Failure to Provide and Coordinate Necessary and Routine Dental Services
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to ensure that residents obtained necessary and routine dental services. One resident reported ongoing problems with his teeth and stated he was supposed to see a dentist, but staff had not made an appointment; records showed he had a prior dental visit with a follow-up scheduled that he refused, and the Social Services Coordinator (SSC) acknowledged that the follow-up appointment was never rescheduled. Another resident reported that his bottom right front tooth had broken a couple of months earlier, that he had informed staff who said they would send him to the dentist, and he could not recall his last dental visit; observation confirmed a broken bottom right front tooth. An LPN stated she was unaware of the broken tooth and that staff were supposed to notify the SSC of dental needs, while the SSC confirmed she did not know about the broken tooth, had not scheduled an appointment for it, did not know when this resident last saw a dentist, and was unaware that residents were to be scheduled at least annually for routine dental appointments. A third resident’s family member reported that the resident had top dentures on admission, had lost bottom dentures prior to admission, and had not seen a dentist since admission. The resident later stated she had no teeth or dentures, reported having dentures but not knowing what happened to them, and was observed without natural teeth or dentures; the SSC stated she was not aware the resident was missing dentures and had not made a dental appointment for dentures. For another resident, the power of attorney stated the resident had not been to the dentist for an unknown but lengthy period, possibly years, and record review showed no documentation of routine dental care; the SSC confirmed she had not scheduled a routine dental appointment for this resident. The Regional Clinical Nurse stated that staff were expected to notify the SSC of any dental needs so appointments could be scheduled and that the SSC was expected to offer annual routine dental appointments for residents.
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