California CodesBusiness and Professions Code - BPCDivision 2 — Healing ArtsChapter 4 — DentistryArticle 2.86 — Use of Oral Conscious Sedation for Adult PatientsSection 1647.18

As used in this article, the following terms have the following meanings:

(a) “Adult patient” means a dental patient 13 years of age or older.

(b) “Good standing” means the license or permit is active and unrestricted by disciplinary action taken pursuant to Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, is not the subject of an unresolved complaint or review procedure, and is not the subject of any unresolved disciplinary proceeding.

(c) “Oral conscious sedation” means a minimally depressed level of consciousness produced by oral medication that retains the patient’s ability to maintain independently and continuously an airway, and respond appropriately to physical stimulation or verbal command. “Oral conscious sedation” does not include dosages less than or equal to the single maximum recommended dose that can be prescribed for home use.

(1) The drugs and techniques used in oral conscious sedation shall have a margin of safety wide enough to render unintended loss of consciousness unlikely. Further, patients whose only response is reflex withdrawal from painful stimuli would not be considered to be in a state of oral conscious sedation.

(2) For the handicapped individual, incapable of the usually expected verbal response, a minimally depressed level of consciousness for that individual should be maintained.