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General Anesthesia and Deep Sedation

Requirements  |  Site Evaluations  |  Renewal of Permit  |  Use of Other Qualified Anesthesia Provider  

Requirements

Only dentists who have completed an advanced education program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) that provides training in deep sedation and general anesthesia are considered educationally qualified for deep sedation and general anesthesia privileges. A dentist who wishes to administer general anesthesia or sedation in the dental office should be familiar with the ADA Guidelines for the Use of Sedation and General Anesthesia by Dentists and the requirements of the Administrative Code 20-02-01-05.  Effective July 1, 2022, a temporary permit is no longer issued. 

Minimal sedation does not require a permit however minimal sedation is regulated in section 20-02-01-05.  

A dentist must complete and submit the permit application and fee. The Anesthesia Committee reviews the application. The applicant must schedule a site evaluation which must be completed successfully before a permit is granted. If the general dentist is utilizing a host dentist or CRNA , the host dentist or CRNA must be present for the site evaluation.  An evaluation fee is payable directly to the site evaluator. The Anesthesia Committee will notify the permit applicant once the site evaluation has been reviewed. If you have questions after you have reviewed the permit application or site evaluation forms, please contact the Board's executive director. 

 Initial Anesthesia & Sedation Permit Application

Site Evaluations

• Licensees who wish to provide sedation or general anesthesia procedures are required to have an evaluation at the location(s) where sedation or anesthesia services are rendered.  The site evaluation must be completed within 60 days of  Board approval of the initial sedation/anesthesia application. Pursuant to N.D.A.C. 20-02-01-05 the site must be re-evaluated within three years of the anniversary of the previous site evaluation.  Mock codes must be conducted quarterly. 
• Oral surgeons due for a site evaluation should contact a ND licensed OMFS to schedule a site evaluation. Following a site evaluation, the site evaluator must submit all completed evaluation forms and documentation to the Board for review.  Site evaluations for a dentist who is not an oral surgeon are conducted by a board appointed CRNA. Contact information for the CRNA may be found within the site evaluation form. 
• It is the applicant’s responsibility to schedule site evaluations and/or re-evaluations.  If the site evaluation has not been completed within three years, the Board may suspend anesthesia privileges.  Permit holders must complete the site evaluation prior to the expiration date. It is unlawful to provide anesthesia or sedation without a current permit.  The NDBDE accepts the AAOMS criteria based site evaluation.   
• General Anesthesia & Deep Sedation - Site Evaluation

• Site Evaluations & Use of Other Qualifed Anesthesia Providers

• A dentist providing anesthesia services by utilizing the services of a CRNA, or other qualified anesthesia/sedation provider is required to submit to a site evaluation at the location(s) where sedation or anesthesia services are rendered. The evaluation is required every three years. It is the dentist's responsibility to schedule site evaluations with a designated anesthesia evaluator. The applicant or permit holder or any dentist utilizing the services of an authorized anesthesia provider and the anesthesia provider must be present during the site evaluation. Dentists utilizing other qualified anesthesia providers must hold ACLS or PALS certification. 

• Renewal of Permit

• Both the sedation permit and the site evaluation are subject to expiration and renewal. 
• CE Requirements: General anesthesia, deep sedation and moderate sedation permits must be renewed biennially, concurrent with the dentist’s license renewal. Six hours of the 32 hour CE requirement must pertain to anesthesia and  sedation. Additionally, two hours of closed claim anesthesia continuing education courses are required. Effective January 1, 2026, completion of a board-approved anesthesia simulation course and the completion of anesthesia simulation training successfully every five years thereafter as required by Section 20-02-01-06.
• Late renewals result in the permit expiring, and require the dentist to suspend anesthesia and/or sedation services until a reinstatement is completed and formally approved by the NDBDE Anesthesia Committee. It is unlawful to provide sedation or anesthesia without a current permit. A late fee is incurred when the permit renewal is postmarked after the December 31^st deadline of odd numbered years.
• Satellite Office: All offices where sedation services are provided must comply with the minimum standards established by the Board for a sedation practice. Anesthesia or sedation permit holders providing services at satellite clinics are responsible for ensuring that each office location has been evaluated.