Notice is hereby given in accordance with § 2.2-4007.01 of the Code of Virginia that the Board of Dentistry intends to consider amending 18VAC60-21, Regulations Governing the Practice of Dentistry, 18VAC60-25, Regulations Governing the Practice of Dental Hygiene, and 18VAC60-30, Regulations Governing the Practice of Dental Assistants. A revision of the American Dental Association (ADA) Guidelines for Teaching the Comprehensive Control of Anxiety and Pain in Dentistry was published in October 2016. Currently, Board of Dentistry regulations specify that education and training for conscious/moderate sedation must be consistent with the ADA Guidelines. With the revision, certain training requirements and uses of terminology are now inconsistent with the guidelines, now titled "Guidelines for Teaching Pain Control and Sedation to Dentists and Dental Students."

Consequently, the board is considering (i) amending the use of the term conscious/moderate sedation throughout the chapters to refer to moderate sedation, (ii) changing the name of the guidelines consistent with the 2016 version, and (iii) eliminating the training for a dentist to administer moderate sedation by the enteral method only, as the guidelines no longer make a distinction for enteral administration, and specifying the same training for all who administer moderate sedation.

The agency intends to hold a public hearing on the proposed action after publication in the Virginia Register.

Statutory Authority: § 54.1-2400 of the Code of Virginia.

Public Comment Deadline: June 14, 2017.

Agency Contact: Sandra Reen, Executive Director, Board of Dentistry, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA 23233, telephone (804) 367-4437, FAX (804) 527-4428, or email sandra.reen@dhp.virginia.gov.