Delayed Dental Extraction and Untimely Dental Services
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to ensure timely routine and 24‑hour emergency dental care for one resident with a decaying tooth. The resident was admitted with a history of stroke and had a BIMS score of 5/15, indicating severe cognitive impairment. The care plan called for daily oral care and dental visits as needed. On 12/01/25, a family member reported the resident was complaining of tooth and gum pain, with a dentist having recently diagnosed receding gums and a tooth with an exposed root. The physician ordered a repeat dental consult and PRN Orajel. On 12/03/25, staff attempted to schedule a dental appointment, leaving a voicemail when the dental office did not answer. On 12/11/25, the resident attended a dental appointment where tooth #6 was found to have a large cavity requiring extraction, and the dentist requested medical clearance prior to the procedure. On 12/22/25, the resident was seen by the MD for medical clearance, and the facility contacted the dental office to clarify whether Plavix and aspirin needed to be held, leaving a voicemail. On 01/23/26, the dental office cancelled a scheduled appointment due to inclement weather, and attempts to reach the family member were unsuccessful. On 01/27/26, staff called the dental office to reschedule and were informed that completed medical clearance forms had to be faxed before an appointment could be made; the forms were faxed, but follow‑up calls to confirm receipt were not answered. On 01/29/26, a new extraction appointment was obtained for 02/10/26, with the family member informed, and staff documented that the resident reported no pain at that time, although the family member wanted the tooth extracted as soon as possible. On 02/12/26, the resident returned from the dental office without being seen by a dentist and the appointment had to be rescheduled. On 03/09/26, the dental office again requested written medical clearance for extraction, and staff contacted the resident’s physician and office, with the receptionist stating someone would call back later. On 04/03/26, staff documented that the dental office representative had received the completed and signed medical clearance for review by their doctor and that the oral surgeon only came once weekly, with the office to call back with a date and time. On 04/13/26, staff noted that the medical clearance still had not been reviewed by the dental office MD despite prior assurances, and documented that the resident needed tooth extraction as soon as possible due to pain. Later that day, the dental office confirmed an appointment date and time. The family member reported having requested dental care for several months and expressed frustration with repeated delays and lack of follow‑up by facility staff. The Social Services Director and DON both confirmed that the resident’s dental appointment and tooth extraction had not occurred in a timely manner.
Penalty
Resources
Below are regulatory guidelines relevant to this citation:
A resident with severe cognitive impairment, dementia, malnutrition, and missing teeth had poor oral hygiene, food debris in the mouth, reddened oral tissues, oral pain, and difficulty eating and communicating. Speech therapy changed the diet from mechanical soft to pureed because of oral issues, and Social Work noted no insurance or family support for dental services, showing the facility did not ensure timely dental care for the resident’s needs.
A resident with severe cognitive impairment and multiple comorbidities was left without dentures for an extended period after they were reported missing. Staff were unclear about when the dentures were lost, and the resident did not receive a timely dental referral or intervention as required by facility policy. The delay in dental care and lack of documentation regarding interim measures led to a deficiency in providing appropriate dental services.
Two residents did not receive timely dental care, including follow-up for dentures after tooth removal and assistance with denture replacement after loss. One resident, cognitively intact, was not offered further dental appointments after an initial cancellation, while another with dementia had not been seen by a dentist or assisted with lost dentures, despite care plans requiring such interventions.
A resident with multiple chronic conditions and a history of dental issues reported a lost tooth, prompting a physician order for antibiotics and a prompt dental appointment. The facility did not schedule the dental appointment as ordered, and the resident later required hospital care for dental pain before the appointment was finally arranged.
A resident with multiple health conditions did not receive timely dental care services, despite having a physician order and requesting a dental appointment for denture repair. Observations showed the resident had no dentures, affecting their ability to enjoy food. Staff interviews confirmed no dental appointments were made since admission.
The facility failed to provide timely dental services for two residents, resulting in unmet dental needs. One resident, with moderate cognitive impairment, had damaged dentures and no follow-up for replacement, affecting their ability to eat. Another resident, cognitively intact, experienced sore gums due to lack of dentures, with no documented dental follow-up. Staff interviews revealed a lack of communication and coordination in addressing these issues.
Delayed Dental Care and Poor Oral Hygiene
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure timely dental care was provided to address Resident #89’s dental needs. Resident #89 was admitted with diagnoses including osteoporosis with pathological fracture, adult failure to thrive, protein-calorie malnutrition, major depressive disorder, unspecified dementia, systolic heart failure, and alcohol abuse. The resident’s MDS showed a BIMS score of 3, indicating severely impaired cognition. The care plan addressed missing teeth and included daily oral hygiene, notification to the provider with complaints of pain or changes in nutritional status, medications per order, and referral to dental services as needed. Observation and interview on 02/25/26 showed Resident #89 had poor oral hygiene, food debris in the mouth, purplish/reddened oral membranes, and was edentulous. The resident had impaired communication related to poor oral health and reported oral pain, poor intake, and weight loss, and stated the mouth hurt when trying to eat and that he did not like the pureed diet. Speech therapy notes showed the resident had been changed from mechanical soft to pureed food because of oral issues rather than swallowing or aspiration concerns, and the speech therapist referred the resident to Social Work for dental services. Social Work reported the resident had no current insurance to cover dental care and no family or contacts, and the DON later stated the resident was scheduled for a dental exam.
Failure to Provide Timely Dental Services After Loss of Dentures
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide appropriate dental services to a resident who was severely cognitively impaired and dependent on staff for personal care, including oral hygiene. The resident was admitted with multiple diagnoses, including heart disease, dementia, anxiety, and depression, and had upper and lower dentures identified as missing. Despite facility policy requiring referral for dental services within three days of lost dentures, the resident's dentures were not promptly replaced, and there was no evidence of timely dental intervention or documentation regarding measures taken to ensure adequate nutrition and hydration while awaiting dental services. Staff interviews revealed uncertainty about when the dentures were lost and a lack of awareness regarding the resident's current dental status. The Social Service Designee confirmed that the resident should have been seen by a dentist as soon as the dentures were found missing, but the first dental appointment occurred months after the loss. The facility's failure to follow its own policy and ensure timely dental care resulted in the resident being without dentures for an extended period.
Failure to Provide Timely Dental Services and Denture Replacement
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide or offer timely dental services to residents as needed, affecting two of four residents reviewed for dental care. One resident, who was cognitively intact and had all natural teeth removed following a medical procedure, did not receive follow-up for denture impressions or appointments after an initial cancellation due to insurance issues. Despite care plan interventions requiring coordination of dental care and follow-up, there was no evidence that further dental appointments were discussed or scheduled, and the resident confirmed he had not been approached about dentures, which made eating more challenging for him. Another resident, who had dementia and required assistance with self-care, lost her dentures at an unknown time and had not received assistance from the facility in obtaining a replacement. The care plan for this resident included staff observation for oral/dental issues and making dental appointments as needed, but the DON confirmed the resident had not been seen by a dentist for an extended period and was unaware of the missing dentures until the time of the interview.
Failure to Timely Arrange Dental Appointment Following Physician Order
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to arrange a dental appointment as ordered for a resident who experienced a dental issue. The resident, who had multiple diagnoses including chronic respiratory failure, diabetes, schizoaffective disorder, and a history of dental problems, reported to nursing staff that a tooth had fallen out. Although the resident did not initially report pain, the physician was notified and ordered Clindamycin and a dental appointment to be scheduled as soon as possible. Documentation review showed that the dental appointment was not scheduled or completed following the initial order. Subsequently, the resident called 911 for toothache pain and dizziness and was transported to the hospital. Upon return, new orders for antibiotics were given for dental caries and a periapical abscess. It was only after this hospital visit that a dental appointment was scheduled, several weeks after the original physician order. Interviews with facility staff confirmed that the dental appointment was not set up until after the resident's hospital visit, despite the earlier order to do so.
Failure to Provide Timely Dental Care Services
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide timely dental care services for a resident, identified as Resident #58, who was admitted on 09/01/23 and discharged to the hospital on 08/19/24. The resident had multiple diagnoses, including hemiplegia, cerebral infarction, dysphagia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, and malnutrition. A physician order dated 09/01/23 indicated that the resident could see dental services as needed. However, there was no documented evidence of any dental appointment being made for the resident since admission. During a care conference on 12/04/24, the resident requested a dental appointment to have dentures repaired, but no action was taken to fulfill this request. Observations on 02/24/25 revealed that the resident had no natural teeth and no dentures in place, which affected their ability to enjoy food. Interviews with the resident and staff confirmed that the resident had not seen a dentist since admission, and there were no dental appointments set up. The Social Services Designee acknowledged the delay in dental services due to appointment complications and confirmed that the necessary paperwork for dental services had been completed, but no services had been provided since the resident's admission.
Failure to Provide Timely Dental Services
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide timely routine dental services for two residents, leading to deficiencies in their care. Resident #103, who was admitted with multiple diagnoses including epilepsy and diabetes, had moderate cognitive impairment and no natural teeth. The resident's dentures were damaged in a motor vehicle accident, and despite the need for replacement being noted in a progress note, there was no follow-up documented for obtaining new dentures from December 2024 to February 2025. Interviews revealed that the resident was struggling to eat without dentures, and there was confusion among staff regarding the responsibility for contacting the previous dentist or hospital to address the issue. Resident #60, admitted with conditions such as epilepsy and osteoporosis, was also affected by the facility's failure to provide dental services. The resident, who was cognitively intact, complained of a sore mouth due to the lack of teeth and was placed on a mechanical soft diet when gums became sore. Despite a nursing note indicating the need for a dentist and dietician consultation, there was no documentation of dental follow-up from September 2024 to February 2025. Interviews with staff revealed a lack of follow-up after consent forms were sent to an ancillary company, and there was no clear communication or coordination to ensure the resident received the necessary dental care. The facility's policy on referrals to outside providers requires obtaining physician orders, resident consent, and ensuring progress notes from service providers are integrated into the resident's care plan. However, the facility failed to adhere to these procedures, resulting in a lack of dental care for the residents. The deficiency highlights a breakdown in communication and coordination among staff, leading to unmet dental needs for the residents involved.
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