Dentistry

Dental Anesthesia/Sedation Certification

Introduction

This page covers the basic requirements and procedures for New York State licensed dentists to follow in applying for a certificate to administer dental anesthesia/sedation in their professional practice at locations other than general hospitals.

Certificates are issued in three titles:

1. Dental General Anesthesia, which authorizes a licensed dentist to employ general anesthesia, deep sedation, or conscious sedation (parenteral or enteral route with or without inhalation agents); and
2. Dental Parenteral Conscious Sedation, which authorizes a licensed dentist to employ conscious sedation (parenteral or enteral route with or without inhalation agents); and
3. Dental Enteral Conscious Sedation, which authorizes a licensed dentist to employ conscious sedation (enteral route only with or without inhalation agents).

General Requirements

To be certified to administer dental anesthesia/sedation in New York State you must:

• be a New York State licensed dentist currently registered to practice; and
• meet additional education and training requirements outlined below.

You must file an application for certification and any other forms indicated. Submit all forms, along with the appropriate fee, to the Division of Professional Licensing Services (DPLS) of the New York State Education Department. It is your responsibility to follow up with anyone you have asked to send us material.

The specific requirements for certification are contained in Title 8, Article 133, section 6605-a of New York's Education Law and Part 61.10 of the Commissioner's Regulations. Copies of the relevant sections of NYS Education Law and the Commissioner's Regulations are also available upon request from opforms@mail.nysed.gov or 518-474-3817 ext. 320.

You should also read the general licensing information applicable for all professions.

Fees

The fee for a dental anesthesia/sedation certificate is $100.

The fee listed is the fee in place when this page was posted. Fees are subject to change. The fee due is the one in law when your application is received (unless fees are increased retroactively). You will be billed for the difference if fees have been increased.

• Do not send cash.
• Make your personal check or money order payable to the New York State Education Department. Your cancelled check is your receipt.
• Mail your application and fee to:

  NYS Education Department, Office of the Professions
  P.O. Box 22063
  Albany, NY 12201

Partial Refunds

Individuals who withdraw their certification application may be entitled to a partial refund.

• For the procedure to withdraw your application, contact the Dentistry Unit at opunit3@mail.nysed.gov or by calling 518-474-3817 ext. 270 or by fax at 518-402-5354.
• The State Education Department is not responsible for any fees paid to an outside testing or credentials verification agency.

If you withdraw your application, obtain a refund, and then decide to seek New York State certification at a later date, you will be considered a new applicant, and you will be required to pay the certification fee and meet the certification requirements in place at the time you reapply.

Definitions

• Acceptable accrediting body means an accrediting body which is accepted by the Department as a reliable authority for the purpose of accrediting educational programs in anesthesia, applying its criteria for granting accreditation in a fair, consistent, and nondiscriminatory manner, and which accredits such programs on a national basis.
• Conscious sedation means a minimally depressed level of consciousness that retains the patient's ability to independently and continuously maintain an airway and respond appropriately to physical stimulation and verbal command and that is produced by a pharmacologic or non-pharmacologic method or a combination thereof. Patients whose only response is reflex withdrawal from repeated painful stimuli shall not be considered to be in a state of conscious sedation.
• Deep sedation means an induced state of depressed consciousness accompanied by partial loss of protective reflexes, including the inability to continually maintain an airway independently and/or to respond purposefully to physical stimulation or verbal command, and is produced by a pharmacologic or non-pharmacologic method or a combination thereof.
• Enteral means a technique of administration in which the agent is absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract or oral mucosa, including but not limited to oral, rectal, and sublingual administration.
• General anesthesia means an induced state of unconsciousness, accompanied by partial or complete loss of protective reflexes, including the inability to continually maintain an airway independently and respond purposefully to physical stimulation or verbal command, and is produced by a pharmacologic or non-pharmacologic method or a combination thereof.
• Inhalation means a technique of administration in which a gaseous or volatile agent is introduced into the pulmonary tree and whose primary effect is due to the absorption through the pulmonary bed.
• Parenteral means a technique of administration in which the drug bypasses the gastrointestinal tract, including but not limited to intramuscular, intravenous, intranasal, submucosal, subcutaneous, and intraocular administration.

Education Requirements

1. Dental General Anesthesia certificate authorizes a licensed dentist to employ general anesthesia, deep sedation or conscious sedation (parenteral or enteral route with or without inhalation agents).
   
   

   You must present evidence of completion of either:

   • at least two years of post-doctoral education in anesthesia acceptable to the Department and accredited by an acceptable accrediting body; or
     
     
   • a graduate level program in oral and maxillofacial surgery acceptable to the Department and accredited by an acceptable accrediting body.
     

   You must also submit a copy of your valid course completion card in Advanced Cardiac Life Support.

2. Dental Parenteral Conscious Sedation certificate authorizes a licensed dentist to employ conscious sedation (parenteral or enteral route with or without inhalation agents).
   
   

   You must present evidence of completion of:

   • post-doctoral education acceptable to the Department and accredited by an acceptable accrediting body, which includes at least 60 clock hours of coursework and an additional clinical experience demonstrating the successful use of parenteral conscious sedation on no fewer than 20 patients.

   You must also submit a copy of your valid course completion card in Advanced Cardiac Life Support.

3. Dental Enteral Conscious Sedation certificate authorizes a licensed dentist to employ conscious sedation (enteral route only with or without inhalation agents).

   You must present evidence of completion of either:

   • pre-doctoral or post-doctoral education consisting of a specialty program or residency accredited by an acceptable accrediting body which includes coursework in Basic Life Support and additional coursework consisting of at least 18 clock hours, including but not limited to, instruction in nitrous oxide use and emergency management. In addition to the coursework, you must complete 20 clinically-oriented experiences in the use of enteral conscious sedation techniques. These clinically-oriented experiences may include group observations of patients undergoing enteral conscious sedation techniques; or
     
     
   • post-doctoral coursework approved by the Department which has equivalent rigor as coursework approved by an acceptable accrediting body and which includes coursework in Basic Life Support and additional coursework consisting of at least 18 clock hours, including but not limited to, instruction in nitrous oxide use and emergency management. In addition to the coursework, the program must require 20 clinically-oriented experiences in the use of enteral conscious sedation techniques. These clinically-oriented experiences may include group observations of patients undergoing enteral conscious sedation techniques.

   You must also submit a copy of your valid course completion card in Basic Life Support.

Approved Post Doctoral Coursework for Dental Enteral Conscious Sedation

• New York University
  NYU Continuing Dental Education
  345 East 24th Street
  New York, NY 10010-4086
  Tel: 212-998-9757
  Fax: 212-995-4081
  E-Mail: dentalcde@nyu.edu
  
  
• Montefiore Medical Center
  111 East 210th Street
  Bronx, NY 10467
  Tel: 718-920-6266
  Fax: 718-515-5419
  E-Mail: info@montefioredental.com
  
  
• Mount Sinai Hospital Medical Center
  One Gustave L. Levy Place
  Box 1010
  New York, NY 10029
  Tel: 212-241-7467
  Fax: 212-426-2009