The Dental Board of California has published its Pediatric Anesthesia Study that examined California's present laws, regulations, and policies on dental sedation of pediatric patients and recommended changes.
As previously reported, the board passed the recommendations at a session on December 1 and released them on December 9. The recommendations include updated staffing and educational requirements, along with revised monitoring standards and terminology to improve patient safety. More information about the specific recommendations is now available on the board's website.
The authors of the study noted that, over a six-year period from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2015, in California, there were two pediatric patients who died in association with oral sedation and one pediatric patient who died in association with a general anesthetic administered in a dental office. The board estimates that more than 130,000 patients younger than age 21 receive sedation or general anesthesia each year in conjunction with dental treatment.
The study was conducted in response to a February 2016 letter from state Sen. Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo). The recommendations are also being submitted to the California Legislature.
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