Published: 2015-07-08
Key Benefits:
As used in this article, the following terms have the following meanings:
(a) “Adult patient” means a dental patient 13 years of age or older.
(b) “Certification” means the issuance of a certificate to a dentist licensed by the board who provides the board with his or her name and the location at which the administration of oral conscious sedation will occur, and fulfills the requirements specified in Sections 1647.12 and 1647.13.
(c) “Oral conscious sedation” means a minimally depressed level of consciousness produced by oral medication that retains the patient’s ability to maintain independently and continuously an airway, and respond appropriately to physical stimulation or verbal command. “Oral conscious sedation” does not include dosages less than or equal to the single maximum recommended dose that can be prescribed for home use.
(1) The drugs and techniques used in oral conscious sedation shall have a margin of safety wide enough to render unintended loss of consciousness unlikely. Further, patients whose only response is reflex withdrawal from painful stimuli would not be considered to be in a state of oral conscious sedation.
(2) For the handicapped individual, incapable of the usually expected verbal response, a minimally depressed level of consciousness for that individual should be maintained.
(Added by Stats. 2005, Ch. 539, Sec. 12. Effective January 1, 2006.)
(a) Notwithstanding subdivision (a) of Section 1647.2, a dentist may not administer oral conscious sedation on an outpatient basis to an adult patient unless the dentist possesses a current license in good standing to practice dentistry in California, and one of the following conditions is met:
(1) The dentist holds a valid general anesthesia permit, holds a conscious sedation permit, has been certified by the board, pursuant to Section 1647.20, to administer oral sedation to adult patients, or has been certified by the board, pursuant to Section 1647.12, to administer oral conscious sedation to minor patients.
(2) The dentist possesses a current permit issued under Section 1638 or 1640 and either holds a valid general anesthesia permit, or conscious sedation permit, or possesses a certificate as a provider of oral conscious sedation to adult patients in compliance with, and pursuant to, this article.
(b) Certification as a provider of oral conscious sedation to adult patients expires at the same time the license or permit of the dentist expires unless renewed at the same time the dentist’s license or permit is renewed after its issuance, unless certification is renewed as provided in this article.
(c) This article shall not apply to the administration of local anesthesia or a mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen, or to the administration, dispensing, or prescription of postoperative medications.
(Added by Stats. 2005, Ch. 539, Sec. 12. Effective January 1, 2006.)
A dentist who desires to administer, or order the administration of, oral conscious sedation for adult patients, who does not hold a general anesthesia permit, as provided in Sections 1646.1 and 1646.2, does not hold a conscious sedation permit, as provided in Sections 1647.2 and 1647.3, and has not been certified by the board, pursuant to Section 1647.12, to administer oral conscious sedation to minor patients, shall register his or her name with the board on a registration form prescribed by the board. The dentist shall submit the registration fee and evidence showing that he or she satisfies any of the following requirements:
(a) Satisfactory completion of a postgraduate program in oral and maxillofacial surgery approved by either the Commission on Dental Accreditation or a comparable organization approved by the board.
(b) Satisfactory completion of a periodontics or general practice residency or other advanced education in a general dentistry program approved by the board.
(c) Satisfactory completion of a board-approved educational program on oral medications and sedation.
(d) For an applicant who has been using oral conscious sedation in connection with the treatment of adult patients, submission of documentation as required by the board of 10 cases of oral conscious sedation satisfactorily performed by the applicant on adult patients in any three-year period ending no later than December 31, 2005.
(Added by Stats. 2005, Ch. 539, Sec. 12. Effective January 1, 2006.)
A certificate holder shall be required to complete a minimum of seven hours of approved courses of study related to oral conscious sedation of adult patients as a condition of certification renewal as an oral conscious sedation provider. Those courses of study shall be accredited toward any continuing education required by the board pursuant to Section 1645.
(Added by Stats. 2005, Ch. 539, Sec. 12. Effective January 1, 2006.)
(a) A physical evaluation and medical history shall be taken before the administration of oral conscious sedation to an adult. Any dentist who administers, or orders the administration of, oral conscious sedation to an adult shall maintain records of the physical evaluation, medical history, and oral conscious sedation procedures used as required by the board regulations.
(b) A dentist who administers, or who orders the administration of, oral conscious sedation for an adult patient shall be physically present in the treatment facility while the patient is sedated, and shall be present until discharge of the patient from the facility.
(c) The drugs and techniques used in oral conscious sedation to adults shall have a margin of safety wide enough to render unintended loss of consciousness unlikely.
(Added by Stats. 2005, Ch. 539, Sec. 12. Effective January 1, 2006.)
The fee for an application for initial certification or renewal under this article shall not exceed the amount necessary to cover administration and enforcement costs incurred by the board in carrying out this article. The listed fee may be prorated based upon the date of the renewal of the dentist’s license or permit.
(Added by Stats. 2005, Ch. 539, Sec. 12. Effective January 1, 2006.)
Any office in which oral conscious sedation of adult patients is conducted pursuant to this article shall, unless otherwise provided by law, meet the facilities and equipment standards set forth by the board in regulation.
(Added by Stats. 2005, Ch. 539, Sec. 12. Effective January 1, 2006.)
A violation of any provision of this article constitutes unprofessional conduct and is grounds for the revocation or suspension of the dentist’s permit, certificate, license, or all three, or the dentist may be reprimanded or placed on probation. The proceedings under this section shall be conducted in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part I of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, and the board shall have all the powers granted therein.
(Added by Stats. 2005, Ch. 539, Sec. 12. Effective January 1, 2006.)
The sum of forty-seven thousand dollars ($47,000) is hereby appropriated for the 2005–06 fiscal year from the State Dentistry Fund to the Department of Consumer Affairs for the purpose of processing applications for adult conscious sedation certificates pursuant to this article.
(Added by Stats. 2005, Ch. 539, Sec. 12. Effective January 1, 2006.)