QuestionsQuestions (PRC BOARD OF DENTISTRY Resolution NO. 14, S. 2005)
The legal basis is Section 18, Article IV of Republic Act No. 4419 (the Philippine Dental Act of 1965), which provides that the licensure examination consists of written and performance tests and that the scope is determined and prescribed by the Board.
A 100% score in the theoretical phase and a 100% score in the performance phase are each valued at 50% for theory and 50% for performance, to compute the combined grade.
Because, for decades, performance testing had a value of less than 50% as it consisted only of Prosthetic Dentistry and Restorative Dentistry—two areas out of about ten in clinical dentistry—so the Board expanded it for a better gauge of practical proficiency.
It prescribes an expanded scope by distributing performance exercises across more areas of clinical dentistry, with specified percentage weights per discipline.
Prosthetic Dentistry is 60% total, comprising: (1) Full Denture Construction without live patients — 30%; (2) Removable Partial Denture Design with prescription writing — 15%; and (3) 3-Unit Fixed Bridge — 15%.
Restorative Dentistry is 20% total, comprising: (1) Class II cavity preparation of two (2) ivorine teeth filled with silver amalgam — 15%; and (2) Class III cavity preparation of two proximal ivorine teeth adjacent surfaces filled with glass ionomer material — 5%.
Pediatric Dentistry is 5%, specifically: Crown preparation for a stainless crown.
Endodontics is allocated 15% in the expanded scope of the performance phase.
The resolution provides that no exercise shall involve the use of live patient in Complete Denture Construction, and it also specifies Full Denture Construction without live patients (as part of Prosthetic Dentistry).
It states that it shall be implemented in the December 2005 and every subsequent Dental Performance Licensure Examination.
It takes effect after fifteen (15) days following its full and complete publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines.
Copies are to be furnished to the Chief, Examination Division; the Academe; and the Philippine Dental Association, Inc.
It signals that the performance examination will cover multiple clinical dentistry areas with specified percentage weights, so examinees must prepare across those areas consistent with the revised scope.
Prosthetic Dentistry (60%) + Restorative Dentistry (20%) + Pediatric Dentistry (5%) + Endodontics (15%) = 100% total distribution for the performance phase.