Anesthesia Permits

Anesthesia Rules and Education Requirements

Please review the following information carefully before submitting your anesthesia permit application.

General Information: “Nitrous Oxide Sedation” means an induced, controlled state of minimal sedation, produced solely by the inhalation of a combination of nitrous oxide and oxygen in which the patient retains the ability to independently and continuously maintain an airway and to respond purposefully to physical stimulation and to verbal command.
Requirements to Apply: Nitrous Oxide Permit Application

(1) The Board shall issue a Nitrous Oxide Permit to an applicant who:

(a) Is either a licensed dentist or licensed hygienist in the State of Oregon;

(b) Maintains a current BLS for Healthcare Providers certificate or its equivalent; and

(c) Has completed a training course of at least 14 hours of instruction in the use of nitrous oxide from a dental school or dental hygiene program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association, or as a postgraduate.
CE Requirements: In order to renew a Nitrous Oxide Permit, the permit holder must provide proof of a current BLS for Healthcare Providers certificate or its equivalent. In addition, Nitrous Oxide Permit holders must also complete four (4) hours of continuing education in one or more of the following areas every two years: sedation, nitrous oxide, physical evaluation, medical emergencies, monitoring and the use of monitoring equipment, or pharmacology of drugs and agents used in sedation. Training taken to maintain current BLS for Healthcare Providers certificate or its equivalent, may not be counted toward this requirement. Continuing education hours may be counted toward fulfilling the continuing education requirement set forth in OAR 818-021-0060 and 818-021-0070.

General Information: “Minimal Sedation” means minimally depressed level of consciousness, produced by non-intravenous pharmacological methods, that retains the patient’s ability to independently and continuously maintain an airway and respond normally to tactile stimulation and verbal command. When the intent is minimal sedation for adults, the appropriate initial dosing of a single non-intravenous pharmacological method is no more than the maximum recommended dose (MRD) of a drug that can be prescribed for unmonitored home use. Nitrous oxide/oxygen may be used in combination with a single non-intravenous pharmacological method in minimal sedation.
Requirements to Apply: Minimal Sedation Permit Application 

Minimal sedation and nitrous oxide sedation.

(1) The Board shall issue a Minimal Sedation Permit to an applicant who:

(a) Is a licensed dentist in Oregon;

(b) Maintains a current BLS for Healthcare Providers certificate or its equivalent; and

(c) Completion of a comprehensive training program consisting of at least 16 hours of training and satisfies the requirements of the current ADA Guidelines for Teaching Pain Control and Sedation to Dentists and Dental Students at the time training was commenced or postgraduate instruction was completed, or the equivalent of that required in graduate training programs, in sedation, recognition and management of complications and emergency care; or

(d) In lieu of these requirements, the Board may accept equivalent training or experience in minimal sedation anesthesia.
CE Requirements: In order to renew a Minimal Sedation Permit, the permit holder must provide documentation of a current BLS for Healthcare Providers certificate or its equivalent. In addition, Minimal Sedation Permit holders must also complete four (4) hours of continuing education in one or more of the following areas every two years: sedation, physical evaluation, medical emergencies, monitoring and the use of monitoring equipment, or pharmacology of drugs and agents used in sedation. Training taken to maintain current BLS for Healthcare Providers certificate, or its equivalent, may not be counted toward this requirement. Continuing education hours may be counted toward fulfilling the continuing education requirement set forth in OAR 818-021-0060.

General Information: “Moderate Sedation” means a drug-induced depression of consciousness during which patients respond purposefully to verbal commands, either alone or accompanied by light tactile stimulation. No interventions are required to maintain a patent airway, and spontaneous ventilation is adequate. Cardiovascular function is usually maintained.
Requirements to Apply: Moderate Sedation Permit Application

Moderate sedation, minimal sedation, and nitrous oxide sedation.

(1) The Board shall issue or renew a Moderate Sedation Permit to an applicant who:

(a) Is a licensed dentist in Oregon;

(b) In addition to a current BLS for Healthcare Providers certificate or its equivalent, either maintains a current Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certificate and/or a Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certificate, whichever is appropriate for the patient being sedated; and

(c) Satisfies one of the following criteria:

(A) Completion of a comprehensive training program in enteral and/or parenteral sedation that satisfies the requirements described in Part V of the current ADA Guidelines for Teaching Pain Control and Sedation to Dentists and Dental Students at the time training was commenced.

(i) Enteral Moderate Sedation requires a minimum of 24 hours of instruction plus management of at least 10 dental patient experiences by the enteral and/or enteral-nitrous oxide/oxygen route.

(ii) Parenteral Moderate Sedation requires a minimum of 60 hours of instruction plus management of at least 20 dental patients by the intravenous route.

(B) Completion of an ADA accredited postdoctoral training program (e.g., general practice residency) which affords comprehensive and appropriate training necessary to administer and manage parenteral sedation, commensurate with these Guidelines.
CE Requirements: In order to renew a Moderate Sedation Permit, the permit holder must provide documentation of a current BLS for Healthcare Providers certificate or its equivalent; a current Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certificate and/or a current Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certificate; Successful completion of a board approved course on minimal/moderate sedation at least every two years may be substituted for ACLS, but not for PALS; and must complete 14 hours of continuing education in one or more of the following areas every two years: sedation, physical evaluation, medical emergencies, monitoring and the use of monitoring equipment, or pharmacology of drugs and agents used in sedation. Training taken to maintain current ACLS or PALS certification or successful completion of the American Dental Association’s course “Recognition and Management of Complications during Minimal and Moderate Sedation” may be counted toward this requirement. Continuing education hours may be counted toward fulfilling the continuing education requirement set forth in OAR 818-021- 0060.

General Information: “Deep Sedation” means a drug-induced depression of consciousness during which patients cannot be easily aroused but respond purposefully following repeated or painful stimulation. The ability to independently maintain ventilatory function may be impaired. Patients may require assistance in maintaining a patent airway, and spontaneous ventilation may be inadequate. Cardiovascular function is usually maintained.
Requirements to Apply: The Oregon Board of Dentistry no longer issues new deep sedation permits.
CE Requirements: In order to renew a Deep Sedation Permit, the permit holder must provide documentation of a current BLS for Healthcare Providers certificate or its equivalent; a current Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certificate and/or a current Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certificate; and must complete 14 hours of continuing education in one or more of the following areas every two years: sedation, physical evaluation, medical emergencies, monitoring and the use of monitoring equipment, or pharmacology of drugs and agents used in sedation. Training taken to maintain current ACLS and/or PALS certificates may be counted toward this requirement. Continuing education hours may be counted toward fulfilling the continuing education requirement set forth in OAR 818-021-0060.

General Information: “General Anesthesia” means a drug-induced loss of consciousness during which patients are not arousable, even by painful stimulation. The ability to independently maintain ventilatory function is often impaired. Patients often require assistance in maintaining a patent airway, and positive pressure ventilation may be required because of depressed spontaneous ventilation or drug-induced depression of neuromuscular function. Cardiovascular function may be impaired.
Requirements to Apply: General Anesthesia Permit Application General anesthesia, deep sedation, moderate sedation, minimal sedation and nitrous oxide sedation.
(1) The Board shall issue a General Anesthesia Permit to an applicant who:
(a) Is a licensed dentist in Oregon;
(b) In addition to a current BLS for Healthcare Providers certificate or its equivalent, maintains a current Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certificate and/or a Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certificate, whichever is appropriate for the patient being sedated, and
(c) Satisfies one of the following criteria:
(A) Completion of an advanced training program in anesthesia and related subjects beyond the undergraduate dental curriculum that satisfies the requirements described in the current ADA Guidelines for Teaching Pain Control and Sedation to Dentists and Dental Students consisting of a minimum of 2 years of a postgraduate anesthesia residency at the time training was commenced.
(B) Completion of any ADA accredited postdoctoral training program, including but not limited to Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, which affords comprehensive and appropriate training necessary to administer and manage general anesthesia, commensurate with these Guidelines.
(C) In lieu of these requirements, the Board may accept equivalent training or experience in general anesthesia.
CE Requirements: In order to renew a General Anesthesia Permit, the permit holder must provide documentation of a current BLS for Healthcare Providers certificate or its equivalent; a current Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certificate and/or a current Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certificate; and must complete 14 hours of continuing education in one or more of the following areas every two years: sedation, physical evaluation, medical emergencies, monitoring and the use of monitoring equipment, or pharmacology of drugs and agents used in sedation. Training taken to maintain current ACLS and/or PALS certificates may be counted toward this requirement. Continuing education hours may be counted toward fulfilling the continuing education requirement set forth in OAR 818-021-0060.

Anesthesia Permits

Anesthesia Rules and Education Requirements

Nitrous Oxide

Minimal Sedation

Moderate Sedation

Deep Sedation

General Anesthesia