HB470 Relative to the use of general anesthesia, deep sedation, and moderate sedation in dental treatment.
Relative to the use of general anesthesia, deep sedation, and moderate sedation in dental treatment.
Impact Score — How Does This Bill Affect You?
Overall Impact Score
Mixed
Scale: 1 (harmful) to 10 (beneficial)
Your Wallet
Families may benefit from lower costs by avoiding hospital settings for moderate pediatric sedation, though informed consent must disclose that hospital options with additional anesthesia personnel may cost more.
Your Community
Potential modest increase in access to pediatric dental sedation services in office-based settings, though community benefit depends on whether dentists obtain the required qualifications and permits.
Your Freedom
Bill is primarily regulatory; it modifies the dental board's rulemaking authority and establishes clinical standards rather than changing residents' rights or local control.
Status
Refer to Interim Study, Motion Adopted, Voice Vote; 01/07/2026; Senate Journal 1
Sponsor
Jim Kofalt (R)
The Short Version
This bill allows dentists to administer moderate sedation to children under 13 without a second anesthesia provider present, provided they meet specific training standards (PALS, airway management). It also grants the dental board authority to set qualifications and may exempt board-certified dental anesthesiologists and oral surgeons from requiring a dedicated anesthesia provider for deeper sedation in pediatric cases.
Who's Behind This Bill?
Who Benefits
- ▲ Families with children under 13 needing dental sedation (potential cost savings and convenience if treatment can occur in office rather than hospital)
- ▲ Dentists qualified in pediatric sedation (expanded scope of practice for moderate sedation cases without second provider)
- ▲ Board-certified dental anesthesiologists and oral surgeons (potential exemption from second-provider requirement for deeper sedation)
Who Pays the Price
- ▼ Patients and families if safety outcomes worsen due to reduced provider supervision (though bill requires PALS/airway training mitigation)
- ▼ Dental facilities and dentists (must comply with new regulatory standards and obtain permits)
Bill statuses as of October 7, 2026. Check LegiScan or NH General Court for the latest.
This bill was auto-scored using AI analysis of the bill text and legislative data. Scores may be refined as we review more bills.