Failure to Provide Necessary Dental Services and Follow-Up
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide necessary dental services for four sampled residents, resulting in unmet dental needs and lack of follow-up on dental care. One resident, who was dependent on staff for oral hygiene and eating, had teeth extracted and required dentures. Despite orders and recommendations for dental impressions and new dentures, there was no follow-up by the Social Services Director, leaving the resident without dentures and experiencing difficulty chewing. Another resident, who was edentulous and had cognitive impairment, reported that her dentures did not fit properly. Although she had informed staff of her concerns, there was no follow-up or reassessment of her dental needs after her last dental evaluation. The Social Services Director acknowledged that the facility did not follow up on dental concerns unless identified during quarterly assessments. A third resident received new dentures, but they did not fit properly, making it difficult for her to eat. Staff were aware of the issue, but no action was taken to address the ill-fitting dentures. Additionally, a fourth resident with chipped and discolored teeth had not been seen by a dentist since admission, despite expressing concern about his dental appearance and potential tooth loss. Staff confirmed that there were no dental orders or appointments for this resident. Facility policies required coordination and follow-up for ancillary services, including dental care, but these were not implemented for the affected residents.