A brush with the law

Rachel Lawton explores practising of dentistry in a prison.

Rachel Lawton is a dentist who has worked for the prison services for over 12 years, moving from part time to full time in 2012. She currently works in a secure psychiatric unit, a medium secure psychiatric unit and six prisons at HMP Wymott and HMP Hindley.

When she was chosen as one of the winners of the Philips sponsored places on Victoria Wilson’s dental business course, Rachel was somewhat taken aback about why the proposed oral health promotion project she submitted in her application would possibly receive any attention.

Rachel’s working environment is far from glamorous; let alone the individuals she has to deal with. Her patient-base is made up of criminals, well known gangsters, sex offenders of all ages and all spectrums of life. Many originate from deprived areas and are poorly educated with chaotic lifestyles, whilst others have had privileged upbringing as well as prestigious professions, but went astray at a point in their lives too. Dental issues typically addressed in dental practices are compounded in prison with problems of alcohol, drugs, and eating disorders, and there is a greater prevalence of physical and mental ill health.