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 PHILIPPINESILLEGAL 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 IVPRACTICE 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..

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8981 “THE PRC MODERNIZATION ACT OF 2000”

- repealed Presidential Decree No.223 which created the Professional Regulation Commission

CURRENT REGULATORY SETUP

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:

1. Prepare the contents of licensure examinations. 2. Determine, prescribe, and revise the course requirements3. Recommend measures necessary for advancement in their fields4. Visit / inspect schools and establishments for feedback5. Adopt and enforce a Code of ethics for the practice of their respective professions6. Administer oaths and issue Certificate of Registration7. Suspend, revoke, or reissue Certificate of Registration for causes provided by law

Specific Functions of the Professional Regulatory Board

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 FILIPINO PIONEERS IN DENTISTRYDENTISTRY

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