The Virginia Board of Dentistry has rules and regulations in place requiring CPR for all practitioners plus ACLS and /or PALS and additional educational requirements for those dentists administering sedation. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry has extensive guidelines and clear policies in their Reference Manual  that apply to the treatment of children. The American Dental Society of Anesthesiology has guidelines for monitoring patients, certifying assistants and emergency preparedness.

 The ADA and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry have emergency preparedness and airway management classes utilizing the "SimMan" technology which should supersede ACLS and PALS as these classes become more available and are adopted as standards by our State Dental Boards. These courses recognize our unique practice situation, should become the standard of care.

I applaud and encourage further education in the treatment of children and adults for all practitioners and the petitioner’s “Six Links” is another source of continuing education and should be treated as such, rather than as another requirement for licensure.