Clinical UM Guideline

This document addresses the use of moderate to deep anesthesia services utilized in the facility setting when used to treat individuals undergoing dental procedures. This excludes the office setting.

Note: Please see the following related document for additional information:

• CG-SURG-10 Ambulatory or Outpatient Surgery Center Procedures

Medically Necessary:

Use of moderate to deep anesthesia services in conjunction with the delivery of dental services in the facility setting is considered medically necessary when the following criteria have been met (A and B):

1. Extensive surgical procedures are required; and
2. Submitted documentation (including narrative, radiographs, etc.) demonstrates that the individual has a condition, medical comorbidity, or current medical status that requires a facility setting, including, but not limited to the following:
   1. The individual is currently hospitalized and requires dental care during the hospital stay; or
   2. The individual is a child under 6 years of age; or
   3. The risk of intraoperative complications is elevated, as indicated by assignment of American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) as class III or class IV; or
   4. The risk of upper airway management complications is elevated, as demonstrated by assignment of a Mallampati score of 3 or 4; or
   5. The individual is medically unstable and the planned dental care puts the individual at significant risk of sudden life-threatening changes in medical status which would require immediate access to specific services or personnel only available in the facility setting; or
   6. The individual has severe developmental, behavioral, or intellectual conditions that preclude delivery of dental services in non-facility setting.

Not Medically Necessary:

Moderate to deep anesthesia services for dental services in the facility setting is considered not medically necessary when the above criteria have not been met.

The following codes for treatments and procedures applicable to this guideline are included below for informational purposes. Inclusion or exclusion of a procedure, diagnosis or device code(s) does not constitute or imply member coverage or provider reimbursement policy. Please refer to the member's contract benefits in effect at the time of service to determine coverage or non-coverage of these services as it applies to an individual member.

When services may be Medically Necessary when criteria are met:

When services are Not Medically Necessary:
For the procedure and diagnosis codes listed above when criteria are not met or for situations designated in the Clinical Indications section as not medically necessary.

Note: The following list of anesthesia service modifiers is for informational purposes:

Anesthesia is often required to safely perform dental procedures, including tooth extractions and reconstructions. Anesthesia will usually be delivered locally, but, in some situations, moderate to deep (or even general anesthesia) may be required.

The decision of where to conduct dental procedures is based on a wide variety of factors, including the health of the individual and the type of procedure planned. These factors will determine the type of anesthesia used during the procedure. Routine procedures in healthy individuals are normally performed in the office setting. Complex or extensive procedures may require an inpatient or outpatient facility operating room.

Some examples of complex or extensive procedures include removal of two or more impacted third molars, removal of six or more teeth, full arch alveoplasty, placement or removal of two or more dental implants, or periodontal flap surgery involving more than one quadrant.

For many individuals and procedures, other places of service, such as outpatient surgery centers, may be appropriate. This is because the risk of surgical and anesthesia complications increases with decreasing health of the individual and an increasing level of procedural complexity. As the risk of complications increases, so does the need for the appropriate equipment, personnel, and other resources to deal with them should they occur. Higher level facilities such as outpatient surgical centers are more able to deal with adverse events because they are properly equipped with trained personnel and equipment and medications that may be required. Examples of conditions that increase the risk of complications warranting consideration of facility-based care include pregnancy, young age, severe obesity, uncontrolled asthma, complicated diabetes, advanced cardiac disease, severe lung disease, hematologic diseases, and a familial risk for malignant hyperthermia. Such conditions increase the risk of adverse events related to respiratory and cardiac function, as well as complications related to bleeding and other physiologic responses to the drugs used during complex dental procedures.

The assessment of intraoperative risk is commonly assessed using the ASA classification system, which uses a provider’s assessment of an individual’s overall health status to predict the risk of complications during surgery, and to assist in identifying system-specific health conditions that may require tailored anesthetic regimens to avoid complications and provide the most appropriate care. The assessment of anticipated level of difficulty accessing an individual’s airway in the event of an emergency is conducted using the Mallampati score. This assessment should be conducted by an appropriately trained individual and involves evaluation of an individual’s oral and pharyngeal anatomy, including the degree to which an individual can open their mouth or bend their neck, the size and conformation of their oropharyngeal area, and others. Consideration of both the risk of complications and airway access is important to the selection of where dental care requiring moderate to deep anesthesia should be provided. As the risk of potential complications increases, the likelihood that specialized care and equipment to adequately respond to them increases, and those resources are available at different levels of facilities. Further discussion of the ASA Score, Mallampati score, and recommendations for authoritative medical societies regarding these and other issues are addressed below.

The fear of dental procedures is considered one of the main reasons why many individuals avoid dental treatment. In the United States, it has been estimated that approximately 6 to 14 percent of the population will avoid seeking dental treatment because of fear. However, even in the absence of painful stimuli, many individuals will still experience high anxiety (de Moares, 2019).

Aside from fear, individuals with behavioral health conditions (for example, anxiety disorder, autism, or schizophrenia) and developmental or cognitive impairments (for example, Down syndrome) may be unable to cooperate with a healthcare provider’s instructions to sufficiently allow for safe and effective dental care, including remaining immobile, and compiling with mouth and tongue instructions. In such cases various degrees of anesthesia may be warranted to render delivery of dental care.

Clinical Evidence

A randomized clinical trial was performed by de Moares and colleagues (2019) comparing three anxiety management protocols for extraction of third molars. The study included 120 individuals aged 18 to 30 years with an American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification of I (normal healthy patient). All 120 participants had moderate to severe levels of anxiety according to the Corah Dental Anxiety Scale. A single surgeon extracted a totally impacted third molar in a vertical position for each study participant. The individuals were randomly divided into three groups of 40. Participants in Group I received 5 mg of diazepam orally 30 minutes before the beginning of the surgery. Group II participants received 7.5 mg of midazolam orally 30 minutes before the beginning of surgery. Group III participants received 40 percent nitrous oxide and 60 percent oxygen via inhalation 5 minutes before the beginning of surgery. Differences in the systolic and diastolic blood pressure were slightly lower after 15 minutes of nitrous oxide sedation compared to the other sedation methods. No significant differences were found in the participants’ heart rates, oximetry data, or the retrograde amnesia test. Postoperative anxiety was significantly lower than preoperative anxiety for all sedation techniques. Anxiety reduction was not significantly different in inter-group comparison. The authors concluded that all three preoperative sedation techniques were effective in controlling the dental anxiety with little effect on the individual’s vital and retrograde amnesia.

Araujo and colleagues (2021) conducted a systematic review of randomized control trials (RCTs) that compared the oral use of benzodiazepines and other medications with a placebo or other oral agents in adult individuals to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of oral sedation when undergoing dental procedures. A total of 10 studies, with 327 adult participants (58% women) who required dental surgical procedures, met the criteria for analysis. Exclusion criteria included individuals with respiratory diseases, those with contraindications to benzodiazepines, pregnancy or breastfeeding women and those with a history of allergies. Studies that combined the administration of different drugs for oral sedation were also excluded. Due to differences between drugs used across groups, a meta-analysis of the data could not be performed. None of the studies reported sedation outcomes and respiratory rates. The researcher’s findings suggest that benzodiazepines and herbal based medicines could be safely used for oral sedation in outpatient dental surgical procedures. The limitations of the study included the number of studies reviewed, different comparisons between the studies and incomplete outcome reporting. The authors noted that further clinical trials should be performed to confirm the effectiveness and safety of the drugs.

Guldiken and colleagues (2021) conducted a prospective double-blind randomized controlled study to investigate the analgesic and respiratory properties of midazolam and dexmedetomidine in conscious sedation during dental implant procedures and to compare these two drugs in terms of ease of use and comfort during the surgical procedure. The participants who needed dental implant surgery were divided into two randomized groups for either midazolam or dexmedetomidine. A total of 163 dental implants were inserted into 43 participants. The following parameters were used: input effect size d = .88, α error = .05, power = 0.91, number of groups = 2. The following inclusion criteria was required for participation: scheduled for dental implantation in either the maxilla or mandible, at least 18 years of age, weight below 100 kilograms (kg), dental anxiety and no prior sedation experience. The mean onset of sedation was 10 ± 3, 16 minutes in the midazolam group (n=21) and 17.5 ± 2.99 minutes in the dexmedetomidine group (n=22; P=0.001). The results showed that participants receiving dexmedetomidine had lower pain, higher satisfaction with the procedure, and less desaturation (P=0.002). The onset of sedation was indicated to be quicker with midazolam (P=0.001). The mean procedure time for the dexmedetomidine group was 52.09 ± 20.12 minutes and 87.14 ± 26.15 minutes in the midazolam group (P=0.001). The researchers concluded that dexmedetomidine is a good alternative to midazolam for conscious sedation during dental implant procedures due to its better analgesic property and minimal respiratory side effects. There were several limitations of the study noted. Limitations cited include the small sample size and subjectivity of pain between the individuals. It was also indicated that the higher ratios of pain in the midazolam group could be due to the longer duration of the procedure. Furthermore, the study was conducted with a generalized population so the results may not be applicable to other population groups.

Authoritative Organization Documents

The ASA Physical Status Classification System (2020) is a commonly used tool. This system evaluates the overall health of the individual to identify his or her risk of complications during surgery, and to assist in identifying system-specific health conditions that may require tailored anesthetic regimens to avoid complications and provide the most appropriate care. The ASA classification system is as follows, and is derived by a thorough evaluation of an individual’s overall health as assessed by a healthcare provider’s review of an individual’s health, family history, medications used, diet, and other factors:

• ASA Physical Status I - A normal healthy patient
• ASA Physical Status II - A patient with mild systemic disease
• ASA Physical Status III - A patient with severe systemic disease
• ASA Physical Status IV - A patient with severe systemic disease that is a constant threat to life
• ASA Physical Status V - A moribund patient who is not expected to survive without the operation
• ASA Physical Status VI - A declared brain-dead patient whose organs are being removed for donor purposes

Another tool used by anesthesiologists and other medical providers concerned with upper airway management is the Mallampati score. This score is used to assess oropharyngeal anatomy by gauging the visibility of structures in the oral pharynx, and is used to estimate the difficulty in maintaining upper airway in the event breathing is compromised during medical procedures. The score ranges from complete visualization, including the tonsillar pillars (class 1), to no visualization at all, with the tongue pressed against the hard palate (class 4). Class I and Class 2 predict adequate oral access, Class 3 predicts moderate difficulty, and Class 5 predicts a high degree of difficulty (Mallampati, 1985; Sherwood, 2012). The full scoring schema is below:

Class 1: Visualization of the soft palate, fauces, uvula, and anterior and posterior pillars.
Class 2: Visualization of the soft palate, fauces, and uvula.
Class 3: Visualization of the soft palate and the base of the uvula.
Class 4: Soft palate not visible at all.

The ASA document “Continuum of Depth of Sedation: Definition of General Anesthesia and Levels of Sedation/Analgesia” (2014) provides clear definitions for Moderate and Deep sedation:

• Moderate Sedation/Analgesia (“Conscious Sedation”) is a drug-induced depression of consciousness during which patients respond purposefully** to verbal commands, either alone or accompanied by light tactile stimulation. No interventions are required to maintain a patent airway, and spontaneous ventilation is adequate. Cardiovascular function is usually maintained.
• Deep Sedation/Analgesia is a drug-induced depression of consciousness during which patients cannot be easily aroused but respond purposefully** following repeated or painful stimulation. The ability to independently maintain ventilatory function may be impaired. Patients may require assistance in maintaining a patent airway, and spontaneous ventilation may be inadequate. Cardiovascular function is usually maintained.
  ** Reflex withdrawal from a painful stimulus is NOT considered a purposeful response.

In 2016 the American Dental Association released a policy statement titled, The Use of Sedation and General Anesthesia by Dentists. In this document they stated that moderate sedation was appropriate for individuals with ASA III and IV, and obesity, especially when associated with airway associated morbidity. It was also indicated that deep sedation or general anesthesia may be appropriate for mentally or physically challenged individuals. The document noted that both moderate and deep sedation may be achieved via any route of administration and the level of sedation is independent of the route the medication was administered.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) revised their Guideline on Behavior Guidance for the Pediatric Dental Patient in 2020. This document provided the following recommendations:

General anesthesia is indicated for:

• patients who cannot cooperate due to a lack of psychological or emotional maturity and/or mental, physical, or medical disability;
• patients for whom local anesthesia is ineffective because of acute infection, anatomic variations, or allergy;
• the extremely uncooperative, fearful, anxious, or uncommunicative child or adolescent;
• patients requiring significant surgical procedures;
• patients for whom the use of general anesthesia may protect the developing psyche and/or reduce medical risk; and
• patients requiring immediate, comprehensive oral/ dental care.

Contraindications: The use of general anesthesia is contraindicated for:

• a healthy, cooperative patient with minimal dental needs;
• a very young patient with minimal dental needs that can be addressed with therapeutic interventions (e.g., ITR, fluoride varnish) and/or treatment deferral;
• patient/practitioner convenience; and
• predisposing medical conditions which would make general anesthesia inadvisable.

In 2019 the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry published their guidelines for monitoring and management of pediatric patients before, during, and after sedation for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures (Coté, 2019). In this document, they indicate that children under the age of 6 warrant special anesthesia care for longer procedures:

The sedation of children is different from the sedation of adults. Sedation in children is often administered to relieve pain and anxiety as well as to modify behavior (eg, immobility) so as to allow the safe completion of a procedure. A child’s ability to control his or her own behavior to cooperate for a procedure depends both on his or her chronologic age and cognitive/emotional development. Many brief procedures, such as suture of a minor laceration, may be accomplished with distraction and guided imagery techniques, along with the use of topical/local anesthetics and minimal sedation, if needed. However, longer procedures that require immobility involving children younger than 6 years or those with developmental delay often require an increased depth of sedation to gain control of their behavior. Children younger than 6 years (particularly those younger than 6 months) may be at greatest risk of an adverse event. Children in this age group are particularly vulnerable to the sedating medication’s effects on respiratory drive, airway patency, and protective airway reflexes.

The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) published the Parameters of Care: Clinical Practice Guidelines for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery for Patient Assessment and Anesthesia in Outpatient Facilities (2012). These documents provide guidance for the selection of anesthetic regimens during oral and maxillofacial surgery as well as a specific guide for the evaluation of individuals undergoing various types of anesthetic regimens. They identify three specific populations of individuals at higher risk of complications due to anesthesia delivery, including pregnant women, children, and those with obesity. These populations present with a significantly higher risk of anesthesia and surgical complications due to physiological and anatomical variations that may affect drug metabolism, access to the upper airway, or in the case of pregnancy, exposure to drugs with poorly studied effects on the fetus. The AAOMS also identifies many health conditions that may impact or be impacted by anesthesia, including asthma, diabetes, cardiac disease, hematologic diseases, and familial risk for malignant hyperthermia. The more powerful drugs in the anesthetic armamentarium may have significant impact on a wide variety of physiologic systems including respiration, heart function and glucose metabolism, which in compromised individuals may temporarily alter the function of the body and increase the risk of adverse events. Identifying individuals with specific health conditions that create susceptibility to complications allows health care providers to choose the most appropriate anesthesia regimen to help avoid anesthesia-related complications as well as the appropriate type of facility to conduct proposed procedures.

Finally, it should be noted, as with any other medical procedure with significant risk of harm, conservative alternatives should be considered prior to the use of moderate to deep anesthesia for young children and individuals with cognitive and behavioral health issues. This includes trials of less invasive alternative procedures, behavioral management methods, and dividing complex procedures into several shorter procedures when possible.

Anesthesia services: Medical services wherein the delivery of anesthetic medications and services are delivered. This includes delivery of local and general anesthesia as well as intubation and respiratory support services.

American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Physical Status Classification System: A commonly used tool used to evaluate the overall health of the individual to identify their risk of complications during surgery. The ASA classification system is as follows, and is derived by a thorough evaluation of an individual’s overall health as assessed by a healthcare provider’s review of an individual’s health, family history, medications used, diet, and other factors:

• ASA Physical Status I - A normal healthy patient
• ASA Physical Status II - A patient with mild systemic disease
• ASA Physical Status III - A patient with severe systemic disease
• ASA Physical Status IV - A patient with severe systemic disease that is a constant threat to life
• ASA Physical Status V - A moribund patient who is not expected to survive without the operation
• ASA Physical Status VI - A declared brain-dead patient whose organs are being removed for donor purposes

Deep Sedation/Analgesia: Defined by the ASA as “a drug-induced depression of consciousness during which patients cannot be easily aroused but respond purposefully** following repeated or painful stimulation. The ability to independently maintain ventilatory function may be impaired. Patients may require assistance in maintaining a patent airway, and spontaneous ventilation may be inadequate. Cardiovascular function is usually maintained.”

Dental services: In the case of this document, any surgical procedure involving the oral cavity, mandible or maxilla.

Extensive surgical procedures: Surgical procedures that involve prolonged duration, or removal or surgical attention to a large number of teeth, or require deep excision of periodontal or bone tissue. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Extraction with mandibular bulbous root; or
• Full arch alveoplasty; or
• Periodontal flap surgery involving more than one quadrant; or
• Placement or removal of two or more dental implants; or
• Removal of multiple (greater than two) impacted third molars; or
• Removal or surgical exposure of an impacted maxillary canine; or
• Surgical extraction of two or more teeth involving more than one quadrant; or
• Transplantation or extraction of a tooth from maxillary sinus; or
• Treatment of abscesses

Facility setting: A place of service not in the home or physician’s office, including outpatient or ambulatory surgery centers (ASC), and hospital-based facility for outpatient care.

Hospitalized individuals: Individuals who are receiving inpatient care.

Mallampati score: A tool used to assess oropharyngeal anatomy to estimate the difficulty in maintaining upper airway in the event breathing is compromised during medical procedures. The full scoring schema is:

Class 1: Visualization of the soft palate, fauces, uvula, and anterior and posterior pillars.
Class 2: Visualization of the soft palate, fauces, and uvula.
Class 3: Visualization of the soft palate and the base of the uvula.
Class 4: Soft palate not visible at all.

Medically compromised individuals: Individuals that have serious medical conditions that increase their risk of medical complications.

Moderate Sedation/Analgesia (“Conscious Sedation”): Defined by the ASA as “a drug-induced depression of consciousness during which patients respond purposefully** to verbal commands, either alone or accompanied by light tactile stimulation. No interventions are required to maintain a patent airway, and spontaneous ventilation is adequate. Cardiovascular function is usually maintained.”

Restorations: Procedures that are intended to restore an individual’s anatomy to normal function and or appearance. This includes but is not limited to fillings and crowns.

Peer Reviewed Publications:

1. Araujo JO, Bergamaschi CC, Lopes LC, et al. Effectiveness and safety of oral sedation in adult patients undergoing dental procedures: a systematic review. BMJ Open. 2021; 11(1):e043363.
2. Ashley P, Anand P, Andersson, K, et al. Best clinical practice guidance for conscious sedation of children undergoing dental treatment an EAPD policy document. Eur Arch Paediatr Dent. 2021; 22(6):989-1002.
3. Clark HM, Saxen MA, Yepes JF, et al. Comparison of intubated versus nonintubated airway management in children under general anesthesia provided by dentist anesthesiologist. Pediatr Dent. 2019; (41)1:52-55.
4. Corcuera-Flores JR, Silvestre-Rangil J, Cutando-Soriano A, et al. Current methods of sedation in dental patients-a systematic review of the literature. Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. 2016; 21(5):e579-e586.
5. de Moares MB, Barbier WS, Raldi FV, et al. Comparison of three anxiety management protocols for extraction of third molars with the use of midazolam, diazepam, and nitrous oxide: a randomized clinical trial. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2019; 77(11):2258.e1-2258.e8.
6. Guldiken IN, Gurler G, Delilbasi C. Comparison of dexmedetomidine and midazolam in conscious sedation during dental implant surgery: a randomized clinical trial. Int J Oral Maxillofac Implants. 2021; 36(6): e159-e165.
7. Kim K, Kim S. Application of sevoflurane inhalation sedation in dental treatment: a mini review. J Dent. Anesth Pai Med. 2021; 21(4):321-327.
8. Maeno M, Fukuda KI, Sakamoto T, et al. Remifentanil in combination with propofol is suitable for use in the dental outpatient setting. Anesth. Prog. 2016; 63(3):116-121.
9. Mallampati SR, Gatt SP, Gugino LD, et al. A clinical sign to predict difficult tracheal intubation: a prospective study. Can Anaesth Soc J. 1985; 32(4):429-434.
10. Melini A, Forni A, Cavallin F, et al. Conscious sedation for the management of dental anxiety in third molar extraction surgery: a systematic review. BMC Oral Health. 2020; 20(1):155.

Government Agency, Medical Society, and Other Authoritative Publications:

1. American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD). Guideline on behavior guidance for the pediatric dental patient. Revised 2020. Available at: http://www.aapd.org/media/Policies_Guidelines/G_BehavGuide.pdf. Accessed on May 3, 2024.
2. American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD). Oral health policies & recommendations (The Reference Manual of Pediatric Dentistry). 2023-2024. Available at: https://www.aapd.org/research/oral-health-policies--recommendations/. Accessed on May 3, 2024.
3. American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD). Technical Report 2-2012: An essential health benefit: general anesthesia for treatment of early childhood caries. Available at: https://www.aapd.org/research/policy-center/technical-briefs. Accessed on May 3, 2024.
4. American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Parameters of care: clinical practice guidelines for oral and maxillofacial surgery. Patient assessment. Sixth edition 2017. Available at: https://www.aaoms.org/images/uploads/pdfs/parcare_assessment.pdf. Accessed on May 3, 2024.
5. American Dental Association. Guidelines for the use of sedation and general anesthesia by dentists. October 2016. Available at: https://www.ada.org/-/media/project/ada-organization/ada/ada-org/files/publications/cdt/anesthesia_guidelines.pdf. Accessed on May 3, 2024.
6. American Society of Anesthesiologists. Continuum of depth of sedation: Definition of general anesthesia and levels of sedation/analgesia. Revised October 23, 2019. Available at: https://www.asahq.org/standards-and-practice-parameters/statement-on-continuum-of-depth-of-sedation-definition-of-general-anesthesia-and-levels-of-sedation-analgesia. Accessed on May 3, 2024.
7. American Society of Anesthesiologists. Physical status classification system. December 13, 2020. Available at: https://www.asahq.org/standards-and-practice-parameters/statement-on-asa-physical-status-classification-system. Accessed on May 3, 2024.
8. Ashley PF, Chaudhary M, Lourieco-Matharu L. Sedation of children undergoing dental treatment. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018; 12(12):CD003877.
9. Ashley PF, Williams CECS, Moles DR, Parry J. Sedation versus general anaesthesia for provision of dental treatment to patients younger than 18 years. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;(9):CD006334.
10. Conway A, Rolley J, Sutherland JR. Midazolam for sedation before procedures. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016(5):CD009491.
11. Coté CJ, Wilson S; American Academy of Pediatrics; American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Guidelines for monitoring and management of pediatric patients before, during, and after sedation for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Pediatrics. 2019; 143(6):e20191000.
12. Sherwood ER, Williams CG, Prough DS. Anesthesiology principles, pain management, as conscious sedation. In: Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. Townsend Cm, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, Eds. 2012. Elsevier Saunders. Philadelphia, PA.