Are dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants required to maintain CPR?

Yes. All dentists and dental hygienists licensed by the State of Mississippi and holding active licenses shall be currently certified in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. Further, all auxiliary personnel involved in direct patient care must be certified in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. All auxiliaries must be certified in CPR within one hundred eighty (180) days of employment. Refer to Board Regulation 45.

What happens if I fail to obtain and maintain CPR certification?

False certification of CPR courses or failure to comply with this Regulation shall subject the dentist or dental hygienist to disciplinary action, including license revocation. Fines will be assessed for failure to comply with this Regulation. Fines assessed herein will correspond to those fines enumerated in Board Regulation 41 for non-compliance with continuing education requirements. Refer to Board Regulation 45.

What CPR courses fulfill the requirements of Board Regulation 45?

Participation in approved Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), American Heart Association (AHA), or American Red Cross (ARC) courses may be used to fulfill the requirements of this Regulation. All other equivalent courses shall be approved by the Board on a case-by-case basis; however, in no instance shall any course be approved by the Board that does not contain a hands-on mannequin component. Refer to Board Regulation 45.

Are Automated External Defibrillators (AED) required in dental offices?

Yes. Effective 07/01/2012, all dental offices in the State of Mississippi shall be required to have a minimum of one (1) properly functioning AED, or equivalent defibrillator, on the premises of each dental office. Each AED, or equivalent defibrillator, shall be maintained in a properly functioning capacity at all times. Proof of the availability of a properly functioning AED, or equivalent defibrillator, shall be made available for review at any time by any member of the Board or by any designated agent of the Board. Refer to Board Regulation 45.