Failure to Provide Dental Services and Denture Care
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that dental services were provided for a resident who was admitted with major depressive disorder and had both upper and lower dentures. The resident's care plan required staff to provide oral hygiene supplies, assist with oral hygiene if the resident was too weak, and assist with proper storage and daily cleaning of dentures. Despite these requirements, staff interviews and observations revealed that the resident had not worn dentures for several months to a year due to poor fit and pain. The dentures were found stored in a case with clear fluid and covered in black debris, indicating a lack of proper cleaning and maintenance. Multiple staff members, including CNAs and the Social Services Director, were unaware of the resident's dental concerns or the fact that the dentures were no longer being worn. Although a CNA reported the issue of pain with the dentures to a nurse approximately two months prior, no follow-up or referral for dental services was initiated. The Social Services Director, responsible for arranging dental services, was not informed of the problem, and no dental appointment was scheduled for the resident, despite the care plan's requirements.