The First Dental Law

After the establishment of the American Civil Government, Act No. 593, entitled “An Act Regulating the Practice of Dentistry in the Philippine Islands,” was passed on January 10, 1903. Act No. 593, better known as the First Dental Law, was enacted by the Philippine Commission of the Civil Government under the authority of the American Regime, thus recognizing dentistry as a lawful established profession in the Philippines.

The law significantly provided for the creation of a Board of Dental Examiners to consist of three reputable practitioners of dental surgery as members, to be appointed by the Commissioner of Public Health with the advice and consent of the Board of Health of the Philippine Islands.

The Board of Dental Examiners was charged with the duty of examining candidates desiring to practice dentistry in the Islands and in issuing dental surgeon’s certificate to each candidate who furnished satisfactory proof that he received a diploma as Doctor of Dental Medicine or Doctor of Dental Surgery from a legally incorporated dental educational institution and who in addition, passed a satisfactory examination before the Board in the following subjects: Anatomy, Physiology, Histology, Physics, Chemistry, Metallurgy, Dental Anatomy and Physiology, Dental Pathology and Bacteriology, Orthodontia, Oral Surgery, Operative Dentistry, and Prosthetic Dentistry. The Board was further empowered to make rules and regulations not in conflict with the provisions of Act. No. 593 as may be necessary to carry out said provisions into effect.

On the basis of this first dental law, “Dental Golden Jubilee” was celebrated with the Federation of Dental Practitioners of the Philippines as host and led by Dr. Ermelo Vergel de Dios in cooperation with the Philippine Dental Association then headed by Dr. Bienvenido B. Eraña. In 2003, the “100 years of Philippine Dentistry” was celebrated during the PDA presidency of Dr. Arsenio C. Donesa. Appointed Overall National Chairman for the Centennial Celebration is Dr. Norman R. Songco, with members: Dr. Corazon Salamat Bartolo, Dr. Emerito R. Garcia and Dr. Vince L. Salting.

On February 5, 1915, a subsequent dental law known as Act No. 2462, was passed by the Philippine Assembly which provided new regulations for the examination of Dentists and the practice of dentistry in the Philippine Islands. Under Act No. 2462, the members of the Board were to be appointed by the Director of Health with the approval of the Secretary of Interior. It also required the public schools and colleges to establish a uniform curriculum as to be prescribed by the Board of Dental Examiners with the approval of the Director of Health and the Secretary of Interior.