Failure to Provide Timely Dental Care and Denture Follow-Up
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a resident's dental needs were met and that appropriate follow-up was conducted regarding the provision of dentures. The resident, who was admitted with a diagnosis of depression and had intact cognitive function, reported having dentures prior to admission but did not have them upon arrival. The resident expressed that her dentures were uncomfortable and did not fit properly, and she was interested in obtaining new ones. Despite an initial dental appointment being scheduled and rescheduled due to pain, and x-rays being completed for dentures, there was a significant delay in follow-up regarding the status of the dentures. Observations and interviews revealed that the resident was without teeth, had difficulty speaking, and felt embarrassed, leading her to avoid social activities. The Activities Assistant confirmed that the resident refused to participate in group activities due to the lack of dentures, resulting in increased isolation and potential worsening of her depression. Documentation showed repeated statements from the resident about her desire to obtain dentures before rejoining activities, and staff noted her ongoing discomfort and social withdrawal. The Social Services Designee acknowledged that follow-up with the dental office was infrequent and not consistently documented in the medical record. The delay was attributed to waiting for insurance authorization, but no proactive steps, such as contacting the ombudsman as done for another resident, were taken for this resident. The facility's policy required annual and as-needed dental care, but the lack of timely follow-up and documentation resulted in the resident not receiving necessary dental services, impacting her quality of life.