REGULATING THE DENTAL PROFESSION IN THE PHILIPPINES

It is of interest to note that while dental work had already been being done and performed in the Philippines even before and during the Spanish Regime, there was never a Royal Decree that has been issued by the Spanish Authority to govern and regulate the practice of dentistry in the country, so much so that anyone, although unschooled in dental education who happens to acquire a little experience and training in the art, could venture to practice the trade or the calling.

It was only until the American Occupation when the U.S. Regime had established its Civil Government in the Islands that the Philippine Commission enacted Act No. 593 known as the First Dental Law on January 10,1903, entitled "An Act Regulating the Practice of Dentistry in the Philippine Islands", that dental practice became a legally established profession in the country.

The significant provision of this Act No. 593, was the creation of the Board of Dental Examiners composed of three reputable practitioners of Dental Surgery to be appointed by the Commissioner of Public Health and were vested with the powers to administer and regulate the practice of the profession. The first appointee of the Dental Board who assumed office in February 1903, were two American dentists and a lone Filipino member, Dr. Antonino Vergel de Dios, the First Filipino graduate and practitioner of Dental Surgery from abroad.

The Board of Dental Examiners then immediately enforced the provisions as provided for in the Dental Law and implemented rules and regulations set up for lawful practice of the said profession.

With the passage of Act No. 2462 in February 1915 by the Philippine Assembly amending the First Dental Law, members of the Dental Board were to be appointed by the Director of Health with the approval of the Secretary of Interior.

Under the Reorganization Law of 1932, or Act No. 4007, the Board of Dental Examiners was placed under the direct supervision of the Bureau of Civil Service. The Examining Boards of the Medical and Allied Professions, including the Board of Dental Examiners were transferred from the Dept. of Interior to the Dept. of Public Instruction.

In January 1914, with the Executive order of the President, pursuant to Commonwealth Act No. 430, the Examining Boards of the Medical and Allied Professions were transferred to the Dept. of Health and Welfare for these Examining Boards to the Health Department Secretary.

The passage of Republic Act No. 546 by the 2nd Congress of the Philippines and signed by the President in June 1950, reorganized and placed all the Boards of Examiners under the Office of the President and gave the Chief Executive the appointing power and that includes the Board of Dental Examiners.

Republic Act No. 4419 or the Philippine Dental Act of 1965, passed by the 5th Congress of the Philippines and signed by the President on June 19, 1965 , provided for the increase in the composition of the Board of Dental Examiners from 3 to 5 members. The law provided for the regulation, control and supervision of the practice of dentistry in the country. Aside from the Board of Dental Examiners, 2 other agencies were created, the Council on Dental Education and the Council for the Advancement of Dental Research.

Thru the Presidential Decree No.223 in the mid nineteen seventies, then President Ferdinand Marcos ordered the separation of the Boards of Examiners from the Civil Service Commission and elevated the government body to a new independent agency, directly under the office of the President named Professional Regulation Commission and 2 Associate Commissioner. Since then, the Board of Dental Examiners became the Board of Dentistry.

The Professional Regulation Commission together with the Board of Dentistry, as well as the Philippine Dental Association will always serve to protect and safeguard the prestige and integrity of the dental profession in the Philippines.