Texas woman accidentally burned during hygiene visit

A Texas woman has been hospitalized for more than two weeks after a dental hygienist accidentally cleaned the patient's teeth with a chemical compound used to remove tartar and stains from dentures, according to a story in the Austin American-Statesman.

The patient is a resident of Austin State Supported Living Center, one of 13 state-run residential facilities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Residents receive medical, psychological, dental, and other services at those facilities.

On October 31, a hygienist in the center's dental clinic noticed that a bottle of tartar and stain cleaner was leaking, so she poured it into an empty distilled water bottle, labeled it as "tartar and stain remover," and placed it underneath a sink, according to an internal investigation conducted by the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services, which runs the center.

But someone apparently moved the bottle, then another employee mistook it for distilled water and poured it into the dental chair water bottle used for patients, the American-Statesman reported.

On November 1, the female resident came to the clinic and a dental hygienist began cleaning her teeth with a cavitron using the solution, a 15% dilution of sulfamic acid not intended for use in the mouth. When the hygienist finished, she and a dental assistant noticed signs of chemical burns in the patient's mouth.

The patient was subsequently transferred to University Medical Center Brackenridge, where she was reported to be in good condition as of November 17, according to the American-Statesman.

The facility has since taken action to prevent similar incidents, state officials told the newspaper.