06/16/2026
HEALTHLINES:
Most people don’t like to see a dentist, but that’s not the case with the medical staff and inmates at the Laurel County Correctional Center.
They love to see Dr. Edwin Smith and his mobile dental unit roll into the loading dock at the correctional center. The unit is a converted semi trailer equipped with a generator that powers the air conditioning, x-ray machine, dental tools, central suction system other equipment needed for a functioning dental office.
“I’ve been on antibiotics for two weeks and it hasn’t helped much. It’s got to come out,” said one inmate as she pressed her finger against a swollen back tooth. “I’m glad I’m getting to see the dentist.”
She was all smiles after Dr. Smith and his staff x-rayed the infected tooth, numbed it up and extracted it about 20 minutes after she sat in the chair.
“These inmates are so appreciative, that’s one of the reasons I like doing this work,” Dr. Smith said. “All these people have been suffering for weeks with teeth problems, so I’m happy to come here and provide this service.”
Dr. Smith has been providing mobile dental services for the LCCC for about a year. It works better than transporting 20-30 inmates at a time to various dental offices.
He was recognized as a CNN Hero in 2016 for transforming a semi trailer into a free dental clinic for children in Appalachia. He was also profiled on Good Morning America and in the New York Times.
Last weekend he was in California performing mobile dental services for the National Guard. The weekend before that he was in Florida.
“This is just another area that our team has set the standard for the corrections industry,” Jailer Jamie Mosley said. “Our Dental Care program as you can see does a terrific job in addressing such a need. I am so grateful for this partnership with Dr. Smith.”
The medical staff is grateful too, because a dentist is the only way to deal with chronic dental problems in the inmate population.
“Anyone that’s had a toothache, you know it’s the worst pain ever,” said health services administrator Chelsea Jackson. “It makes them agitated. Most of the teeth problems are caused by substance abuse, primarily m**hamphetamine. We can treat the infection and give them Ibuprofen, but more than likely it will come back. The teeth will need to be extracted.”
Dr. Smith and his staff performed dental work, mostly extractions, on 29 inmates Tuesday. One inmate had five teeth pulled. She said she was looking forward to feeling better.
Inmates get on the dental list by placing a sick call with the medical staff, who evaluate the need for care and set the appointment with Dr. Smith. Federal inmates, the bulk of the LCCC population, are required to have their dental care approved by the U.S. Marshall’s Service, who then pays for the service.
