Section 33.331. Definitions

The following words and phrases, when used in this subchapter, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

AAOMS—American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.

AAOMS Guidelines—AAOMS Parameters and Pathways 2000 Clinical Practice Guidelines for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Anesthesia in Outpatient Facilities (AAOMS Par Path 2000), 4/15/99.

AAOMS Manual—AAOMS Office Anesthesia Manual, 6th Edition, 2000.

AAPD—American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.

AAPD Guidelines—AAPD Guidelines for the Elective Use of Conscious Sedation, Deep Sedation and General Anesthesia in Pediatric Dental Patients (May, 1998).

ACLS—Advanced Cardiac Life Support.

ADA—American Dental Association.

ADA Guidelines—ADA Guidelines for the Use of Conscious Sedation, Deep Sedation and General Anesthesia for Dentists (October, 2000).

Adult patient—A patient 18 years of age or older.

Authorized agent—An organization or individual that the Board has officially authorized to act as the Board’s agent in carrying out the mandates of the Board, the act or this chapter.

BLS—Basic Life Support.

Board—The State Board of Dentistry.

CRNA—A registered nurse certified as a Registered Nurse Anesthetist by the Council on Certification or Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists authorized to administer anesthesia under § 21.17 (relating to the administration of anesthesia by a registered nurse.)

Clinical evaluation—A determination of the dentist’s current technical competency to safely administer general anesthesia, deep sedation or conscious sedation and to effectively respond to anesthesia related emergencies, in accordance with the AAOMS Manual for OMSs or the ADA Guidelines (for adult patients) and the AAPD Guidelines (for pediatric patients) for general dentists.

Communications equipment—Equipment capable of being used to elicit a response in an emergency by voice, video or electronic data transmission, such as a telephone, video link, intercom, two-way radio or other similar device.

Conscious sedation—A minimally depressed level of consciousness that is produced by a pharmacologic method, a nonpharmacologic method, or a combination of both, in which the patient retains the ability to maintain an airway independently and continuously and to respond appropriately to physical stimulation or verbal command.

Deep sedation—A controlled, pharmacologically induced state of depressed consciousness from which the patient is not easily aroused and which may be accompanied by a partial loss of protective reflexes, including the ability to maintain a patent airway independently or respond purposefully to physical stimulation or verbal command, or both.

General anesthesia—A controlled state of unconsciousness that is produced by a pharmacologic method, a nonpharmacologic method, or a combination of both, and that is accompanied by a complete or partial loss of protective reflexes that include the patient’s inability to maintain an airway independently and to respond purposefully to physical stimulation or verbal command.

General dentist—A dentist who is not an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.

Nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesia—The diminution or elimination of pain in the conscious patient through the use of nitrous oxide/oxygen.

OMS—Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon who is a current member of the PSOMS or AAOMS.

Office inspection—A determination as to whether the offices where the dentist administers anesthesia is properly equipped as prescribed in § 33.340(a)(2), § 33.340a(a)(2) or § 33.340b(a)(2) (relating to duties of dentists who are unrestricted permitholders; duties of dentists who are restricted permit I holders; and duties of dentists who are restricted permit II holders), as appropriate to the type of permit, and in accordance with the AAOMS Manual for OMSs, or the ADA Guidelines (for adult patients) and the AAPD Guidelines (for pediatric patients) for general dentists.

PALS—Pediatric Advanced Life Support.

PSOMS—Pennsylvania Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.

Patient physical evaluation—An assessment of the patient’s physical and mental condition relevant to the surgery to be performed and anesthesia or anesthetic to be utilized.

Pediatric patient—A patient under 18 years of age.

Peer evaluation organization—An entity approved by the Board for administering a program whereby licensed dentists conduct office inspections and clinical evaluations for dentists seeking initial or renewal unrestricted or restricted I permits in accordance with § 33.336b (relating to approved peer evaluation organizations for administering clinical evaluations and office inspections).

Peer evaluator—A licensed dentist with a current unrestricted permit or restricted permit I who conducts an office inspection or clinical evaluation under the auspices of an approved peer evaluation organization.

Physician—A Pennsylvania licensed medical or osteopathic physician who is currently certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology or the American Osteopathic Board of Anesthesiology, or is credentialed to administer anesthesia in a hospital or ambulatory surgical facility licensed by the Department of Health.

The provisions of this § 33.331 adopted July 8, 1988, effective July 9, 1988, 18 Pa.B. 3045; amended May 13, 2005, effective May 14, 2005, 35 Pa.B. 2880. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (238326).

Notation

Authority

The provisions of this § 33.331 issued under sections 11.2 and 11.3 of The Dental Law (63 P. S. § § 130c and 130d); amended under sections 3(o) and 11.2(a) of The Dental Law (63 P. S. § § 122(o) and 130c(a)).

Cross References

This section cited in 49 Pa. Code § 33.341 (relating to duties of dentists who are not permitholders).