Oregon: Oral Sedation Dentistry Regulations

Effective July 1, 2010: Oregon Board of Dentistry Rule §818-026-0050 requires dentists to complete at least 16 hours of instructive classroom training and obtain a permit before providing their adult patients with minimal sedation using oral sedatives (e.g. Valium® with nitrous).*

Find qualifying oral sedation dentistry training courses.

*Single-dose anxiolysis without nitrous does not require a permit

Oregon: Pediatric Sedation Dentistry Regulations


Oregon: IV Sedation Regulations


Oregon: Regulatory assistance


Why Do Oral Sedation?





DOCS Education Regulatory Counsel

J. Kathleen “Kate” Marcus, J.D.

Kate Marcus

As our DOCS Education Regulatory Counsel, Kate is uniquely qualified to advise and advocate for sedation dentistry. She draws on a healthcare law background that started from her first big court case right out of law school, over three decades ago. A 1988 graduate of Temple University School of Law, she was Research Editor of the Temple Law Review; she previously attended Bennington College, and has a B.A. in Philosophy.

As DOCS’ Regulatory Counsel, Kate can help sedation dentists understand their permits so they can provide safe sedation dentistry and stay in compliance. She believes an adversarial approach is rarely productive; the point is to avoid conflict and avoid litigation.

Kate is Pennsylvania licensed, with extensive experience in civil and criminal litigation at the state and federal levels. Her specialties include compliance, healthcare law, contract negotiation, contract drafting, commercial litigation, small business, health insurance and regulation, and URAC; she has demonstrated excellence in persuasive writing and editing, public speaking, and compliance (EEOC, HIPAA, HITECH, Title IX).



In her transition from a litigator to a healthcare lawyer, Kate found the “trauma informed” was of appeal. She realized the importance of understanding the anxiety patients may bring to an appointment. Many people seeking sedation are afraid; the Dentist needs to approach each patient with the understanding that they are coming with trauma and respect that. Kate would love to be able to talk with DOCS members more about trauma and how to have the most productive relationship with their patients.



The nexus of science and civil rights, including helping people get access to compassionate healthcare, fascinates Kate. She has a long history of representing distressed populations, including people in abusive relationships, children in foster care, people with HIV, and others — inside the courtroom and out. She has a passion to find funding for kids in foster care who don’t have sedation coverage, and work with dentists willing to treat autistic kids, with skill and compassion. She would love to see pro-bono dental service to survival shelters. Kate truly has a heart to advocate for those with special needs.


Kate values openness and availability to boards and DOCS members. She believes in being reasonable and seeking consensus on evidence-based solutions that work for everyone.