Failure to Provide Follow-Up Dental Services for Denture Fabrication
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that follow-up dental services were provided for two residents who required denture fabrication, as recommended by dental professionals. One resident, admitted with dysphagia and Alzheimer's disease and assessed as severely cognitively impaired, was observed to be missing teeth. A dental note indicated the need to add a tooth to the resident's denture to improve retention and prevent food impaction, but the clinical record did not show any evidence of follow-up or implementation of this recommendation. Interviews with staff revealed that the process for arranging dental follow-up involved referrals to outside agencies and review by the Director of Nursing (DON), but the DON was not employed at the time the recommendation was made. Another resident, cognitively intact and admitted with metabolic encephalopathy and muscle weakness, reported difficulty chewing and requested dentures. A dental visit documented that the resident would benefit from denture fabrication, but again, the clinical record lacked evidence of any follow-up action. Staff interviews confirmed that the process for dental referrals was not completed, and the responsibility for arranging follow-up was not fulfilled. The absence of documented follow-up for both residents led to the deficiency in providing necessary dental services as per the facility's policy.