Anesthesia Coding Alert

Question: Can a medical anesthesiologist provide dental anesthesia for involved dental procedures such as extraction or crown placement?

Mississippi Subscriber

Answer: No, a medical anesthesiologist cannot provide anesthesia for any dental procedures such as dental extraction, crown placement, pulpaping, etc. According to guidelines provided by the American Dental Association (ADA), the administration of local anesthesia, sedation, and general anesthesia is an integral part of dental practice. Dentists (and oral surgeons) should provide sedation and anesthesia in compliance with their state rules and regulations.

For more information, visit www.ada.org and search for "anesthesia use guidelines."