Publication Type: Poster
Abstract: While dental care is a critical component of overall quality health care, many prisoners enter correctional facilities in the United States with little history of good dental hygiene and even less history of access to dentists for routine dental examinations. As a result, the incarceration experience presents opportunities for inmates to receive quality dental care, often for the first time in their lives. Dental care delivered by correctional dentists is complicated, however, by the array of serious dental conditions and difficult to treat dental problems in clinical settings. These conditions exist within a legal environment that mandates adequate dental care be provided to prisoners by the state. This article examines prisoners’ lawsuits, claiming that delays of dental care violate inmates’ statutory and constitutional rights. The discussion focuses on what the U.S. Court of Appeals have required of correctional officials in the form of dental care and when officials are most likely to be held liable for issues associated with dental care lawsuits.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: This paper (1) addresses questions of the "scientificity" of the social sciences and (2) argues for the incorporation of the concept of the imaginary into social and political analysis.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: This study examined patterns of response in a mail survey of Florida general dentists. Specifically, we compared differences in response rates based on the location to which the questionnaire was sent (office vs. home) and the method of delivery (first class mail vs. FedEx second-day service). A self-administered survey instrument was mailed to a random sample of 2,000 general dentists, to the addresses provided by a professional organization. About 73 percent- of these addresses were office addresses, while 27 percent- were home addresses. In this first wave, about half of those sent to office addresses yielded completed surveys while only a third of those sent to home addresses returned completed questionnaires. For those who had still not responded three weeks after the reminder post card, an attempt was made to secure a valid office address through internet searches and phone calls. Through this process, about 65 office addresses and 175 home addresses were found to be invalid, with no forwarding information, and those individuals were dropped from the sample with unknown eligibility. Each of the remaining 831 individuals received a second questionnaire and new introductory letter at their office address. About half were sent by first class mail and half by FedEx second-day service. Approximately 24 percent- of those sent via first class mail resulted in an interview, compared to 32 percent- among those sent via FedEx, a statistically significant difference (p<.05). Given the overall favorable response to this survey, the extra cost of FedEx might not be justified, but this strategy may prove worthwhile for other projects. Clearly, the quality of the list plays a crucial role in response. While many dentists and other professionals do receive professional mail at home, our "home" listings had a much higher rate of inaccuracy; verifying the addresses helps minimize mailing costs.