AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION INMATES PATIENT PROFILES IN 30 JAILS DURING 1976 AND 1977 REVEALED A HIGHER NUMBER OF DENTAL ABNORMALITIES THAN ALMOST ANY OF THE OTHER 22 ABNORMALITIES FOR WHICH INMATES WERE EXAMINED. DENTAL AND ORAL HEALTH CARE IS AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE BECAUSE POOR ORAL HEALTH IS RELATED TO THE TOTAL HEALTH OF THE INDIVIDUAL, AND CLINICAL SIGNS OF SOME SYSTEMIC DISORDERS OFTEN APPEAR IN THE MOUTH BEFORE BECOMING APPARENT IN OTHER ORGANS OF THE BODY. ALTERNATIVES FOR PATTERNS OF DENTAL SERVICES IN JAILS INCLUDE (1) FEE-FOR-SERVICE, IN WHICH PRIVATE PRACTITIONERS ARE USED; (2) CONTRACT DENTISTRY, WHERE CONTRACT ARRANGEMENTS ARE MADE WITH PRIVATE DENTISTS OR HEALTH AGENCIES; AND (3) THE USE OF DENTAL SCHOOL STUDENTS. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING FOR THE DAILY ORAL HYGIENE NEEDS OF THE INMATE (BRUSHING AND FLOSSING OF TEETH), DENTAL SERVICES SHOULD INCLUDE SCREENING, HYGIENE, EXAMINATION, AND APPROPRIATE DENTAL TREATMENT. DENTAL TREATMENT SHOULD BE PERFORMED ACCORDING TO THE FOLLOWING PRIORITIES: (1) RELIEF OF PAIN AND TREATMENT OF ACUTE INFECTIONS, (2) ELIMINATION OF PATHOLOGICAL CONDITIONS AND EXTRACTION OF UNSAVABLE TEETH, (3) REMOVAL OF IRRITATION CONDITIONS WHICH MAY LEAD TO MALIGNANCIES, (4) TREATMENT OF BONE AND SOFT TISSUE DISEASE, (5) REPAIR OF INJURED OR CARIOUS TEETH, AND (6) REPLACEMENT OF LOST TEETH AND RESTORATION OF FUNCTION. UPON DISCHARGE, REFERRALS SHOULD BE MADE TO THE PROPER AGENCY OR DENTIST FOR ANY NEEDED DENTAL SERVICES. FOOTNOTES ARE PROVIDED.