[Dental care of prison inmates in Switzerland]

The dental status of inmates of 10 Swiss penitentiaries (capacity 50 to 245 persons) was investigated, and also organization and economic questions pertaining to dental treatment of penitentiary inmates. In all 10 institutions, the minimal claims of the UNO (1955) relative to dental treatment of penitentiary inmates are fulfilled. Nevertheless, there are significant differences between the 10 institutions. In some, practically only pain therapy is customary, while in others the whole spectrum of modern dentistry is used. Preventive measures are uniformly insufficient. Since the administering of punishment in Switzerland is cantonal, the differences in dental treatment will not be easy to eliminate.