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.
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[accordion title="I%20want%20to%20administer%20moderate%20sedation%20to%20patients%20in%20my%20office"]
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.[/accordion]
[accordion title="I%20want%20to%20have%20another%20dentist%20or%20physician%20administer%20moderate%20sedation%20to%20patients%20in%20my%20office"]
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.[/accordion]
[accordion title="I%20want%20to%20administer%20moderate%20sedation%20to%20patients%20in%20other%20practitioners'%20offices"]
If you intend to administer moderate sedation to patients in other dentists’ offices, you must have your qualifications registered with the College.[/accordion]
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Registrants may only administer moderate sedation (both oral and parenteral) to patients who are 12 years of age and under in out-of-hospital dental facilities when they:
- Are qualified and authorized to provide deep sedation and/or general anaesthesia, or
- Have completed training in a formal postgraduate program in pediatric dentistry that meets CDSBC Standards.
Practitioners who do not fall under these categories must cease provision of moderate sedation services to patients 12 years of age and younger. Registrants who do not meet the specific requirements but wish to provide moderate sedation to patients 12 years old and younger may submit their Registration of Qualifications for the Sedation & General Anaesthetic Services Committee's consideration by December 27, 2019.
More information is available here (PDF).
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ for dentists
[accordions title-color="primary-dark" color="primary" title-text-size="20px"]
[accordion title="If%20I%20only%20administer%20minimal%20sedation%2C%20such%20as%20Ativan%2C%20do%20I%20still%20need%20to%20register%20my%20qualifications%20with%20CDSBC%3F"]No. Any dentist who holds practising status is authorized to provide minimal sedation provided they feel competent in this modality. [/accordion]
[accordion title="If%20I%20provide%20multiple%20oral%20sedatives%20is%20this%20considered%20minimal%20or%20moderate%20sedation%3F"]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. [/accordion]
[accordion title="Can%20my%20CDAs%20give%20medications%20to%20patients%3F"]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. [/accordion]
[accordion title="In%20order%20to%20register%20my%20CDAs%20for%20DAANCE*%2C%20I%E2%80%99m%20required%20to%20send%20them%20a%20copy%20of%20my%20sedation%20permit.%20What%20is%20this%3F"]Your letter from CDSBC approving your qualifications is your sedation permit. [/accordion]
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FAQ for certified dental assistants
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[accordion title="Can%20I%20give%20medications%20to%20patients%3F"]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.[/accordion]
[accordion title="%20Is%20DAANCE*%20only%20available%20in%20the%20U.S.%3F"]
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.[/accordion]
[accordion title="Are%20there%20any%20alternatives%20to%20DAANCE%20for%20CDAs%20Assisting%20with%20Moderate%20Sedation%3F"]Yes. Canadian Dental Anaesthesia Assistant Course is an accepted alternative to DAANCE for CDAs assisting with moderate sedation. [/accordion]
[accordion title="The%20new%20minimal%20and%20moderate%20sedation%20document%20refers%20to%20DAANCE%20and%20OMAAP.%20What%20is%20OMAAP%3F"]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.[/accordion]
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*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.
