Colorado: Oral Sedation Dentistry Regulations

Colorado 3 CCR 709-1 Rule 1.14(I)(3)(c) requires a dentist to complete at least 16 hours (ACLS/BLS credits not included) of education in minimal sedation, BLS or ACLS, and obtain a Minimal Sedation Permit before administering Minimal Sedation to their adult patients. 

Find qualifying oral sedation dentistry training courses including airway management. 

DOCS Education Members receive an in-depth multipage evaluation of their state's sedation regulations with weblinks to the specific sections. DOCS's full-time Regulatory Counsel is available for consultation to assist members at [email protected].  Become a member now for only $1 or contact a Course Advisor at 855-227-6505.

Find permit renewing courses here.

Colorado: IV Sedation Regulations

Colorado Rule 3 CCR 709-1 Rule 1.14 (J) requires a dentist to complete 60 hours of didactic instruction, 20 live patient experiences (supervised by General Anesthesia permit holder and 5 can be on high fidelity simulators), and obtain a Moderate Sedation Permit before administering Moderate Sedation to their adult patients. 

Although requirements for IV Moderate Sedation permitting/certification is nearly standardized among the states, each state has differences that are important for complete compliance.   

Find an IV Sedation Training course.  

Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)  certification is included in the DOCS IV course 

DOCS Education Members receive an in-depth multipage evaluation of their state's sedation regulations with weblinks to the specific section. DOCS’s full-time Regulatory Counsel is available for consultation to assist members at [email protected]. Become a member now for only $1 or contact a Course Advisor at 855-227-6505.

Find permit renewing courses here.

Nitrous Oxide: Colorado

No permit is required to provide nitrous oxide in Colorado. 

The Standard of Care Doctrine dictates that a practitioner should complete 14 hours of nitrous education and earn a BLS certificate. 

Standard of Care Doctrine determines the need for nitrous equipment to meet minimum oxygen delivery as well as scavenging units to meet NIOSH regulations. 

Find Nitrous Oxide Training.  

DOCS Education Members receive an in-depth multipage evaluation of their state's sedation regulations with weblinks to the specific section. DOCS’s full-time Regulatory Counsel is available for consultation to assist members at [email protected]. Become a member now for only $1 or contact a Course Advisor at 855-227-6505.

Find permit renewing courses here.

Colorado: Pediatric Sedation Dentistry Regulations

Colorado Rule 3 CCR 709-1 RULE 1.14 (I) 5; RULE 1.14 (J) 4 requires a dentist to complete at least 16 hours of education in minimal sedation (ACLS/BLS credits not included), 30 hours of sedation education specific to pediatric patients, 20 live patient experiences with at least 10 pediatric live (all 20 must be supervised by a General Anesthesia permit holder), PALS, and obtain a Minimal Sedation Permit with Pediatric Designation in order to administer Minimal Sedation to their pediatric patients. 

Sedation dentistry for children is a unique science and requires pediatric-specific training. The standard of care for providing pediatric sedation requires age related instructive classroom training with clinically oriented experiences. 

Learn more about Board-approved Pediatric Sedation Training Courses available nationwide. 

DOCS Education Members receive an in-depth multipage evaluation of their state's sedation regulations with weblinks to the specific sections. DOCS's full-time Regulatory Counsel is available for consultation to assist members at [email protected].  Become a member now for only $1 or contact a Course Advisor at 855-227-6505.

Find permit renewing courses here.

Why Do Sedation Dentistry?

An estimated 100 million people nationwide (nearly 30% of the population) need dental care but are too fearful to act. Access to care for these patients is limited, but now you can help.

The ability to practice sedation dental care gives you many advantages, not the least of which is treating a more comfortable patient. Other advantages include performing more dentistry in a single visit instead of repeat visits; extensive restorative cases from patients who were previously reluctant due to anxiety; and patients feeling little-to-no post-operative discomfort regardless of the procedure, resulting in more referrals.

And for your patients, providing sedation means even more: A comfortable experience often with no recollection of the visit or the time passed. It is often to hear of patients who call their dentist the next day, not to complain, but to express their gratitude and delight in their first ever fear-free visit to the dentist.

DOCS Education Members receive an in-depth multipage evaluation of their state's sedation regulations with weblinks to the specific section. DOCS’s full-time Regulatory Counsel is available for consultation to assist members at [email protected]. Become a member now for only $1 or contact a Course Advisor at 855-227-6505.

Find permit renewing courses here.

DOCS EDUCATION IS AN AGD PACE PROVIDER.

AGD
 
DOCS Education Regulatory Counsel

J. Kathleen Marcus, Esq.

Kate Marcus

As our DOCS Education Regulatory Counsel, Kate Marcus is uniquely qualified to advise and advocate for sedation dentistry. She draws on a healthcare law background that started from her first court case right out of law school, over three decades ago. A 1988 graduate of Temple University School of Law, she was Research Editor of the Temple Law Review; she previously attended Bennington College, and has a B.A. in Philosophy.

As DOCS’ Regulatory Counsel, Kate can help sedation dentists understand their permits so they can provide safe sedation dentistry and stay in compliance. She believes an adversarial approach is rarely productive; the point is to avoid conflict and avoid litigation.

Kate is Pennsylvania licensed, with extensive experience in civil and criminal litigation at the state and federal levels. Her specialties include compliance, healthcare law, contract negotiation, contract drafting, commercial litigation, small business, health insurance and regulation, and URAC; she has demonstrated excellence in persuasive writing and editing, public speaking, and compliance (EEOC, HIPAA, HITECH, Title IX).

 

JOURNEY

In her transition from a litigator to a healthcare lawyer, Kate realized the importance of understanding the anxiety patients may bring to an appointment. Many people seeking sedation are afraid; the dentist needs to approach each patient with the understanding that they are coming with trauma and respect that. Kate would love to be able to talk with DOCS members more about trauma and how to have the most productive relationship with their patients.

 

VALUES 

The nexus of science and civil rights, including helping people get access to compassionate healthcare, fascinates Kate. She has a long history of representing distressed populations, including people in abusive relationships, children in foster care, people with HIV, and others — inside the courtroom and out. She has a passion to find funding for kids in foster care who don’t have sedation coverage, and work with dentists willing to treat autistic kids, with skill and compassion. She would love to see pro-bono dental service to survival shelters. Kate truly has a heart to advocate for those with special needs.

 

Kate values openness and availability to boards and DOCS members. She believes in being reasonable and seeking consensus on evidence-based solutions that work for everyone.