Failure to Provide Routine Dental Services to Resident with Dental Concerns
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide routine dental services to a Medicaid-funded resident with severe cognitive impairment. The resident was admitted in early 2023 and had documented dental concerns, including obvious or likely cavities, broken natural teeth, and mouth or facial pain, discomfort, or difficulty with chewing, as noted in a comprehensive assessment. The responsible party reported ongoing concerns about dental care and stated that they had not received updates regarding dental services or a dental visit for the resident. Despite the facility's process of having a dentist or dental hygienist visit 1 to 2 times per month and maintaining monthly reports of residents seen, there was no evidence in the medical record or dental service reports that the resident had received dental care since admission. The only dental documentation available pertained to services provided at a previous facility, not the current one. The DON confirmed that the resident had not been seen by a dentist or dental hygienist since admission.