Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 768)
Republic Act No. 768 is officially titled the 'Philippine Dental Hygienist Law.'
The Board of Dental Examiners, created under Republic Act No. 417 as amended, is responsible for the examination and licensing of dental hygienists.
The Secretary of the Boards of Examiners appointed under Act No. 4007, as amended by Republic Act No. 546, also serves as the Secretary of the Board of Dental Examiners for dental hygienists.
Each member of the Board shall receive a compensation fee not exceeding five pesos per candidate examined.
An applicant must be a Filipino citizen, at least 18 years old, of good moral character, physically fit, a graduate of at least a four-year high school or its equivalent, and have completed a dental hygienist course of at least two years from a recognized institution.
A dental hygienist is authorized to remove calcific deposits and stains from teeth, apply medicaments for dental caries prevention, assist dentists, sterilize instruments, and perform other supportive duties under the direct supervision of a registered dentist. They are not authorized to perform dental operations reserved for licensed dentists.
The examination covers chemistry, physiology, pharmacology, anatomy, histology, bacteriology, radiography, nursing and first aid, hygiene and preventive dentistry, dental health education, ethics and economics, dental assisting, and other subjects deemed necessary by the Board, including a performance test.
Candidates must obtain a general rating of at least 75% in the written test and performance test, with no rating below 60% in any subject or practical exercise.
Any person practicing without a valid certificate or violating the Act's provisions may be fined between one thousand to five thousand pesos, or imprisoned from one to five years, or both, at the court’s discretion.
The Board may revoke or suspend the licenses of dental hygienists who violate the Act, and also revoke or suspend the licenses of registered dentists who allow dental hygienists under their supervision to perform operations beyond their authorized scope.