West Virginia Code
Article 4A. Administration of Anesthesia by Dentists
§30-4A-6. Qualifications, Standards, and Continuing Education Requirements for Class 3 Anesthesia Permit

(a) The board shall issue or renew a Class 3 Permit to an applicant who:
(1) Is a licensed dentist in West Virginia;
(2) Holds valid and current documentation showing successful completion of a Health Care Provider BLS/CPR course, ACLS and/or a PALS course if treating pediatric patients; and
(3) Satisfies one of the following criteria:
(A) Certificate of completion of a comprehensive training program in conscious sedation that satisfies the requirements described in the ADA Guidelines for Teaching Pain Control and Sedation to Dentists and Dental Students and the ADA Guidelines for the Use of Sedation and General Anesthesia by Dentists at the time training was commenced.
(B) Certificate of completion of an ADA-accredited postdoctoral training program which affords comprehensive and appropriate training necessary to administer and manage conscious sedation commensurate with these guidelines.
(C) In lieu of these requirements, the board may accept documented evidence of equivalent training or experience in conscious sedation anesthesia for Limited Enteral Permit as Class 3a or comprehensive Parenteral Permit as Class 3b as specified by rule.
(b) A dentist who induces conscious sedation shall have the following facilities, properly maintained age appropriate equipment and age appropriate medications available during the procedures and during recovery:
(1) An operating room large enough to adequately accommodate the patient on an operating table or in an operating chair and to allow an operating team of at least two individuals to freely move about the patient;
(2) An operating table or chair which permits the patient to be positioned so the operating team can maintain the patient's airway, quickly alter the patient's position in an emergency, and provide a firm platform for the administration of basic life support;
(3) A lighting system which permits evaluation of the patient's skin and mucosal color and a backup lighting system of sufficient intensity to permit completion of any operation underway in the event of a general power failure;
(4) Suction equipment which permits aspiration of the oral and pharyngeal cavities and a backup suction device which will function in the event of a general power failure;
(5) An oxygen delivery system with adequate age appropriate full face mask and appropriate connectors that is capable of delivering high flow oxygen to the patient under positive pressure, together with an adequate backup system;
(6) A nitrous oxide delivery system with a fail-safe mechanism that will ensure appropriate continuous oxygen delivery and a scavenger system;
(7) A recovery area that has available oxygen, adequate lighting, suction and electrical outlets. The recovery area can be the operating room;
(8) Sphygmomanometer, pulse oximeter, oral and nasopharyngeal airways, intravenous fluid administration equipment and/or equipment required for the standard of care or as specified by rule;
(9) Emergency drugs as specified by rule; and
(10) A defibrillator device.
(c) Before inducing conscious sedation, a dentist shall:
(1) Evaluate the patient and document, using the ASA Patient Physical Status Classifications, that the patient is an appropriate candidate for conscious sedation;
(2) Give written preoperative and postoperative instructions to the patient or, when appropriate due to age or neurological status of the patient, the patient's guardian; and
(3) Obtain written informed consent from the patient or patient's guardian for the anesthesia.
(d) The dentist shall ensure that the patient's condition is monitored and recorded on a contemporaneous record. The dentist shall use a qualified monitor to monitor and record the patient's condition in addition to the chair side dental assistant. A qualified monitor shall be present to monitor the patient at all times.
(e) The patient shall be monitored as follows:
(1) Patients shall have continuous monitoring using pulse oximetry and/or equipment required for the standard of care or as specified by rule by a qualified monitor until discharge criteria have been met. The documented requirements of a qualified monitor monitoring limited enteral or comprehensive parenteral sedations cases are as specified by rule. The patient's blood pressure, heart rate and respiration shall be recorded every five minutes and these recordings shall be documented in the patient record. The record shall also include documentation of preoperative and postoperative vital signs, all medications administered with dosages, time intervals and route of administration including local anesthesia. If the dentist is unable to obtain this information, the reasons shall be documented in the patient's record.
(2) During the recovery phase, the patient shall be monitored by a qualified monitor.
(3) A discharge entry shall be made by the dentist in the patient's record indicating the patient's condition upon discharge and the name of the responsible party to whom the patient was discharged.
(f) A dentist may not release a patient who has undergone conscious sedation/moderate sedation except to the care of a responsible adult third party.
(g) When discharging a pediatric patient the dentist shall follow the current edition of AAPD Guidelines for Monitoring and Management of Pediatric Patients During and After Sedation for Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures.
(h) The dentist shall assess the patient's responsiveness using preoperative values as normal guidelines and discharge the patient only when the following criteria are met:
(1) Vital signs including blood pressure, pulse rate and respiratory rate are stable;
(2) The patient is alert and oriented to person, place and time as appropriate to age and preoperative neurological status;
(3) The patient can talk and respond coherently to verbal questioning or to preoperative neurological status;
(4) The patient can sit up unaided or to preoperative neurological status;
(5) The patient can ambulate with minimal assistance or to preoperative neurological status; and
(6) The patient does not have uncontrollable nausea or vomiting and has minimal dizziness.
(i) A dentist who induces conscious sedation shall employ the services of a qualified monitor and a chair side dental assistant at all times who each shall hold a valid BLS/CPR certification and maintains certification as specified by rule.