WAC 246-817-701. Administration of anesthetic agents for dental procedures

The purpose of WAC 246-817-701 through 246-817-790 is to govern the administration of anesthetic, sedation, and general anesthesia by dentists licensed in the state of Washington in settings other than hospitals as defined in WAC 246-320-010 and ambulatory surgical facilities as defined in WAC 246-310-010 , pursuant to the DQAC authority in RCW 18.32.640 . (1) The DQAC has determined that sedation and anesthesia permitting should be based on the level of sedation or anesthesia because sedation or anesthesia is a continuum, and the route of administration and drug combinations are both capable of producing a deeper level of sedation or anesthesia than is initially intended. Practitioners intending to produce a given level of sedation should be able to rescue patients who enter a state deeper than initially intended. (2) All anesthesia providers must provide 24-hour, on-call availability following an anesthesia procedure. (a) A licensed dentist that only administers local anesthesia shall provide timely telephonic or electronic communication with the patient or their representative by the provider or a designated provider. (b) In the event a licensed dentist will be unavailable for timely assistance, the licensed dentist shall have a prearranged agreement with another provider that is available to provide timely care to a patient. (3) The dental assistant and expanded function dental auxiliary may not administer any general or local anesthetic, including intravenous sedation.