New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 16 - OCCUPATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSING
Chapter 5 - DENTISTRY (DENTISTS, DENTAL HYGIENISTS, ETC.)
Part 15 - DENTISTS, ANESTHESIA/SEDATION ADMINISTRATION
Section 16.5.15.14 - ADMINISTRATION OF MODERATE SEDATION (Formerly conscious sedation I and II)

Universal Citation: 16 NM Admin Code 16.5.15.14

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 18, September 24, 2024

A. Moderate sedation may be achieved by several methods: The end point of sedation, as in the definition, is the important factor. Drugs used here should have a wide safety margin so as to not allow patients to easily slide to deep sedation or general anesthesia. The dentist should also be aware that titrating an enteral dose of medication is difficult due to onset of action and multiple variables.

(1) moderate enteral sedation (previously conscious sedation I) is achieved by the use of: single enteral dugs in doses as needed up to and above the maximum recommended single dose, or two or more enteral drugs used in combination, or single or multiple enteral drugs combined with nitrous oxide;

(2) moderate parenteral sedation (previously conscious sedation II) is achieved by the use of single or multiple parenteral drugs, with or without nitrous oxide.

B. Registration: Permit required, each licensed dentist who administers or supervises the prescribed administration of drugs to achieve moderate sedation shall be registered with the board. Moderate sedation permits are issued for a specific practice location (facility). An application form will be provided by the board office upon request. Applicant shall follow the permit application procedure as defined in 16.5.15.19 NMAC. Administration of moderate sedation without registration is a violation of these rules and may result in disciplinary action against the licensee.

C. Education/qualifications: To administer moderate sedation by any means the dentist must satisfy one of the following criteria:

(1) training to a level of competency in moderate sedation consistent with that described in the most current versions of the American dental association "guidelines for the use of sedation and general anesthesia by dentists", and "guidelines for teaching pain control and sedation to dentists and dental students". The above involves completion of 60 hours of didactic instruction and administration of moderate sedation for at least 20 individually managed patients in a pre-doctoral program at a CODA accredited school, verifiable by the board, or in a post-doctoral continuing education program acceptable to the board and its anesthesia committee; or

(2) completion of CODA accredited post-doctoral training program, which affords comprehensive and appropriate training necessary to administer and manage moderate sedation as described in the most current versions of the American dental association "guidelines for the use of sedation and general anesthesia by dentists", and "guidelines for teaching pain control and sedation to dentists and dental students".

D. To administer moderate enteral sedation, the dentist must have current certification in basic life support. Moderate enteral sedation does not require ETCO2 capnography monitoring.

E. To administer moderate parenteral sedation, the dentist must have current certification in advanced cardiac life support. Moderate parenteral sedation does require ETCO2 capnography or precordial stethoscope monitoring.

F. Auxiliary clinical personnel must have current certification in basic life support.

G. The dentist must sign an affidavit of compliance. An oral and written examination administered by the anesthesia committee or designee will be required if the anesthesia committee or board determines an application is incomplete or is lacking information to make a final recommendation for approval. This may require travel on the applicant's part to meet with an examiner. The applicant's facility may also be subject to inspection and approval by the anesthesia committee or its designated examiner.

H. Current permit holder's sedation education would be grandfathered in by board rules in effect at the time of original issue of their permit. However, safety standards must be updated to the current board and American dental association (ADA) guidelines.

I. Facility/records:

(1) the dentist must maintain a properly equipped facility for the administration of moderate sedation, staffed with supervised auxiliary personnel capable of handling procedures, problems and emergencies that may arise;

(2) the facility along with the dentist providing the sedation will be evaluated. The moderate sedation permit is valid only at the facility approved by the permit;

(3) the patients shall be monitored and records shall reflect that the pre-operative patient evaluation, including American society of anesthesiologists (ASA) classification, pre-operative preparation, electrocardiogram (ECG) (for parenteral sedation), pulse oximetry, and blood pressure. ETCO2 capnography or precordial stethoscope monitoring is only required for moderate parenteral sedation. Recovery and discharge also needs to be performed and documented in accordance with the current "ADA guidelines for the use of sedation and general anesthesia by dentists";

(4) a facility permitted for moderate sedation does not allow for the use of deep sedation or general anesthesia in that facility regardless of the licensee providing anesthesia;

(5) a log of drugs used, dosage or amount of drugs used and date of administration must be maintained separate from the patient's record;

(6) informed consent is required.

J. Restrictions: A dentist with a moderate sedation (formerly conscious sedation II) permit shall not administer or employ any agent(s) which has a narrow margin for maintaining consciousness, or is federally classified as a general anesthetic including, but not limited to:

(1) ultra-short acting barbiturates including, but not limited to, sodium methohexital, thiopental, and thiamylal;

(2) alkylphenols-propofol (diprivan) including precursors or derivatives;

(3) neuroleptic agents;

(4) dissociative agents - i.e. ketamine;

(5) etomidate, and similarly acting drugs;

(6) volatile inhalational agents; or

(7) any quantity of agent(s) or technique(s), or any combination thereof, that renders a patient deeply sedated or generally anesthetized.

K. The drugs/techniques enumerated in Subsection J of 16.5.15.14 NMAC are presumed to produce general anesthesia and may only be used by a licensee holding a valid deep sedation/general anesthesia permit issued by the board, or by a corresponding licensing board if the licensee is not a dentist (eg., MD, CRNA).

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. New Mexico 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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