Failure to Obtain Timely Dental Services for Resident
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to obtain necessary dental services for a resident who required extraction of her remaining upper teeth. The resident reported needing a tooth pulled and was experiencing twinges of pain in a visibly carious front tooth. Medical records indicated that a dentist had recommended extraction of the resident's remaining maxillary teeth during a consultation, and a referral to an oral surgery clinic was to be made. The resident's annual MDS assessment also documented the need for surgical extraction and noted that the facility was awaiting an appointment date and time for the procedure. Despite the dentist's recommendation and the documented referral, the extraction had not been completed. The oral surgery clinic reported that they had attempted to contact the resident's daughter twice and that the surgeon originally assigned to the case had since left the clinic. The facility's nursing leadership confirmed that the recommended dental extractions had not occurred, and the resident continued to experience symptoms related to her dental condition.