inmates who need dental care outweighs the number of staff members.
The facility has the ability only to pull teeth and provide antibiotics to fight infection and cannot provide routine exams, cleanings, fillings or denture fittings, the ombudsman's office said.
There is space for two dental teams at GCCC, but it currently has only one partially staffed team due to a lack of funding from the state.
The state Department of Corrections has started contracting with two additional dentists and is working to secure funding to hire another three-person dental team to help improve care at the facility, according to the Beacon.