Dental Law Governing the Practice of Dentistry in the Philippines

PURPOSES OF PROFESSIONAL REGULATIONS:

1. Protect the citizen of the country from abuse and neglect. 2. Provides the benchmark of quality and excellent service of the different health professionals. 3. Minimize if not eradicate the ill-effects of malpractice and illegal practice of a profession.

ILLEGAL PRACTICE IN THE PHILIPPINES 1. Fake professional license 2. Under board dental graduates 3. Professional misrepresentation 4. Dental technicians and hygienists

Dental Technologist
refers to a person who renders technical services such as mechanical construction of artificial denture, and other oral devices under the supervision of a licensed dentist, and has finished a two year certificate course in dental technology from any government recognized school.

Dental Hygienist
refers to a person who renders oral health promotion and preventive measures, performs scaling and polishing, oral examination, taking brief clinical history, taking radiograph, and giving oral health education to patients under the supervision of a licensed dentist.

Section 14, Article 12 Philippine Constitution states that : The practice of all profession in the Philippines shall be limited to Filipino citizens, as prescribed by law.

ARTICLE IV PRACTICE OF DENTISTRY, DENTAL HYGIENE AND DENTAL TECHNOLOGY (Republic Act No. 9484) SECTION 31. FOREIGN RECIPROCITY. - Unless the country of which he/she is a subject or citizen specifically permits Filipino dentists to practice within its territorial limits on the same basis as the subject or citizens of such foreign state or country under reciprocity and under international agreements, no foreigner shall be admitted to the examination and be given a certificate of registration to practice as a dentist and be entitled to any of the privileges under this Act. .

CURRENT REGULATORY SETUP

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8981 THE PRC MODERNIZATION ACT OF 2000 - repealed Presidential Decree No.223 which created the Professional Regulation Commission

Functions of the PRC

1. Quasi-Judicial
Investigates cases against erring examinees and professionals.
2. Quasi-Legislative

Formulate rules and policies on professional regulation. These rules have the force and effect of law.

3. Executive Administer, implements, and enforces the regulatory policies of the national government, including the maintenance of professional and occupational standards and ethics and the enforcement of the rules and regulations relative thereto

Regulated professions Professional Regulatory Boards of the different professions

- consists of forty-three (43) Boards - The 43 PRBs perform their functions subject to review and approval by the Commission:
-

Specific Functions of the Professional Regulatory Board

1. Prepare the contents of licensure examinations.

2. Determine, prescribe, and revise the course requirements 3. Recommend measures necessary for advancement in their fields 4. Visit / inspect schools and establishments for feedback 5. Adopt and enforce a Code of ethics for the practice of their respective professions 6. Administer oaths and issue Certificate of Registration 7. Suspend, revoke, or reissue Certificate of Registration for causes provided by law

SECTION 15. SCOPE OF EXAMINATION.

1. General anatomy, oral anatomy, 2. general and microscopic anatomy and embryology, 3. general and oral physiology, 4. general and oral pathology, 5. pharmacology, 6. microbiology, 7. nutrition, 8. dental material, restorative dentistry, prosthodontics, 9. orthodontics, pedodontics, pediatric dentistry, 10. oral physiology, anesthesiology, oral diagnosis and treatment planning, 11. endodontics, periodontics, roentgenology, oral surgery, 12. dental jurisprudence and ethics, community dentistry and practice management.

REGULATORY LAW OF DENTISTRY IN THE PHILIPPINES

HISTORY January 10, 1903 - the Philippine Commission by authority of the US government passed ACT NO. 593; act regulating the practice of dentistry in the Philippine Islands

REGULATORY LAW OF DENTISTRY IN THE PHILIPPINES

June 18, 1949 Under the new Philippine Republic

Republic Act 417; an act to regulate the practice of dentistry in the Philippines and for other purposes

REGULATORY LAW OF DENTISTRY IN THE PHILIPPINES

HISTORY June 19, 1965 Philippine Congress passed Republic Act 4419 or The Philippine Dental Act of 1965

REGULATORY LAW OF DENTISTRY IN THE PHILIPPINES

HISTORY February 19, 2007 Philippine Senate and Congress passed Republic Act no 9484 or The Philippine Dental Act of 2007

DENTAL ACT OF 2007 (Republic Act 9484)

An act that provides for the regulation, control and supervision of the practice of dentistry, dental hygienist and dental technologist

SALIENT POINTS OF REPUBLIC ACT 9484

1. Broader Powers and Function of the Professional Regulatory Board of Dentistry 2. Creation of Specialty Boards in Dentistry 3. Supervision and Regulation of the practice of dental technologists and dental hygienists 4. Prescribe Code of Ethics and Code of Dental Practice 5. Full implementation of Continuing Professional Education 6. Integration Provision of Dentist, Dental technologists, Dental hygienists. (All dentist, dental technologist and hygienist are integrated into ONE national organization)

SALIENT POINTS OF REPUBLIC ACT 9484 (Penal Provision and Enforcement of the Act) Stiffer penalty for illegal practice of dentistry SECTION 33. PENAL PROVISION.
Fine of not less than P200,000.00 nor more than P500,000.00 or to suffer imprisonment for a period of not less that two (2) years and one day nor more than five (5) years, or both, in the discretion of the court

Chapter 4 Rule III Section 13-24 (Licensure Examination and Registration) 1. Qualification of examinees

2. Qualification for Issuance of the certificate of registration

3. Requirements for continued practice of the profession

Accredited Professional Organization

PHILIPPINE DENTAL ASSOCIATION
- Recommends mandatory continuing Dental Education

Professional Regulation Commission

- Endorsed amendments to standardized guidelines for the implementation of continuing professional education

PLANNED GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION

(The Concept of Ladderized Dental Education)

1. To make dental education more attractive to younger generation of students 2. To increase job opportunities for students going for a dental degree

Ladderized Dental Education

1st year college dental assistant

2nd year college dental technologist

3rd year dental proper dental hygienist

4th year dental proper dental degree

FILIPINO PIONEERS IN DENTISTRY

FILIPINO PIONEERS IN DENTISTRY

It was possible that some crude form of dentistry, along with other primitive arts of healing had been practiced by early Filipinos. As in other ancient countries, dental practitioners of early Filipinos were the barbers, herbolarios, tribe chieftains.

Captain (Chengcheng) Arevalo

regarded as the first Filipino dentist - a sculptor by occupation - he was an expert in carving tooth and plate on a single ivory piece - established his dental office at Villalobos St.
-

Dr. Antonino Vergel de Dios

born in 1859 in the town of San Rafael, province of Bulacan  graduated from the University of Pennsylvania College of Dentistry, with the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery on May 10 1893  regarded as the First Filipino who graduated in dentistry abroad  the only Filipino member appointed to the First Board of Dental Examiners.


Dr. Gregorio R. Mateo

introduced the so-called infiltration anesthesia in the Philippines which consist of 1 to 2 percent procaine hydrochloride and Adrenaline  also introduced the gold porcelain fixed bridge which became popular among the rich people  In 1908, he founded the Sociedad Dental de Filipinas, the first dental organization in the Philippines.


Dr. Juanito Arevalo

 introduced in the Philippines the gold-foil filling

which became a craze among young people of the time  made an astringent mouth called Basibaro out of buyo a compound of bunga fruit (betelnut) leaves and lime.

Dr. Antonio de Asis



introduced a kind of general anesthesia which he named Somnigen which literally means a substance which produces sleep. The use of this anesthesia made him widely known.

Others were Dr. Francisco Ponce, Placido Flores and Joacquin A. Ladao. While Filipino dentist increased, the dental needs and problems of the people increased. To solve this, they formed an organization called the Sociedad Dental de Filipinas with Don Bonifacio Arevalo as President, Gregorio Mateo as Vice President, F. Calleja and Juan Villanueva as Secretary and Treasurer, respectively