QuestionsQuestions (Republic Act No. 4419)
RA 4419 is known as the “Philippine Dental Act of 1965.” It regulates, controls, and supervises the practice of dentistry in the Philippines; provides licensure examinations and registration; standardizes dental education; promotes dental research; and imposes penalties for violations.
RA 4419 creates: (1) the Board of Dental Examiners; (2) the Council on Dental Education; and (3) the Council for the Advancement of Dental Research.
The Board of Dental Examiners consists of five members appointed by the President from candidates certified by the Philippine Dental Association and/or other bona fide dental associations, subject to confirmation by the Commission on Appointments.
At appointment, members must: be natural-born Filipino citizens and actually residents; be duly registered dentists in the Philippines; have at least 10 years of practice; not be faculty in any school where dentistry is taught nor have any pecuniary interest there; not be connected with any business engaged in buying/selling/manufacturing dental goods/equipment/materials/supplies; and be members in good standing of the Philippine Dental Association (and/or other bona fide dental association) for the last five years.
Members serve for a term of five years, with appointments staggered so that one term expires each year (and not more than one member is appointed for the full term within the same calendar year). The member serving the last year automatically becomes chairman and is not entitled to succeed himself immediately after expiration.
It may issue, suspend, or revoke certificates of registration (subject to presidential approval); administer oaths; investigate violations within its jurisdiction; issue summons/subpoena/subpoena duces tecum to compel attendance; visit dental schools to check legal and council requirements; and adopt or recommend measures for advancement of the profession and enforcement of the Act.
The Board may promulgate rules and regulations (with approval of the Commissioner of Civil Service), especially for examination conduct, custody/correction of exam papers, registration of dentists, and enforcement of the Code of Ethics.
The secretary of the Boards of Examiners under RA 546 is also the secretary of the Board of Dental Examiners. Records and minutes, including examination papers and confidential documents, are kept by the Civil Service Commission under the direct custody of the secretary.
Unless specifically exempt and authorized by the Act, no person may engage in the practice of dentistry in the Philippines without a certificate of registration issued by the Board of Dental Examiners after passing the required qualifying examination.
A person is engaged in the practice of dentistry if, for fee/salary/compensation or even without compensation, he performs any operation or part of an operation on the human mouth, jaws, teeth, and surrounding tissues; prescribes drugs/medicines for treatment of oral diseases/lesions; or corrects malpositions of the teeth. Certain exceptions exist for denture/artificial device construction (outside the patient’s mouth), dentistry students under supervision in a legally constituted school, and registered dental hygienists acting as assistants permitted by their law.
Exemptions include: (1) commissioned dental officers of the foreign army/navy/air forces whose operations in the Philippines are permitted, while rendering service only to their own forces; and (2) foreign dentists/oral surgeons invited for consultations/demonstrations, limited to the assigned tasks and subject to prior Board authority, not exceeding 30 days.
Licensure exams are conducted twice a year in Manila. The first is held not earlier than two months nor later than three months after termination of the school year; the second is six months thereafter. Dates (or changes) must be published at least 90 days before the scheduled examination.
Applicant must prove: Philippine citizenship; good moral character; completion of at least a two-year pre-dental course complying with council minimum requirements; and possession of a D.M.D. or D.D.S. (or equivalent) degree from a recognized legally constituted institution.
The licensure examination consists of written and performance tests. The Board determines and prescribes the scope, considering educational standards and teaching plans, and includes subjects such as anatomy, pathology, diagnosis, oral surgery, anesthesia, roentgenology, periodontics, endodontics, nutrition, materials, restorative/prosthodontics, orthodontics, public health dentistry, dental jurisprudence, dental economics, ethics, and private management.
Within 100 days after the last day of the examination, the Board must report ratings to the Commissioner of Civil Service, who then submits results to the President for approval/release. Failure to report within the specified time means forfeiture of 50% of the compensation due the Board members in that particular examination.
Grounds include: unprofessional/unethical conduct, malpractice, incompetency, serious ignorance or negligence; willful destruction or mutilation of a natural tooth with deliberate purpose to substitute an unnecessary artificial tooth; fraud/deceit/false statements to obtain certificate; habitual use of intoxicating liquors/drugs causing incompetence; employment of unauthorized persons for tasks reserved to licensed dentists; deceit/fraud to extend clientele; and false advertisements/fraudulent or deceitful claims about professional attainment/skill/knowledge or treatment methods.
Any person who practices dentistry without a certificate (or exemption), uses another’s certificate, gives false/forged evidence, impersonates registrants, uses a revoked/suspended certificate, or improperly assumes/advertises dental titles without the required degree/registration, among other violations, is guilty of misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be fined not less than PHP 3,000 nor more than PHP 5,000, or imprisoned for not less than one year nor more than five years, or both.