Sedation Facility Certificates
What is a Sedation Facility Certificate and Do I Need One?
A facility certificate is required for any location in which a qualified dentist administers moderate sedation or deep sedation/general anesthesia. Please note that a sedation facility certificate is a separate requirement than a sedation permit. Like dental licenses, permits apply to the individual dentist to ensure they have the required training to administer anything above minimal sedation. However, the certificate applies to the physical location where sedation is administered to verify that it has the appropriate facilities and resources to host such procedures. No dentist may administer moderate sedation or deep sedation/general anesthesia at a facility without a certificate and no facility may allow moderate sedation or deep sedation/general anesthesia to be provided by a dentist without a permit. Facility certificates operate on the same cycle as dentist licenses and must be renewed every two years.
Application for Sedation Facility Certificate
As of July 2020, an onsite inspection is no longer required to receive a sedation facility certificate. Instead, as per 201 KAR 8:550, Section 12, the owner or operator shall attest in the application that the facility meets the minimum standards for certification.
Sedation and Anesthesia Permits
In July 2020, new rules for dentist-administered sedation and anesthesia took effect. These changes were initiated to align Kentucky with the American Dental Association’s updated Guidelines for the Use of Sedation and General Anesthesia by Dentists as well as the Guidelines for Teaching Pain Control and Sedation to Dentists and Dental Students. Revisions to 201 KAR 8:550 include consolidated sedation permit categories and a simplified application process. The Board of Dentistry now issues the following permits:
Moderate Sedation (adult and/or pediatric)
Deep Sedation/General Anesthesia (adult and/or pediatric)
Visit on the following link to read the revised rules in full:
201 KAR 8:550 Anesthesia and Sedation
Permit requirements and application process
Dentists must have a permit to administer anything stronger than minimal sedation. The experience needed to obtain a permit depends on the level of sedation and age of the patient as follows:
Moderate Sedation for adult patients requires completion of:
- current certifications in Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS); and
- a comprehensive training program in moderate sedation that is either approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) or meets the requirements of the ADA Guidelines for Teaching Pain
Control and Sedation to Dentists and Dental Students.
Moderate Sedation for pediatric patients requires completion of:
- current certifications in Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS); and
- a comprehensive training program in moderate sedation approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).
Deep Sedation and General Anesthesia for adult patients requires completion of:
- current certifications in Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS); and
- a comprehensive training program in deep sedation or general anesthesia approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).
Deep Sedation and General Anesthesia for pediatric patients requires completion of:
- current certifications in Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS); and
- a comprehensive training program in deep sedation or general anesthesia approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).
The following Sedation/Anesthesia Permit Requirements document summarizes the application requirements and defines Kentucky's recognized sedation levels. When ready to apply, use the Application for Sedation/Anesthesia Permit below for all permit categories:
Sedation/Anesthesia Permit Requirements
Application for Sedation/Anesthesia Permit
What if I already had a sedation permit?
Pre-existing permit holders were affected by the new rules as follows:
- Minimal Pediatric Sedation – A permit is no longer required to administer minimal sedation of any kind. Therefore, the Minimal Pediatric Sedation permit has been discontinued. If you held this permit, it simply expired on Dec. 31, 2021 and no further action is required on your part.
- Moderate Pediatric, Enteral, and Parenteral Sedation – These three permits were discontinued and merged into a single category. Any such permits that were renewed by the end of 2021 were reclassified under the new Moderate Sedation permit. Please note that this category has a comprehensive moderate sedation training requirement that some licensees, particularly Enteral Sedation permit holders, may not have fulfilled. However, those who renewed under this category for the 2022-23 cycle have until Dec. 31, 2023 to complete this requirement if they have not already done so. In addition, the Moderate Sedation permit requires four hours of continuing education during every two-year renewal cycle.
- Deep Sedation and General Anesthesia – This permit type is unchanged and the renewal process will remain the same except that you will identify if the permit is for adult and/or pediatric patients.
Sedation permit renewal
Just like dental licenses, all sedation permits in Kentucky must be renewed by Dec. 31 of odd numbered years. In addition to the 30 hours of Continuing Education required for license renewal, Moderate Sedation and Deep Sedation/General Anesthesia permit holders must also obtain another four hours of sedation training in a classroom setting. For details, visit the Continuing Education page.
Changes to sedation permit locations
Permit holders are required to notify the Board of any changes to where they administer sedation within ten business days. If you need to add or delete a location associated with your sedation permit, please complete and submit the following form.
Sedation Permit Location Notification Form