In Hasselt Prison, inmates can no longer visit the dentist an investigation conducted by the prisons supervisory committee shows. A few years ago, a mobile team would occasionally visit to treat the most urgent cases, but this is no longer happening. Leuven-Centraal Prison still has a permanent dentist, but he works part-time, resulting in waiting times of up to 10 months.
A few months ago, prisoners in Hasselt Gaol protested against the lack of dental care. The situation hasn’t changed much since then.
‘Every week, we hear stories of prisoners trying to remove their own teeth with a spoon because they can no longer bear the pain,’ says committee chair Johan Brom. ‘These are prisoners who are not struggling with drug addiction but are simply at their wits' end because they have no access to dental care. They are prescribed painkillers, but that is all. Very occasionally – if there is a budget – prisoners can visit a dentist at the hospital.’
The dental problems in Hasselt Prison have been going on for years, Brom notes. ‘In the past, a dentist would visit occasionally, but usually they worked with dentists from Bulgaria or Romania who did not speak Dutch, with all the consequences that entailed.’
Leuven-Centraal Prison does have a permanent dentist. ‘He works part-time and only occasionally receives assistance from a mobile team, which is insufficient.’ According to the prisons supervisory committee, waiting times can be as long as 10 months.
‘Normally, you should have a check-up at your dentist’s once a year, but in prison, this is unthinkable. As a result, a small cavity or inflammation is treated far too late. Extracting a tooth is often the only solution.’
Letter to the Prison Service
The prisons supervisory committee has sent a letter to the Prisons Service asking for the issue of proper dental care urgently to be addressed, as this is a basic right of prisoners. ‘Dental care is the responsibility of the medical service, which operates independently. Prison management has no influence over them and cannot do anything.’
The committee also reports that basic dental care is available in other prisons in our country. ‘Prisons usually have weekly consultation hours. If it is possible there, why can't it be done in Hasselt and Leuven?’
The supervisory committee wants additional dentists to be hired or mobile dental teams to be called in. ‘Perhaps it is also possible to call in dentists in training or have them do internships in the prison,’ the commissioners say.
The Prison Service has so far not wanted to comment.