Iowa dentists may arrange moderate sedation with a host permit

A dentist with a host permit may arrange moderate sedation for certain patients and may monitor patients under that sedation. The patient must be at least 13 and receiving an outpatient dental procedure from the permit-holding dentist. The dentist may employ a state-licensed physician anesthesiologist or certified registered nurse anesthetist, or a dentist with a current state moderate-sedation or general-anesthesia permit, to give the sedation. The permit holder may monitor a patient who is at least 13 and under moderate sedation.

The board may issue a host permit to a dentist who meets the listed requirements and applies. The permit is for a dentist applying to the board. The dentist must complete a board-approved course within the 12 months before applying, or show a substantially similar permit from another state. The dentist must meet facility and equipment requirements set by board rule, hold advanced cardiovascular life support certification as set by rule, and submit the board's application. The approved course must be completed within the 12 months immediately before the application is submitted.

The board must set standards for approved courses, review them each year, and adopt rules for the permit. These requirements apply to courses seeking approval for a host permit and to the board's rules implementing the permit. The course must teach and assess patient assessment, emergencies, breathing problems, safety and monitoring, airway care, anesthetic drugs, and recovery. Participants must learn to identify high-risk patients, tell sedation levels apart, monitor moderate sedation, and respond when sedation becomes deeper than intended. The board may interview a course director as part of approval. The board must review courses annually; its rules must address permit expiration and renewal.