Minimal and Moderate Sedation
All dentists or certified specialists who administer minimal or moderate sedation must comply with the requirements outlined in the most current version of CDSBC's
Minimal and Moderate Sedation Services (non-hospital facilities) Standards (and related addendum).
Note: those who administer
only minimal sedation do not need to register their sedation qualifications with CDSBC.
Moderate Sedation
CDSBC registers qualifications for three levels of
moderate sedation:
- Moderate – oral (two or more drugs)
- Moderate – IV level 1 (one drug)
- Moderate – IV level 2 (two drug)
You must advise the College of your intent to provide moderate sedation either in your own facility or as a visiting practitioner by emailing
sedation@cdsbc.org.
Administering moderate sedation to patients in my office | If you own a dental office and intend to administer moderate sedation to your patients, you must first register your qualifications with CDSBC. If you own a dental office and administer parenteral (IV) moderate sedation, you must inform the College by emailing
sedation@cdsbc.org to be added to the register of facilities administering parenteral (IV) moderate sedation. |
Having another dentist or physician administer moderate sedation to patients in my office | You are responsible for ensuring that any visiting dentist or physician who administers sedation in your office has the appropriate qualifications. If you own a dental office, and intend to have another dentist or physician administer parenteral (IV) moderate sedation, you must inform the College by emailing
sedation@cdsbc.org to be added to the register of facilities that administer parenteral (IV) moderate sedation. |
Administering moderate sedation to patients in other practitioners' offices | If you intend to administer moderate sedation to patients in other dentists’ offices, you must have your qualifications registered with the College. |
Pediatric Moderate Sedation
Only registrants who have registered their qualifications and been approved by CDSBC to provide moderate sedation to patients aged 12 and under are permitted to do so.
Registrants who wish to provide pediatric moderate sedation are advised that CDSBC does not recognize short-course format (less than one year) training for pediatric moderate sedation.
A moratorium is in place to allow the Sedation Committee to review the safety of this modality and make its recommendations to the CDSBC Board. More information is available here (PDF).
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ for dentists
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If I only administer minimal sedation, such as Ativan, do I still need to register my qualifications with CDSBC?
No. Any dentist who holds practising status is authorized to provide minimal sedation provided they feel competent in this modality.
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If I provide multiple oral sedatives is this considered minimal or moderate sedation?
This is considered moderate sedation. In order to provide moderate sedation, you must first meet the educational requirements set out in the Standards and then register with, and have your qualifications approved, by CDSBC.
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Can my CDAs give medications to patients?
No, CDAs cannot give medications to patients. Only dentists, physicians, or registered nurses acting under orders and direct supervision of a dentist/physician may give medications to patients.
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In order to register my CDAs for DAANCE*, I’m required to send them a copy of my sedation permit. What is this?
Your letter from CDSBC approving your qualifications is your sedation permit.
FAQ for certified dental assistants
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Can I give medications to patients?
No, CDAs cannot give medications to patients. Only dentists, physicians, or registered nurses acting under orders and direct supervision of a dentist/physician may give medications to patients.
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Is DAANCE* only available in the U.S.?
No. DAANCE is an online self-study course that participants work through at their own pace over a period of six months. The final exam can be taken at one of seven testing centres throughout B.C. To find out more, visit
www.aaoms.org or call 1-800-822-6637.
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Are there any alternatives to DAANCE in B.C.?
Yes. The Sedation and General Anaesthetic Services Committee recently reviewed UBC’s Canadian Dental Anaesthesia Assistant course and found it suitable as an alternative to DAANCE for CDAs assisting with moderate sedation.
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The new minimal and moderate sedation document refers to DAANCE and OMAAP. What is OMAAP?
OMAAP is the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Anesthesia Assistants Program. This program was previously offered by the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and was replaced by DAANCE.
*Dental Anesthesia Assistant National Certification Examination offered by the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.
Questions?
If you have questions, please email
sedation@cdsbc.org.
