Fake dentists should avoid Iloilo City

By Alex P. Vidal

“Faced with the choice of enduring a bad toothache or going to the dentist, we generally tried to ride out the bad tooth.”— Joseph Barbera

IF you’re a fake dentist or someone who unlawfully engages in dental practice without any professional license and authorization, better stay away from Iloilo City.

Not all cities in the Philippines have passed an ordinance “duplicating” the penalties set by a national law against bogus dentists and their practices.

If the proposed ordinance recently filed in the Iloilo City Council against illegal dental practices will be approved, it will carry penalties that will add to the penalties imposed under Republic Act 9484 or an “Act to regulate the practice of dentistry, dental hygiene and dental technology in the Philippines.”

It also repeals for the purpose Republic Act No. 4419 otherwise known as “An Act to regulate the practice of dentistry in the Philippines, and for other purposes”, and Republic Act No. 768, otherwise known as “An Act to regulate the practice of dental hygienists in the Philippines, and for other purposes.”

Violators in the proposed city ordinance filed by Councilor Johnny Young will face fines ranging from P5,000 to P20,000 and three-month imprisonment.

Under the measure, it is unlawful for any establishment, public or private, commercial or residential, to hold any illegal dental practice or dental hygiene such as performing dental procedures within the patient’s oral cavity.

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Also, it is unlawful for any unlicensed or unregistered dentist, dental hygienist or dental technologist to perform all acts of dental practice or dental hygiene such as performing dental procedures within the patient’s oral cavity.

The measure further stipulates that the sale of all dental materials will be limited to dentists, dental technologist, dental hygienist, dental students or persons with an authorization letter or prescription with licensed/PRC number duly signed by a dental professional.

Meanwhile, Section 33 of Article V on Penal Provision and Enforcement of the Republic Act  9484, states that the following, shall be punished by a fine of not less than P200,000.00 nor more than P500,000.00 or to suffer imprisonment for a period of not less than two years and one day nor more than five years, or both, in the discretion of the court:

(a) Any person who shall practice dentistry, dental hygiene or dental technology in the Philippines as defined in this Act, without a certificate of registration and professional identification card and special permit issued in accordance with the provisions of this Act, or has been declared exempt;

(b) Any person who practice the profession to whom the definition of the practice of dentistry, dental hygiene or dental technology does not apply;

(c) Any licensed dentist who shall abet the illegal practice of dentistry;

(d) Any person presenting or using as his/her own the certificate of registration and professional identification card and special permit of another;

(e) Any person who shall give any false or forged evidence to the Board in obtaining a certificate of registration;

(f) Any person who shall impersonate any registrant of like or different name;

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Also, (g) Any person who shall use a revoked or suspended certificate of registration and professional identification card;

(h) Any person who shall assume, use or advertise as a bachelor of dental surgery, doctor of dental surgery, master of dental surgery, licentiate of dental surgery, doctor of dental medicine, or dental surgeon, or append to his name the letters D.D.S., B.D.S., L.D.S., or D.M.D. without having been conferred such title or degree in a legally constituted school, college or university, duly recognized and authorized to confer the same or other degrees; and

(i) Any person who advertises any title or description tending to convey the impression that he/she is a dentist, without holding valid certificate of registration and professional identification card and special permit from the Board.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo.—Ed)