The ADA's Council on Dental Education and Licensure (CDEL) is trying to push through new sedation guidelines that will result in general dentists having to obtain IV sedation permits to continue using the exact same oral sedation methods they currently use to treat fearful and anxious patients.
CDEL is a small but powerful ADA committee that is strongly influenced by the oral surgeons on its panel. And they are pulling strings at the ADA to make sure that you and your patients conform to their wishes.
If CDEL's proposed regulation changes are adopted, you will be required to obtain an IV permit for most of what you already do and have done safely and effectively for years.
Summary of the Proposed Regulation
- An IV permit is required if sedation patients drift into moderate sedation (i.e. become sleepy).
- An IV permit is required to provide more than one oral sedative during a sedation appointment, such as triazolam and hydroxyzine.
- An IV permit is required to exceed the dose of a single oral sedative permitted for a patient to self-administer at home, unmonitored.
Read the complete proposal for guideline changes here:
Why Does it Matter?
What CDEL and the ADA say counts. More than half of all state dental boards throughout the United States specifically refer to the CDEL and ADA guidelines in their binding sedation rules. Violate these guidelines, and you could lose your license.
The entire general dentist community should be alarmed. Why? Because when it comes to allowing oral surgeons and other special interests to dictate what general dentists can and can't do, oral sedation is only the first round. If CDEL succeeds now, standby for a steady stream of additional restrictive guidelines aimed at controlling general dentistry.
What You Need to Do
It's simple: Let the ADA know that you oppose the proposed regulations by Monday, June 29*.
(*The ADA must receive your comments by June 29.)
Write a letter or send an email to:
Dr. James M. Boyle, III, Chair
American Dental Association
Council on Dental Education and Licensure
211 East Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
[email protected]
Need some pointers for what to include in your letter? Go here: http://www.team1500.org/letter-from-docs-education.html
The information contained in this, or any case study post in Incisor should never be considered a proper replacement for necessary training and/or education regarding adult oral conscious sedation. Regulations regarding sedation vary by state. This is an educational and informational piece. DOCS Education accepts no liability whatsoever for any damages resulting from any direct or indirect recipient's use of or failure to use any of the information contained herein. DOCS Education would be happy to answer any questions or concerns mailed to us at 106 Lenora Street, Seattle, WA 98121. Please print a copy of this posting and include it with your question or request.
