A 27-year-old nonverbal patient living in an assisted-care facility arrives with a caregiver, showing buccal swelling and severely neglected oral health. What is the appropriate action?

Correct answer: C. Report to adult protective services / appropriate authorities

• A. Delegating hygiene back to the potentially neglectful party without reporting does not protect the patient.
• B. Discharging without reporting abandons a vulnerable adult and fails the mandated-reporter duty.
• C. Correct. A dependent adult with untreated infection and gross neglect meets the threshold for suspected vulnerable-adult neglect. Dentists are mandated reporters in most jurisdictions; report and treat.
• D. Treating the acute infection is necessary but insufficient — the pattern of neglect must also be reported.