Failure to Timely Follow-Up on Denture Services
Penalty
Summary
A resident who was admitted with a pair of dentures reported that the dentures did not fit properly upon admission. The resident was seen by a dentist in June of the previous year, at which time full impressions were taken for a laboratory reline of the upper and lower complete dentures, and the dentures were sent to the laboratory. Since that time, the reline has not been completed, and the resident no longer has the dentures. The resident stated that they were told a follow-up would occur but have not received any updates, and they are now experiencing jaw pain and difficulty chewing. A review of the resident's medical record did not reveal any information regarding the status of the dentures. The facility's policy requires referral for dental services within three days for lost or damaged dentures and outlines interventions to ensure residents can eat and drink while awaiting dental services, such as notifying the physician of pain, modifying diet consistency, and referring to a dietician or speech therapist. These interventions were not documented as being implemented for this resident.