AN ACT TO REGULATE THE PRACTICE OF DENTISTRY IN THE PHILIPPINES

Case Overview and Summary

The Philippine Dental Act of 1965

Objectives and Implementation (Section 2-3):
- Regulates the practice of dentistry in the Philippines
- Provides licensure examinations for dental graduates
- Regulates and standardizes dental education
- Promotes dental research
- Stipulates penalties for violations
- Creates the Board of Dental Examiners, Council on Dental Education, and Council for the Advancement of Dental Research

Board of Dental Examiners (Section 4-12):
- Composed of 5 members appointed by the President (Section 4)
- Qualifications: Filipino citizen, registered dentist with 10 years experience, not affiliated with dental schools or businesses (Section 5)
- 5-year term, one member appointed annually, chairman serves last year (Section 6)
- Compensated per candidate examined (Section 7)
- Can be removed for incompetency, neglect, irregularities, or unprofessional conduct (Section 8)
- Powers: issue/revoke licenses, investigate violations, visit dental schools, recommend measures for the profession (Section 9)
- Promulgates rules and regulations for examinations, registration, and Code of Ethics (Section 10)
- Secretary keeps records, registers dentists (Section 11)
- Submits annual report to the President (Section 12)

Examination and Registration (Section 13-24):
- Requires certificate of registration from the Board to practice dentistry, unless exempt (Section 13)
- Defines the practice of dentistry (Section 14)
- Exemptions for foreign military dentists and visiting consultants (Section 15)
- Examinations held twice a year in Manila (Section 16)
- Qualifications: Filipino citizen, good moral character, pre-dental course, dental degree (Section 17)
- Examination scope includes written and performance tests on various dental subjects (Section 18)
- Board reports ratings to the President within 100 days (Section 19)
- Certificates issued upon approval, payment of fees, and age of 21 (Section 20)
- Examination fee: 60 pesos, registration fee: 10 pesos (Section 21)
- Grounds for refusal to issue certificate (Section 22)
- Grounds for revocation or suspension of certificate (Section 23)
- Reissue of revoked certificate after 5 years, replacement of lost certificate (Section 24)

Council on Dental Education (Section 25-30):
- Regulates and standardizes dental education (Section 25)
- Functions: recommend requirements for pre-dental and dental courses, facilities, faculty, internship (Section 25)
- Composed of officials from the Department of Education, Board of Dental Examiners, Philippine Dental Association, and dental colleges (Section 26)
- Secretary keeps records (Section 27)
- No compensation except for official duties (Section 28)
- Meets monthly, special sessions can be called (Section 29)
- Determines length of pre-dental (2-4 years) and dental (4-6 years) courses (Section 30)

Council for the Advancement of Dental Research (Section 31-35):
- Promotes and develops dental research (Section 31)
- Functions: devise plan for dental research center, recommend funding sources, enlist aid, implement measures (Section 31)
- Composed of officials from National Science Development Board, Philippine Dental Association, Board of Dental Examiners, and Council on Dental Education (Section 32)
- Secretary keeps records (Section 33)
- No compensation except for official duties (Section 34)
- Meets bi-monthly, special sessions can be called (Section 35)

Penal and Miscellaneous Provisions (Section 36-41):
- Penalties for practicing without license, fraud, impersonation, using revoked license, false advertising (fine of 3,000-5,000 pesos, imprisonment of 1-5 years, or both) (Section 36)
- Requires display of name, certificate of registration (Section 37)
- Reciprocity for foreign dentists based on their country's policies for Filipino dentists (Section 38)
- Law enforcement officers to prosecute violations (Section 39)
- Repeals conflicting laws (Section 40)
- Effectivity upon approval (Section 41)