Failure to Timely Obtain Emergency Dental Services After Reported Tooth Pain and Infection
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to provide or obtain necessary emergency dental services for one cognitively intact male resident who was admitted and later readmitted with cellulitis and abscess of the mouth. On 3/3/26, the DON documented that a family member inquired about dental concerns for the resident, and the social worker (SW) was consulted to follow up for a dental referral. That same day, an LVN documented that the resident complained of tooth pain with blood and pus coming from the back of the right side of his mouth; the nurse practitioner was notified and ordered amoxicillin 1 g once, then 500 mg three times daily for three days. The quarterly MDS indicated the resident had clear speech, was cognitively intact with a BIMS score of 14, was independent with ADLs, and had no documented mouth or facial pain or oral/dental problems at that time. Despite the consult on 3/3/26, the dental referral was not actually submitted until 3/12/26. The SW later stated she delayed submitting the referral and sent it on 3/12/26 along with other new patient referrals, and that she did not follow up on the 3/3/26 consult because she believed the three-day antibiotic course would prevent issues. The dental office confirmed that the referral for this resident was received on 3/12/26 and that the resident’s new patient packet, which included a physician-signed form dated 3/3/26, was processed, with the resident ultimately seen by the facility’s dentist on 3/17/26. The DON stated she expected timely follow-up on the consult but did not provide a specific timeframe and was unaware that the referral had not been completed until 3/12/26; she also reported that the facility did not have a dental policy. On 3/12/26, prior to the referral being sent, an LVN documented that the resident presented with right-sided facial swelling and reported constant, aching pain rated 8/10, though he was afebrile and vital signs were within normal limits. The physician was notified and ordered transfer to the local ER for evaluation and treatment. The ER after-visit summary documented that the resident was seen for dental pain due to toothache and was discharged on amoxicillin 875-125 mg every 12 hours for seven days and chlorhexidine 0.12% solution twice daily for 14 days, with instructions to follow up with a dentist. The facility’s own documentation and interviews showed that the delay between the initial identification of dental concerns on 3/3/26 and the submission of the dental referral on 3/12/26 constituted the failure to timely obtain necessary emergency dental services for the resident.
Penalty
Resources
Below are regulatory guidelines relevant to this citation:
A resident with no natural teeth, diabetes, HF, and dysphagia remained without dentures despite repeated dental recommendations for new upper and lower dentures and a documented request process. Staff were unsure whether the request had been denied, later learned it had been denied for additional information, and acknowledged the denture issue had not been addressed sooner.
A resident with hydrocephalus and weakness reported mouth pain for months, but dental care was delayed despite repeated complaints to staff. The dentist initially evaluated the resident and planned extractions, but the procedure was postponed because consent was not obtained in time, and the resident was not scheduled for the next dental visit. The facility’s policy required assistance with routine and emergency ancillary services, including urgent dental treatment for pain.
Failure to provide or document routine dental services for a resident with severe cognitive impairment and dependence for all cares, including oral hygiene. The resident had multiple broken teeth on dental consult, but the EMR did not show a follow-up dental visit or evidence that routine dental care was offered or provided. Interviews with the resident’s emergency contact and facility staff showed there was no clear process to track dental visits, refusals, or coordination of routine dental services, and the DON confirmed the record lacked documentation of dental care.
Failure to provide routine dental services for two residents was identified. One resident had broken or likely cavity-affected natural teeth, a dental care plan, and limited dental documentation, but no evidence of twice-yearly professional dental services under the State plan. Another resident was edentulous, reported not being offered a dentist since admission, had ill-fitting dentures at home, and the facility could not produce documentation that dental services were offered despite a care plan noting dental consultation as needed.
A resident voiced concern about a dental appointment for dentures. Record review showed the resident missed the scheduled dental visit because of illness, and the appointment was never rescheduled; the ADON verified this.
Failure to provide timely dental services for a resident with DM, HTN, chronic pain, and malnutrition. The resident had impaired cognition, obvious or likely cavities or broken natural teeth, a loose tooth, and intermittent pain, with an order for dental evaluation and an order for Orajel for tooth and gum pain. Records and staff interview confirmed the resident had not been seen by the dentist since admission, despite the facility policy stating routine and emergency dental services were available.
Delayed Dental Services for Resident Awaiting Dentures
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure prompt dental services were provided for one resident who was admitted with diagnoses including heart failure, diabetes, and dysphagia and who was able to make needs known. During observation and interview, the resident stated they wanted dentures because they had no teeth and staff were aware, but they still did not have dentures. The resident had no upper or lower teeth and no visible dentures in the room, and the annual MDS confirmed the resident had no natural teeth or tooth fragments. The resident’s care plan documented missing teeth, that upper and lower dentures were not with the resident, and that the resident was waiting for dentures. Dental visit/exam forms dated over multiple visits showed recommendations for new upper and lower dentures, and one form noted the resident said dentures were lost a few weeks earlier and wanted new dentures. A denture request form was signed by the provider and emailed, but staff interviews showed uncertainty about whether the request had been denied and that the issue had not been addressed sooner. Staff later learned the January 2025 request had been denied for needing additional information, and both the RCM/LPN, central supply/transportation staff, and the Administrator stated the denture request should have been addressed sooner.
Delayed Dental Care and Consent Process
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure timely and necessary dental services for a Medicaid resident who was cognitively intact and had diagnoses including hydrocephalus and weakness. The resident reported mouth pain to staff for months and stated that she first complained of pain in the beginning of March, but she did not see the dentist until the tooth was extracted on April 30, 2026. The facility policy stated that it was to assist residents in obtaining routine and emergency ancillary services as needed, and defined emergency dental services as treatment for pain in teeth, gums, broken or damaged teeth, or any other problem requiring immediate attention by a dentist. An email from the social services director requested a dental evaluation after the resident complained of tooth pain, and the dental services coordinator responded that the resident would be seen 10 days later. At that visit, the dentist noted that the resident requested extraction of two teeth with plus 2 mobility and planned to extract them at the next visit. The dental care coordinator later requested a consent form before scheduling the extraction, and when the social services director asked how consent would be obtained if the resident could not physically sign, the coordinator confirmed verbal consent was acceptable. The resident was not on the schedule for the next dental visit because consent had not been obtained, and the extraction was not scheduled until later after the consent was eventually sent.
Failure to Provide or Document Routine Dental Services
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure routine dental services were provided or offered for one resident with significantly impaired cognition who was dependent on staff for all cares, including oral hygiene. The resident had diagnoses including neurocognitive disorder with Lewy body dementia, fibromyalgia, and arthritis. A dental consult noted multiple broken teeth and recommended extraction of any teeth that became symptomatic, but the resident’s EMR did not show evidence of a follow-up dental visit after that consult. The resident’s care plan stated dental appointments were to be based on resident or resident representative preferences. During interviews, the resident’s emergency contact stated he expected the facility to arrange routine dental services and could not recall the last time the resident was seen by a dentist, adding that the resident did not have many teeth left and wanted to be seen. Staff interviews showed the social services department did not coordinate routine dental visits, the nurse manager for the memory care unit was not involved in coordinating them, and the infection control preventionist sent an annual email to family members and guardians asking if they wanted the resident seen by a dentist. The regional director of clinical services stated the facility did not have a process to identify and document refusals or when the last dental visit occurred, and both she and the infection control preventionist stated residents could be missed for routine dental visits. The DON verified the EMR failed to show the resident was offered or provided routine dental visits, and the facility policy stated routine and emergency dental services are provided and all dental services are recorded in the medical record.
Failure to Provide Routine Dental Services
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide routine dental services for two residents reviewed for dental concerns. Resident 22’s record showed an annual MDS assessment identifying obvious or likely cavity or broken natural teeth, and the dental CAA triggered a care plan. The care plan, initiated on November 13, 2023, included obtaining dental consultation as necessary. The resident’s record contained documentation from the facility’s consultant dentist dated April 10, 2025 and from the consultant dental hygienist dated February 9, 2026, but the DON and NHA stated on May 21, 2026 that there was no further evidence of professional dental services provided twice a year as covered under the State plan for Resident 22. Resident 22’s daughter stated that the resident had bad natural teeth and that she was not opposed to services from the facility’s contracted dental provider. Resident 3 was observed edentulous and stated he had not been offered a dentist since admission. He also stated he had dentures at home that did not fit correctly. The resident was admitted on September 3, 2025, and the admission MDS assessed no obvious or likely cavity or broken natural teeth. The care plan, initiated September 9, 2025, identified risk for altered dentition and/or mucous membranes related to edentulous status and noted that the resident did not wear dentures, with an intervention to obtain dental consultation as necessary. The facility was unable to provide documentation that dental services were offered to Resident 3, and the NHA confirmed these findings.
Failure to Provide Dental Services for a Resident
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide dental services for Resident #110. During an interview, the resident expressed concern about having a dental appointment for dentures. Record review showed the resident’s last dental appointment had been scheduled for 01/23/25, but the resident was sick and did not attend. The appointment was never rescheduled, and the ADON verified that it had not been rescheduled.
Failure to Provide Timely Dental Services
Penalty
Summary
Provide or obtain dental services for each resident. The facility failed to ensure timely dental services for one resident reviewed for dental services. Resident #12 was admitted with diagnoses including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, chronic pain, and unspecified protein-calorie malnutrition. The medical record showed a physician order for a dental visit shortly after admission, and later an order for Orajel for tooth and gum pain. The resident’s MDS assessment documented impaired cognition and noted obvious or likely cavities or broken natural teeth. The dental visit record showed the resident had not been seen by the dentist during the period reviewed, including after the order for dental evaluation. During interview, the resident stated she needed to see the dentist, had a loose tooth and pain at times, and required a special diet because of her dental status. The Medical Records Coordinator verified the resident had not been seen by the dentist since admission and stated the facility’s dental service did not do emergency services. The facility policy stated routine and emergency dental services were available and that social services personnel were responsible for assisting the resident or family in making dental appointments.
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