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Dentist signs one week contract with jail

The Whitehorse Correctional Centre has a new dentist on contract.Until next week.The one-week contract was signed Wednesday.

The Whitehorse Correctional Centre has a new dentist on contract.

Until next week.

The one-week contract was signed Wednesday.

“The contractor has agreed to relieve the acute cases at WCC,” said jail acting program manager Mark Daniels.

“But there is no agreement at this point for any service beyond that.”

There are eight inmates at the jail in need of immediate care, and they will be seen over the next week, he said.

The Whitehorse Correctional Centre lost its contracted dentist on May 9th.

“A number of inmates come in with dental problems,” said jail supervisor Phil Perrin.

Jeff Bone is no exception.

The 42-year-old inmate has been suffering a toothache for two months.

“We give them medication for the pain,” said Perrin.

Bone has been getting Tylenol 500s.

But for inmates recovering from drug addictions, like Bone, taking pills is not always preferable.

The last dentist on contract became too busy to renew his contract after one of his co-workers quit, said Perrin.

After a lengthy search, Dr. Jonathan Keigan at Dandelion Dental took a one-week contract.

“The person who agreed to do it was our last option,” said Perrin, noting there was no one else.

“Most dentists are quite busy.”

Next week, the jail will be in the same position it has been for the last few months.

It will be without a dentist.

“We’re still looking,” said Daniels.

It’s fairly common — 18 months ago the jail was in a similar position.

“The dental contract has been our most challenging contract,” said Perrin.