Hawaii Administrative Rules
Title 16 - DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS
Chapter 79 - DENTISTS AND DENTAL HYGIENISTS
Subchapter 8 - ANESTHESIA
Section 16-79-78 - Administration of general anesthesia and sedation

Universal Citation: HI Admin Rules 16-79-78

Current through August, 2024

(a) A licensed dentist shall administer general anesthesia and sedation consistent with the current guidelines and recommendations of the American Dental Association Guidelines for the Use Of Sedation and General Anesthesia by Dentist; provided that for pediatric patients the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Guidelines for Monitoring and Management of Pediatric Patients During and After Sedation for Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures shall be followed. No licensed dentist shall administer or employ another person, such as a nurse anesthetist or a physician, who is otherwise qualified in this State to administer general anesthesia, deep sedation, or moderate (conscious) sedation for dental patients, unless the licensed dentist possesses a written authorization or permit from the board. Sedation is continuum and it is not always possible to predict how an individual will respond. Therefore, a licensed dentist intending to produce a given level of sedation shall have the capability to rescue patients whose level of sedation becomes deeper than initially intended.

(b) In order to receive a written authorization or permit, the licensed dentist shall apply to the board, pay an application fee, and submit documentary evidence showing that the following requirements are met:

(1) Educational training requirements.
(A) General anesthesia and deep sedation: Applicant has completed an advanced dental education program accredited by CODA and approved by the board that provides comprehensive training necessary to administer deep sedation or general anesthesia and includes documented proficiency in Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers and Advanced Cardiac Life Support or Pediatric Advanced Life Support as required pursuant to subsection 16-79-141(a)(2). Evidence of that comprehensive training shall include but not be limited to: being a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, a Fellow/member of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery or completion of an ADA accredited residency in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery or Dental Anesthesiology and shall practice in compliance with that training.

(B) Moderate (conscious) sedation: Applicant has completed a comprehensive training program at the postgraduate level that meets the moderate (conscious) sedation program objectives and content as outlined in the current ADA Guidelines for Teaching Pain Control and Sedation to Dentists and Dental Students. The training program shall be a minimum of sixty hours of instruction, include supervised management of at least twenty moderate (conscious) sedation patients with clinical experience in managing the compromised airway and establishment of intravenous access, and provide current documented proficiency in Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers and Advanced Cardiac Life Support or Pediatric Advanced Life Support as required pursuant to sub section 16-79-141(a)(2).

(C) A dentist administering general anesthesia or moderate sedation shall be required to complete the Advanced Cardiac Life Support course or if treating pediatric patients, the Pediatric Advanced Life Support course; provided that both courses shall be completed if the dentist is treating pediatric patients and minors thirteen years or older.

(2) In lieu of the requirements in paragraph (1)(A) and (B), a licensed dentist may receive a written authorization or permit to use general anesthesia, deep sedation or moderate (conscious) sedation, if the licensed dentist employs or works in conjunction with a physician licensed pursuant to chapter 453, HRS, who specializes in anesthesiology or a certified registered nurse anesthetist who holds a license in good standing pursuant to chapter 457, HRS, provided that the physician who specializes in anesthesiology or certified registered nurse anesthetist shall remain on the premises of the dental facility until the patient is fully recovered and discharged from the facility.

(3) Facilities and staff requirements. Applicant has a properly equipped facility for the administration of general anesthesia, deep sedation, or moderate (conscious) sedation staffed with a supervised team of auxiliary personnel capable of reasonably handling anesthesia procedures, problems, and emergencies incident thereto. The current ADA Guidelines for the Use of Sedation and General Anesthesia by Dentists and the current American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Office Anesthesia Evaluation Manual are referenced as minimum standards of care. Adequacy of the facility and competence of the anesthesia team may be determined by the consultants appointed by the board as outlined below in this chapter.

(c) Prior to the issuance of a written authorization or permit, the board may, at its discretion, require an on-site inspection of the facility, equipment, and personnel to determine whether the facilities and staff requirements have been met. This evaluation to determine whether the facility is adequate and properly equipped, may be carried out in a manner and generally following the guidelines, standards, requirements, and basic principles as described in the current American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Office Anesthesia Manual. The inspection and evaluation shall be carried out by a team of consultants appointed by the board.

(d) The board shall appoint a team of advisory consultants to conduct the on-site inspection and evaluation of the facilities, equipment, and personnel of a licensed dentist applying for a written authorization or permit to administer or to employ a qualified person to administer general anesthesia, deep sedation, or moderate (conscious) sedation; thereafter, re-inspections may be conducted. The advisory consultants shall also aid the board in the adoption of criteria and standards relative to the regulation and control of general anesthesia, deep sedation, or moderate (conscious) sedation.

(e) A licensed dentist who has received a written authorization or permit to administer or to employ a qualified person to administer general anesthesia, deep sedation, or moderate (conscious) sedation shall renew the authorization or permit biennially and pay a biennial fee.

(f) The board may, at any time, reevaluate the credentials, facilities, equipment, personnel, and procedures of a licensed dentist who has previously received a written authorization or permit from the board to determine if the dentist is still qualified to have a written authorization or permit. If the board determines that the licensed dentist is no longer qualified to have a written authorization or permit, it may revoke or refuse to renew the authorization, after an opportunity for a hearing is given to the licensed dentist.

(g) A licensed dentist who currently has a written authorization or permit to administer general anesthesia or sedation may continue to administer general anesthesia or sedation without the need to meet the additional requirements under subsection (b). However, if that dentist's license becomes forfeited that dentist shall file a new application and comply with all of the requirements of this section in existence at the time of the application.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Hawaii may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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