Section 340.1535  Dental Programs

a)         There shall be comprehensive treatment services for all residents which include, but are not limited to, the following:

1)         Provision for dental treatment;

2)         Provision for emergency treatment by a qualified dentist; and

3)         Assistance in arranging transportation to the dentist for treatment.

b)         The direct care staff shall receive inservice education annually. This will be provided by a dentist or a dental hygienist.

1)         Direct care staff shall be educated in ultrasonic or manual denture and partial denture cleaning techniques, if applicable.

2)         Direct staff shall be educated in proper brushing and oral health care for residents who are unable to care for their own health.

3)         Direct care staff shall be educated in examining  the mouth in order to recognize abnormal conditions for necessary referral.

4)         Direct care staff shall be educated regarding nutrition and diet control measures and the effect on dental health.

5)         Supplemental dental training films shall be included with any other health training films seen on a rotating basis.

c)         The dental program shall provide for inservice education to residents and staff under direction of dental staff including, but not limited to, the following:

1)         Information regarding nutrition and diet control measures that are dental health oriented.

2)         Instruction in proper oral hygiene methods.

3)         Instruction concerning the importance of maintenance of proper oral hygiene and, where appropriate, including family members or surrogates (as in the case of residents leaving the long-term care facility).

d)         The facility's dental program shall provide for each resident's proper daily personal dental hygiene, with the staff responsible for continuity of care that includes, but is not limited to, the following:

1)         Assistance in cleaning the mouth with electric or hand brush if the resident is unable to do so.

2)         Proper cleaning of dentures and partials, if applicable.

e)         If applicable, each facility shall have a denture and dental prosthesis marking system that takes into account the identification marking system contained in Section 49 of the Illinois Dental Practice Act (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1991, ch. 111, par. 2349). Policies and procedures shall be written and contained in the facility's policies and procedures manual. It shall include, at minimum, provision for:

1)         Marking individual dentures or dental prothesis, if not marked prior to admission to the facility, within ten days of admittance; and

2)         Individually marked denture cups for dental storage at night.