Section 338.11101. Definitions.

Rule 1101.  As used in these rules:

(a)   “Analgesia” means the diminution or elimination of pain in the conscious patient as a result of the administration of an agent including, but not limited to, local anesthetic, nitrous oxide, and pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods.

(b)    “Approved course” means a course offered by either a dental, dental hygiene, or dental assisting program accredited by the commission on dental accreditation of the American dental association and approved by the department, or as defined in section 16611 of the code.

(c)      “Assistant” means a nonlicensed person who may perform basic supportive procedures under the supervision of a dentist as provided in these rules.

(d)  “Board” means the Michigan board of dentistry.

(e)    “Conscious sedation” means a minimally depressed level of consciousness that retains a patient’s ability to independently and continuously maintain an airway and respond appropriately to physical stimulation or verbal command and that is produced by a pharmacological or a non-pharmacological method or a combination of both.

(f) “Code” means 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.1101 to 333.25211.

(g)        “Combination inhalation-enteral conscious sedation” means conscious sedation using inhalation and enteral agents. Nitrous oxide/oxygen when used in combination with sedative agents may produce conscious or deep sedation or general anesthesia.

(h)   “Dental school” means an institution that offers a curriculum that provides a core of required dental education, training, and experience, and includes at least 4 years of academic instruction or its equivalent leading to the degree of doctor of dental surgery or doctor of dental medicine. The dental school is a component of an institution of higher education that is accredited by an agency recognized by the United States department of education and that the American dental association’s commission on dental accreditation has accredited as a dental education program.

(i)   “Dentist” means a person licensed by the board under the code and these rules.

(j)     “Department” means the department of licensing and regulatory affairs.

(k)    “Enteral” means any technique of administration in which the agent is absorbed through the gastrointestinal or oral mucosa.

(l)   “General anesthesia” means the elimination of all sensations accompanied by a state of unconsciousness and loss of reflexes necessary to maintain a patent airway.

(m)    “Licensed” means the possession of a full license to practice, unless otherwise stated by the code or these rules.

(n)   “Local anesthesia” means the elimination of sensation, especially pain, in one part of the body by the topical application or regional injection of a drug.

(o)   “Office” means the building or suite in which dental treatment is performed.

(p)    “Parenteral” means a technique of administration in which the drug bypasses the gastrointestinal (gi) tract, such as intramuscular (im), intravenous (iv), intranasal (in), submucosal (sm), subcutaneous (sc), and intraocular (io).

(q)    “Patient of record” means a patient who has been examined and diagnosed by a licensed dentist and whose treatment has been planned by a licensed dentist.

(r)       “Public health service” means the United States public health service. A person applying for an exemption under this classification shall submit a certified copy of his or her official papers verifying active duty status.

(s)   “Registered dental assistant” means a person licensed as such by the board under the code and these rules. A dental hygienist may perform the functions of a registered dental assistant if he or she is licensed by the board as a registered dental assistant.

(t)   “Registered dental hygienist” means a person licensed as such by the board under the code and these rules.

(u)   “Second pair of hands,” as used in R 338.11109, means acts, tasks, functions, and procedures performed by a dental assistant, registered dental assistant, or  registered dental hygienist at the direction of a dentist who is in the process of rendering dental services and treatment to a patient. The acts, tasks, functions, and procedures performed by a dental assistant, registered dental assistant, or registered dental hygienist are ancillary to the procedures performed by the dentist and intended to provide help and assistance at the time the procedures are performed. This definition shall not be deemed to expand the duties of the dental assistant, registered dental assistant, or registered dental hygienist as provided by the code and rules promulgated by the board.

(v)     “Sedation” means the calming of a nervous, apprehensive individual, without inducing loss of consciousness, through the use of systemic drugs. Agents may be given orally, parenterally, or by inhalation.

(w)   “Titration” means the administration of small incremental doses of a drug until a desired clinical effect is observed. In accordance with this definition, titration of oral medication for the purposes of sedation is unpredictable. Repeated dosing of orally administered sedative agents may result in an alteration of the state of consciousness beyond the intent of the practitioner. The maximum recommended dose (mrd) of an oral medication shall not be exceeded. Facilities, personnel, and standards for enteral sedation are the same as those for parental sedation.

(x)    “Treatment room” means the particular room or specific area in which the dental treatment is performed upon a patient.

History: 1984 AACS; 1989 AACS; 2006 AACS; 2011 AACS; 2014 AACS.