Oral conscious sedation (OCS) allows patients to conquer the intense fear that keeps them from seeing a dentist for much-needed dental work. While OCS has helped more than one million US patients in the past seven years and boosted earnings for certified sedation dentists, it is now under intense magnification by regulatory agencies.
Why? According to Dr. Michael Silverman, a co-founder of DOCS (the Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation) and author of the June 2007 "Viewpoint" article in Dental Economics, regulators are increasing required training for oral sedation to protect the,
"…economic interests of oral surgeons, dental anesthesiologists, and other specially trained practitioners who feel threatened by the growing popularity and use of oral sedation by general dentists and nonspecialists"
Dr. Silverman praises oral sedation for bringing one million patients to the dentist since 2000 and reports that there is no basis for increased regulations. The ADA formerly stood behind oral sedation as safe and effective, but their guidelines are now being revised. Many state boards rely on ADA guidelines when updating state regulations. If the ADA decides stricter regs are necessary, no matter the basis (or lack thereof), state boards will follow suit.Â
Oral conscious sedation dentists are concerned with stricter regulations, and rightfully so. The aforementioned article cites Dean Robert, a former journalist and current director of TEAM (The Trust for Equal Access Medicine), as stating that if state dental boards accept the ADA’s increased oral sedation regulations, patients may pay $250 to $750 more for OCS procedures.
Why are OCS regs being redefined? How will the US population benefit from stricter guidelines? Good questions for which there are no good answers. A 2005 article on the ADA Website says, "It is in the best interest of the public and the profession that access to this cost-effective service be widely available (www.ada.org/prof/resources/prositions/statements/useof.asp ." So why the change of tune? OCS dentists across the nation are asking themselves this question, and they deserve an answer, as do the patients who will be unable to afford OCS after the regulations are accepted.
You can review current ADA OCS guidelines online at: www.ada.org/prof/resources/positions/statements/anesthesia_guidelines.pdf