(a) A dentist using oral conscious sedation must comply with all of the following requirements:

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Terms Used In Alabama Code 34-9-82

  • Baseline: Projection of the receipts, outlays, and other budget amounts that would ensue in the future without any change in existing policy. Baseline projections are used to gauge the extent to which proposed legislation, if enacted into law, would alter current spending and revenue levels.
  • following: means next after. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • person: includes a corporation as well as a natural person. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
(1) Patients to be treated under oral conscious sedation must be suitably evaluated prior to the start of any sedation procedure. Using the American Society of Anesthesiologists Patient Physical Status classifications the dentist should determine that the patient is an appropriate candidate for oral conscious sedation.
(2) The patient or guardian must be advised regarding the procedure associated with the delivery of any sedative agents and the appropriate written informed consent should be obtained.
(3) Inhalation equipment used in conjunction with oral conscious sedation must be evaluated prior to use on each patient. Determination of adequate oxygen supply must be completed prior to use with each patient.
(4) Appropriate verbal or written preoperative and postoperative instructions must be given to the patient or guardian.
(5) Baseline vital signs should be obtained unless the patient’s behavior prohibits such determination.
(6) Pretreatment physical evaluation should be performed as deemed appropriate.
(7) All medications and dosages used during an oral conscious sedation procedure must be recorded in the patient’s record of treatment.
(8) An emergency cart or kit must be readily accessible and must be available for immediate use during any sedation procedure.
(9) The only classification of drugs for sedation to be administered enterally by a responsible adult procedurally outside the treatment facility is minor tranquilizers. Minor tranquilizers (i.e., hydroxyzine or diazepam) do not include chloral hydrate or narcotics.
(10) Direct clinical observation and monitoring of the patient by a staff member must be continuous during the recovery period. The dentist shall assess the patient’s responsiveness and must determine that the patient has met discharge criteria prior to leaving the office and the patient must be discharged into the care of a responsible person.
(b) It shall be incumbent upon the operating dentist to insure that the patient is appropriately monitored. A sedated patient must be continuously kept under direct clinical observation by a trained individual. The sedated patient’s oxygen saturation must be monitored by pulse oximetry. Chest excursions must be observed and the color of mucosa and skin continually evaluated. Back-up emergency services should be identified and a protocol outlining necessary procedures for their immediate employment should be developed and operational for each facility.
(c) Any dentist utilizing oral conscious sedation procedures must have a properly equipped facility staffed with a supervised team of allied dental personnel who will be appropriately trained and capable of reasonably assisting the dentist with procedures, problems, and emergencies incident thereto. When inhalation equipment is used, in combination with orally administered sedatives, it must have a failsafe system that is appropriately checked and calibrated. The inhalation equipment must have the capacity for delivering 100 percent oxygen, and never less than 25 percent oxygen. A system for delivering oxygen must be available and must have adequate full-face mask and appropriate connectors, and be capable of delivering oxygen under positive pressure to the patient. Inhalation equipment must have a scavenging system. Suction equipment must be available that allows aspiration of the oral and pharyngeal cavities. A stethoscope and a sphygmomanometer with cuffs of appropriate size shall be immediately available.
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