Skip to content
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Injury Lawyers | Attorney At Law
Pribanic & Pribanic | Pittsburgh Injury Attorneys Logo
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Injury Lawyers | Attorney At Law
  • Practice Areas
    • Medical Malpractice
    • Personal Injury
    • Workers’ Compensation
    • Birth Injuries
    • Catastrophic Injuries
    • Nursing Home Abuse
    • Defective Product
  • About the Firm
    • Our Attorneys
    • Case Results
    • Reviews & Testimonials
    • Careers
  • Resources
    • Blog
    • Legal Glossary
    • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
  • Contact
  • Search

Poor dental hygiene may indicate neglect in Pennsylvania nursing homes

Home  >  Pribanic & Pribanic Archives  >  Poor dental hygiene may indicate neglect in Pennsylvania nursing homes

Published July 5, 2015 | In Nursing Home Neglect
Poor dental hygiene may indicate neglect in Pennsylvania nursing homes

Many residents of Allegheny County live in nursing homes when they can no longer care for themselves. According to the American Psychological Association, over 23 million Americans are the recipient of some form of psychological, mental or other form of abuse while staying in a nursing home.

Signs of neglect

There are many common signs that residents of nursing homes are being neglected or abused. The National Center on Elder Abuse states that frequent indicators of elderly abuse include:
  • Physical signs including bruises, burn marks or broken bones.
  • Depression or a withdrawal from activities the elderly individual used to enjoy.
  • Weight loss, poor hygiene and bedsores.
  • Sudden changes in the elderly person's financial situation.
  • Tension between the elderly person and the caregiver.
In addition to these common signs of nursing home neglect, poor dental hygiene may also indicate that abuse or neglect is taking place and can lead to serious health problems. A woman recently visited her father that was living in a Virginia nursing home and found that his toothbrush was gathering dust. After her father began complaining of an intense headache, she found that her father was suffering from the effects of a broken tooth, a condition which had gone unnoticed by the staff at the nursing home, says The New York Times. The man that suffered from the broken tooth is one of many elderly that suffer from elderly neglect relating to dental hygiene. Many nursing home residents endure cavities, cracked teeth and other dental issues because staff members of nursing homes often forget to help their residents care for their teeth.

The mouth-body connection

Poor dental hygiene can often result in other health-related issues, a problematic outcome for the elderly already suffering from poor health in their later years. Poor dental hygiene can affect a person's heart, memory, blood sugar and breathing. The mouth is an area of the human body that is constantly teeming with bacteria, most of which is harmless, states the Mayo Clinic. Proper dental hygiene habits, such as regularly brushing and flossing, in addition to the body's natural defenses keep these bacteria in check. When periodontitis, a severe gum disease that develops due to poor dental hygiene develops, the human body has a reduced tolerance to infection and can often play a role in the development of certain diseases. If one of your loved ones that lives in a nursing home is not receiving necessary dental care and is suffering from a related disease, or is experiencing any form of neglect or abuse, contact an attorney to find out how you can remedy the situation and properly deal with the nursing home that is not providing necessary care.

Tell us your story

If You Suffered A Medical Injury Call Pribanic & Pribanic

Contact Our Top Rated Medical Injury Attorney in Pittsburgh

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Successful Results
For Our Clients


Accounting Negligence

$103M

A non-jury trial exposed an accounting firm’s role in financial misrepresentation, resulting in a massive verdict.

Product Liability

$21M

A severely injured child was awarded a settlement to ensure lifelong care.

Medical Malpractice

$10M

Medical malpractice case resulting in a significant settlement.

Automobile Accident

$8.5M

Permanent internal injuries from a car accident led to a favorable settlement.

Medical Malpractice

$2.67M

Failure to diagnose and treat a heart attack resulted in heart damage.

Medical Malpractice

$2M

Leg amputation due to post-operative infection.

Medical Malpractice

$1.9M

Excessive steroid use during chemotherapy caused avascular necrosis.

Truck Accident

$1.9M

Settlement for the family of a man killed in a collision with a garbage truck.

Motorcycle Accident

$1.3M

Settlement for a motorcyclist suffering closed-head and nerve injuries.

Automobile Defect

$1.255M

Brain damage from a rear-end collision caused by a truck lacking front brakes.

Medical Malpractice

$1.1M

Orthopedic surgeon negligently lacerated an artery, causing compartment syndrome.

Medical Malpractice

$1M

Failure to diagnose diabetic ketoacidosis, resulting in a heart attack.

Motor Vehicle Accident

$9M

Client suffered a concussion and post-concussion syndrome.

Motor Vehicle Accident

$675K

Injuries from a vehicle accident.

Medical Malpractice

$600K

Mother lost her child due to miscommunication among physicians.

Medical Malpractice

$500K

Settlement for a medical malpractice victim.

Truck Accident

$500K

A favorable settlement after substantial injuries from a snowmobile-truck crash.

Federal Government in Fatal Boating Accident

$435K

Two men drowned due to the lack of warning signs near a dam.

Premises Liability

$375K

Injuries due to premises negligence.

Nursing Home Neglect

300K

Nursing home assault led to settlement.

Nursing Home Neglect

$250K

Nursing home negligence resulted in injury.

Motor Vehicle Accident

$140K

Leg injury sustained in a vehicle crash.

Motor Vehicle Accident

$125K

Client suffered a back injury following a car accident.

Medical Malpractice

Multi-Million

A young man with sickle cell disease suffered organ damage due to delayed transfusion. The case was settled at mediation.

Cerebral Palsy

Multi-Million

A multi-million settlement was achieved during jury selection in this case on behalf of a little girl who suffered from cerebral palsy due to delayed delivery and improper administration of Pitocin.

Medical Malpractice

Confidential

The lawsuit claimed Chantix use led a father to commit homicide and suicide. The settlement was among the highest in this multi-district litigation.

Medical Malpractice

Confidential

A physician negligently discontinued Coumadin, causing a fatal stroke.

Medical Malpractice

Confidential

A $300,000 settlement was reached for a delayed leukemia diagnosis that worsened the prognosis.

Medical Malpractice

Confidential

A woman became functionally blind due to delayed retinal detachment diagnosis. The case settled at mediation.

Medical Malpractice

Confidential

Paraplegia caused by negligently performed laminoplasty.

Medical Malpractice

Confidential

Death of a teenager due to failure to diagnose hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.

Medical Malpractice

Confidential

Failure to diagnose and treat hyponatremia.

Medical Malpractice

Confidential

Common bile duct injury during gallbladder removal.

Medical Malpractice

Confidential

Death of a child due to hyperkalemia.

 

View Case Results

Tell Us Your Story.

NO FEE$ UNLESS YOU WIN

FREE CONSULTATION (412) 674-5444

 

Pittsburgh Office

513 Court Place,
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
P: 412-281-8844
F: 412-281-4740

White Oak Office

1735 Lincoln Way,
White Oak, PA 15131
P: 412-672-5444
F: 412-672-3715

Brookville Office

1 Sylvania Street,
Brookville, PA 15825
P: 814-849-1278
F: 412-672-3715

© 2025 Pribanic & Pribanic All rights reserved. Sitemap | Privacy Policy | Phone: (412)-674-5444