OAR 818-026-0030: Requirements for Anesthesia Permits

(1) A permit holder who administers sedation shall assure that drugs, drug dosages, and/or techniques used to produce sedation shall carry a margin of safety wide enough to prevent unintended deeper levels of sedation. (2) No licensee shall induce central nervous system sedation or general anesthesia without first having obtained a permit under these rules for the level of anesthesia being induced. (3) A licensee may be granted a permit to administer sedation or general anesthesia with documentation of training/education and/or competency in the permit category for which the licensee is applying by any one the following: (a) Initial training/education in the permit category for which the applicant is applying shall be completed no more than two years immediately prior to application for sedation or general anesthesia permit; or (b) If greater than two years but less than five years since completion of initial training/education, an applicant must document completion of all continuing education that would have been required for that anesthesia/permit category during that five year period following initial training; or (c) If greater than two years but less than five years since completion of initial training/education, immediately prior to application for sedation or general anesthesia permit, current competency or experience must be documented by completion of a comprehensive review course approved by the Board in the permit category to which the applicant is applying and must consist of at least one-half (50%) of the hours required by rule for Nitrous Oxide, Minimal Sedation, Moderate Sedation and General Anesthesia Permits. Deep Sedation and General Anesthesia Permits will require at least 120 hours of general anesthesia training. (d) An applicant for sedation or general anesthesia permit whose completion of initial training/education is greater than five years immediately prior to application, may be granted a sedation or general anesthesia permit by submitting documentation of the requested permit level from another state or jurisdiction where the applicant is also licensed to practice dentistry or dental hygiene, and provides documentation of the completion of at least 25 cases in the requested level of sedation or general anesthesia in the 12 months immediately preceding application; or (e) Demonstration of current competency to the satisfaction of the Board that the applicant possesses adequate sedation or general anesthesia skill to safely deliver sedation or general anesthesia services to the public. (4) A licensee holding a nitrous or minimal sedation permit, shall at all times maintain a current BLS for Healthcare Providers certificate or its equivalent. (5) A licensee holding an anesthesia permit for moderate sedation, deep sedation or general anesthesia at all times maintains a current BLS for Healthcare Providers certificate or its equivalent, and a current Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Certificate or Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) Certificate, whichever is appropriate for the patient being sedated. If a licensee permit holder sedates only patients under the age of 12, only PALS is required. If a licensee permit holder sedates only patients age 12 and older, only ACLS is required. If a licensee permit holder sedates patients younger than 12 years of age as well as older than 12 years of age, both ACLS and PALS are required. For licensees with a moderate sedation permit only, successful completion of the American Dental Association’s course “Recognition and Management of Complications during Minimal and Moderate Sedation” at least every two years may be substituted for ACLS, but not for PALS. (6) Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and or Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) do not serve as a substitute for Healthcare Provider Basic Life Support (BLS). (7) When a dentist utilizes a single oral agent to achieve anxiolysis only, no anesthesia permit is required. (8) The applicant for an anesthesia permit must pay the appropriate permit fee, submit a completed Board-approved application and consent to an office evaluation. (9) Permits shall be issued to coincide with the applicant's licensing period.