Indiana residents who require dental procedures that require anesthesia can now receive safer care thanks to the recently enacted Indiana Senate Bill 273. This new law is supported by the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) as it allows Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) to provide moderate sedation, deep sedation, and general anesthesia to patients in a dental office under the supervision of a physician.
Megan Engelman, DNP, CRNA, president of the Indiana Association of Nurse Anesthetists, applauded the legislation citing, “It is an important step in advancing patient safety and providing skilled anesthesia care throughout the state.”
“As an increasing number of patients of all ages and health comorbidities seek sedation and anesthesia for dental procedures in office-based settings, patient safety is the top priority in the delivery of these services,” said Engelman.
The use of sedation during dental procedures makes the care process more complicated. This highlights the need for anesthesia professionals, like CRNAs, to provide sedation and anesthesia services. These professionals are solely focused on ensuring patient safety, monitoring, and alertness throughout the procedure. “Each patient has a unique response to medications utilized for sedation and anesthesia. As anesthesia experts, CRNAs are available to continuously monitor the patient, and can focus on changes in the patient’s condition and intervene as necessary in emergent situations,” said Engelman. “Even for what would be considered routine dental care like cavity fillings, a discussion of the anesthesia delivery plan is important to address any concerns and help the patient and the patient’s caregivers move forward to treat the dental health issues.”
Anesthesia is a critical component of dental care, and CRNAs are highly qualified experts in this field. They provide over 50 million anesthetics annually in the United States across all settings where anesthesia is required. CRNAs are trained to work as part of patient-centered dental care teams in accordance with state law, ensuring that patients receive safe, high-quality, and cost-effective care. In emergency situations, CRNAs are equipped with the necessary education and experience to respond quickly and handle critical events during procedures, allowing them to focus solely on the patient’s condition.
