Brazilian Dental Council's Sedation Resolution Faces Pushback from Medical Bodies

The Conselho Federal de Odontologia (CFO) issued Resolution 295/2026, establishing a specific regulatory framework for sedation performed by dentists. The rule permits dentists to administer sedation from minimal to deep levels, explicitly prohibiting general anesthesia, and requires practitioners to hold either Basic or Advanced Sedation qualifications, with strict training, monitoring and consent requirements.

The Conselho Federal de Medicina (CFM), the Associação Médica Brasileira (AMB) and the Sociedade Brasileira de Anestesiologia (SBA) have publicly denounced the resolution. They announced plans to request its suspension in court and to file a complaint with the Ministério Público Federal, arguing that sedation is a medical act that carries significant risk when performed by professionals they deem insufficiently qualified. The CFO rejected these accusations, emphasizing that the resolution is grounded in legal and scientific criteria and that it aims to enhance patient safety.