Poor Dental Care: A Commonly Ignored Form of Tennessee Nursing Home Abuse

A recent investigation by the New York Times revealed a troubling but often overlooked form of nursing home abuse: neglect of resident’s dental care needs.  Nursing home residents across the country are sadly plagued by a wide host of dental issues, such as cavities, cracked teeth, and gum disease.  The root of these problems is often poor dental care, due to the failure of nursing home staff to keep resident’s mouths clean.

While today’s nursing home regulations generally call for more dental care than in the past, nursing home staff are often not prepared or lack sufficient time to provide it.  Nursing homes are epidemically understaffed, and aides often feel swamped with other tasks such as repositioning beds and feeding or providing toilet care to residents.  The brushing of residents’ teeth often goes by the wayside.  Further, many residents, particularly those with dementia, are resistant to teeth brushing and staff is not always trained to handle such an onerous task.

Neglect of oral care can lead to severe pain for nursing home residents.  Even worse, new studies show that neglect of oral care is a contributing factor for the development of pneumonia, which is the number one killer of nursing home residents.

This unique form of elder abuse is believed to occur at alarming rates.  A study conducted in 2006 looked at five nursing home facilities in New York.  It found that only 16% of residents received any form of oral care whatsoever.  For those who did receive care, this amounted to a mere 16 seconds of brushing time.  Further, residents who were able to brush their own teeth were often unable to do so due to a lack of toothbrushes available at the facilities.

In Kansas, dental hygienists examined the teeth of 540 nursing home residents.  They found nearly 30% of the residents had substantial debris on their teeth, covering over 2/3 of their mouth.  More than 1/3 of residents had untreated cavities.  The findings were nearly identical in Wisconsin, where 1,000 nursing home residents were examined.  There, 31% of examined residents actually had teeth broken all the way to the gums, with roots visible.

Nursing home inspectors often document such nursing home abuse.  In Texas, an inspector notated one resident who could not eat due to oral pain.  Despite these horrifying findings of oral care neglect, there are no current national assessments for the oral health of nursing homes.  Seven states have taken the initiative to enact such evaluations, using a survey developed by the Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors.  Tennessee has yet to take this step.

Nursing homes have been federally mandated since 1987 to brush the teeth of residents who cannot do so themselves.  Statistics show that more and more elderly are entering nursing homes with their own teeth intact.  While before residents with dentures was the norm, residents today often need thorough dental care.  More than 30 states allow dental hygienists to provide treatment to nursing home residents, but few homes seem to make oral care a priority.

This New York Times investigation reveals the need for an increased awareness and concern for the oral health of nursing home residents.  If you or a loved one is a nursing home resident who has received inadequate oral care, you may be a victim of nursing home neglect.  At Bailey & Greer, PLLC, our experienced Tennessee medical malpractice attorneys have extensive experience representing the victims of nursing home abuse.  We will thoroughly investigate the facts of your case and strive diligently to see you receive the justice you deserve.  Call us today at 901-680-9777 to schedule a free consultation.