REPUBLIC ACT No.

9484

I. Introduction
A. Republic Act No. 9848 is an act to regulate the practice of dentistry, dental hygiene,
and dental technology in the Philippines. This act is established to improve the dental
services provided to people. It is divided into sections under different articles to
specifically define the purpose of the Act.
II. Article I
A. Composed of four (4) sections
1. Section 1. Title.
a. “The Philippine Dental Act of 2007”
2. Section 2. Statement of Policy.
a. The State recognizes the importance of dentists, dental hygienists, and dental
technologists in nation-building.
3. Section 3. Objectives.
4. Section 4. Definition and Scope of Practice
a. Dentist - provide dental services in exchange for payment, salary, tips, or
other incentives. Dentistry graduates working as dental assistants to licensed
and registered dentists are not covered by this provision, nor are dental
technologists involved in the mechanical construction of oral devices, dental
students receiving hands-on training, registered dental hygienists, or dental
students.
b. Dental Hygienist - in possession of a current certificate of registration and
professional identification card carries out oral health promotion and
preventative procedures as well as offers oral health education while working
under the direction of a qualified dentist.
c. Dental Technologist - someone who has finished a two-year certificate
program and provides technical services under the direction of a qualified
dentist.
III. Article II
A. Composed of eight (8) sections with regards to the professional regulatory board of
dentistry
1. Section 5. Composition of the Board.
a. The Professional Regulatory Board of Dentistry is composed of a chairman
and four members appointed by the President of the Philippines from
recommendees chosen and ranked by the PRC.
2. Section 6. Powers and Functions of the Board.
a. The Board shall promote, administer and enforce rules and regulations, study
the practice of dentistry, adopt or recommend measures, supervise and
regulate the registration, licensure and practice, adopt an official seal, issue,
reinstate, suspend or revoke certificates, prescribe and/or adopt codes of
 ethics, accredit various specialties, dental societies and organizations, and
perform other powers and functions.

3. Section 7. Qualification of the Chairman and the Members of the Board.

a. The chairman and members of the Board must possess the following
qualifications: a natural-born citizen of the Philippines, a duly registered
dentist in the Philippines with a valid certificate of registration and
professional identification card, a member of good standing of the accredited
professional organization for the last five years, ten years of continuous
experience as a dentist, three years of teaching experience, not be a member of
the faculty of any school, college, or university, and not be connected in any
capacity with any business enterprise, firm or company in the buying, selling
or manufacture of dental goods, equipment, materials or supplies.
4. Section 8. Term of Office.
a. The chairman and members of the Board must serve for three years, with the
member serving the last year automatically becoming the chairman. All
appointments must be approved by the President and an appointment must be
made within one month.
5. Section 9. Compensation and Allowances of the Board
a. The annual General Appropriations Act stipulates that the chairman and
members of the Board should be paid salaries and benefits equivalent to those
obtained by the heads of the Commission's existing regulatory boards.
6. Section 10. Suspension and Removal from the Office.
a. Board members can be suspended or removed from office for neglect of duty,
abuse of power, oppression, incompetence, unprofessional, unethical, immoral
or dishonorable conduct, commission or toleration of irregularities, or
criminal offenses.
7. Section 11. Supervision of the Board.
a. The secretary of the Board must be appointed by the Commission and all
records and minutes must be kept in the Commission's custody. The
Commission must provide secretariat and other support services to implement
the Act.
8. Section 12. Annual Report.
a. The Board must submit an annual report to the Commission to recommend
measures to improve the practice of Dentistry in the Philippines.
IV. Article III
A. Composed of twelve (12) sections with regards to licensure and registration
1. Section 13. Examination Required.
 a. Applicants for registration for Dentistry, Dental Hygiene and Dental
Technology must undergo a licensure examination to ensure compliance with
the requirements prescribed by the Commission in accordance with Republic
Act No. 8981.

2. Section 14. Qualification for Admission to the Licensure Examination.

a. For Dentist - An applicant must prove that they are a citizen of the
Philippines, have not been convicted of an offense involving moral turpitude,
are a graduate of a recognized university, college, school, or institute, and
have completed the refresher course required after failing three consecutive
licensure examinations.
b. For Dental Hygiene - An applicant must be a citizen of the Philippines,
possess good moral character, have a two-year certificate in dental hygiene,
and have completed the refresher course required after failing three
consecutive licensure examinations.
c. For Dental Technology - An applicant must be a citizen of the Philippines,
possess good moral character, have a two-year certificate in dental technology,
have undergone on-the-job training in a registered/accredited dental laboratory
for at least six months, and have completed the refresher course required after
failing three consecutive licensure examinations.
3. Section 15. Scope of Examination.
a. For Dentist – General anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology,
microbiology, nutrition, dental materials, restorative dentistry, prosthodontics,
orthodontics, pedodontics and pediatric dentistry.
b. For Dental Hygienists - Dental anatomy, physiology, materials,
periodontology, roentgenology, preventive dentistry, pedodontics, dental
anesthesia and pharmacology, pathology, dental jurisprudence and ethics.
c. For Dental Technology - General anatomy, physiology, pathology,
pharmacology, microbiology, nutrition, dental materials, restorative dentistry,
prosthodontics, orthodontics, pedodontics and pediatric dentistry.
4. Section 16. Ratings in the Examinations.
a. In order to pass the licensure examination, an examinee must obtain a general
weighted average of at least 75% with no rating below 50% in any subject.
5. Section 17. Report of the Results of the Examinations.
a. Within twenty (20) days of the final exam day, unless a longer period of time
is justified, the Board must send to the Commission the ratings each applicant
received.
6. Section 18. Oath.
a. Successful examinees and registrants must take a professional oath before
starting practice.
 7. Section 19. Issuance of the Certificate of Registration and Professional
Identification Card.
a. A certificate of registration is issued to examinees who pass the licensure
examination for dentistry, bearing the signature of the chairperson of the
Commission and the chairman and members of the Board stamped with the
official seal of the Board and the Commission. The certificate of registration
shall remain in force and effect until revoked or suspended in accordance with
this Act.
b. Professional identification cards must be issued to registrants upon payment of
fees and renewed every three years.
8. Section 20. Fees for Examination and Registration.
a. Every candidate for the dental licensing test must pay an examination fee and
a registration fee that are set by the Commission.
9. Section 21. Refusal to Issue Certificates for Certain Causes.
a. The Board must refuse to issue a certificate of registration to those convicted
of moral turpitude or found guilty of immoral or dishonorable conduct.
10. Section 22. Revocation or Suspension of Certificate of Registration and
Professional Identification Card and Cancellation of Temporary/Special Permit.
a. The Board has the power to nullify or suspend the validity of a certificate of
registration and professional identification card of a dentist, dental
technologist and dental hygienist for unethical conduct, malpractice,
incompetence, negligence, fraud, alcoholism or drug addiction, employment
of persons who are not duly authorized, deceit, fraud, false advertisements,
false allegations, and disregard of provisions of the Act.
11. Section 23. Reinstatement Reissuance or Replacement of Certificate of
Registration and Professional Identification Card.
a. The Board can reinstate revoked certificates of registration and reissue
professional identification cards and exempt applicants from taking another
examination.
12. Section 24. Issuance of Special/Temporary Permit to Foreigners.
a. Certificates of Registration must not be required of commissioned dental
officers of foreign countries, and of dentist and oral surgeons from other
countries who are invited for consultation, demonstrations, medical missions
or exchange visits.
V. Article IV
A. Composed of eight (8) sections with regards to practice of dentistry, dental hygiene
and dental technology
1. Section 25. Code of Ethics and Code of Dental Practice for Dentist.
a. The Board shall adopt and promulgate the Code of Ethics and Code of Dental
Practice of dentists, dental hygienists and dental technologists.
2. Section 26. Vested Rights.
a. All dentists and dental hygienists registered at the time this law takes effect
will automatically be registered under the provisions, subject to future
 requirements. Certificates of registration held by such persons in good
standing will have the same force and effect as issued after the passage of the
Act.
3. Section 27. Registration Without Examination for Dental Hygienist and Dental
Technologists.
a. A person who possesses the equivalent qualifications required for admission
in the examination for dental hygienist or dental technologist may be
registered without examination if they file an application with the Board
within three years after the effectivity of this Act. The applicant must have
been given a certificate in dental hygiene or technology by a duly recognized
college, had at least three years actual experience in an accredited dental clinic
or laboratory, and attended a training course given by an accredited school or
institution accredited and certified by TESDA.
4. Section 28. Display of Name and Certificate of Registration.
a. Dentists, hygienists, and technologists must display their certificates of
registration in a conspicuous place in the building or office where they
practice, in plain sight of patients.
5. Section 29. Continuing Professional Education.
a. The PRC Board and APO will implement continuing professional education
for practicing dentists, dental hygienists, and dental technologists in
accordance with CPE guidelines.
6. Section 30. Integration of Dentists, Dental Hygienists and Dental Technologists.
a. All registered dentists, dental hygienists and dental technologists must be
integrated into one national organization, recognized by the Board and
accredited by the Commission.
7. Section 31. Foreign Reciprocity.
a. Foreign dentists must be admitted to the examination and given a certificate of
registration to practice as a dentist and be entitled to privileges under this Act.
8. Roster of Dentists, Dental Hygienists and Dental Technologists.
a. The Board must maintain a roster of registered dentists, hygienists, and dental
technologists, available to the public.
VI. Article V
A. Composed of two (2) sections with regards to penal provision and enforcement of the
act.
1. Section 33. Penal Provision.
a. The most important details in this text are that any person who practices
dentistry, dental hygiene or dental technology in the Philippines 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, or impersonates any registrant of like or different name, or
advertises any title or description tending to convey the impression that he/she
is a dentist, shall be punished by a fine of not less than P200,000.00 and/or
 imprisonment for not less than two years and one day nor more than five
years, or both.
2. Section 34. Enforcement of this Act.
a. The Secretary of Justice shall act as the legal adviser of the Board and
Commission and provide legal assistance to enforce the provisions of the Act
and prosecute those violating it.

VII. Article VI
A. Composed of six (6) sections with regards to miscellaneous provisions
1. Section 35. Funding Provision.
a. The Chairperson of the Professional Regulation Commission must include
implementation of the Act in their programs, funded by the Annual General
Appropriations Act.
2. Section 36. Transitory Provision.
a. The existing Board will continue to function until a new Professional
Regulatory Board of Dentistry is constituted.
3. Section 37. Implementing Rules and Regulations.
a. The Board shall promulgate, adopt, and implement rules and regulations to
implement the Act.
4. Section 38. Separability Clause.
a. The invalidation of any section or provision of this Act does not invalidate
other sections.
5. Section 39. Repealing Clause.
a. Republic Act No. 4419 and Republic Act No. 768 repealed all other laws or
portions thereof, orders, ordinances, or rules and regulations in conflict with
the Act.
6. Section 40. Effectivity.
a. This Act takes effect immediately following publication in the Official
Gazette or newspaper.

VIII. Conclusion
A. The main purpose of the Republic Act No. 9484 was to establish rules for the practice
of dentistry. It has encouraged a capable and globally competitive business and
helped our dentists as they developed professionally. Notwithstanding the progress in
the nation's dental health profession, the government works to make sure that our
current legal framework supports the finest possible provision of dental care services.