(A) For purposes of this section, "current" means the certification course has been taken within two years. Other life support certifications approved by the board may be accepted.

(B)(1) A permit is not required for local anesthesia, nitrous oxide/oxygen, minimal sedation, or any combination thereof, where the patient has a depressed level of consciousness but is able to independently and continually maintain an airway with unaffected ventilatory and cardiovascular function and respond normally to tactile and verbal stimulation.

Terms Used In South Carolina Code 40-15-400

  • board: as used in this chapter shall mean the South Carolina State Board of Dentistry unless otherwise specified. See South Carolina Code 40-15-10

(2) A dentist who is not administering anesthesia, but is providing anesthesia in his dental office, must conform to the requirements of this chapter except subsections (C)(1), (D)(1), (E)(1), and (E)(2) of this section.

(3) The administration of sedation or anesthesia, or both, in a dentist’s office by a licensed physician shall be administered pursuant to Chapter 47 of Title 40. The administration of sedation or anesthesia, or both, in the dentist’s office by a licensed Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist shall be administered pursuant to Chapter 33 of Title 40.

(C) To provide moderate enteral sedation, a dentist must first submit an application with an initial fee to the board with documentation of:

(1) completion of predoctoral, postdoctoral, or continuing education conscious sedation training in an accredited program to include twenty-four hours of didactic instruction and ten cases commensurate with each intended route of administration; and

(2) applicable life support training, which must be:

(a) advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) certification that is current if treating adults and children; or

(b) pediatric advanced life support (PALS) certification that is current if treating only children.

(D) To provide moderate parenteral sedation, a dentist must first submit an application with an initial fee to the board with documentation of:

(1) completion of predoctoral, postdoctoral, or continuing education conscious sedation training in an accredited program to include sixty hours of didactic instruction and twenty cases commensurate with each intended route of administration; and

(2) applicable life support training, which must be:

(a) advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) certification that is current if treating adults and children; or

(b) pediatric advanced life support (PALS) certification that is current if treating only children.

(E) To provide deep sedation/general anesthesia, a dentist must first submit an application with an initial fee to the board with documentation of:

(1) completion of one year of advanced training in anesthesiology and related academic subjects or complete an oral and maxillofacial surgery residency program, or be a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery; provided, however, that the training must include sixty hours of didactic instruction and twenty cases commensurate with each intended route of administration;

(2) sixty hours of pediatric didactic training and twenty cases commensurate with each intended route of administration for children under thirteen years of age in order to provide pediatric deep sedation/general anesthesia; and

(3) applicable life support training, which must be:

(a) advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) certification that is current if treating adults and children; or

(b) pediatric advanced life support (PALS) certification that is current if treating only children.

(F) To provide deep sedation/general anesthesia, the applicant may pursue an advanced education route by means of various residencies, a specific oral and maxillofacial surgery residency, or may become a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

(G) Permit fees must be remitted biennially with the dental license renewal. These fees initially must be determined by the board pursuant to § 40-1-50(D).