Historical Development of Dentistry in the Philippines
- Pre-Spanish era (before 900 to 1521)
- Spanish era (1521 to 1898)
- American era (1898 to 1946)
- Japanese-occupation era (1942 to 1945)
- Independent Philippine-Republics era (1946 to present)
Regulation and Education of Dentistry in the Philippines
- Dentistry not recognized as a profession during Spanish regime
- Examinations and licensing of dentists introduced under American administration
- Board of Dental Examiners established in 1899
- Act No. 593 passed to regulate dentistry in the Philippines
- Board of Dental Examiners became independent regulatory body in 1948
Notable Filipino Dentists
- Dr. Victorino G. Villa excelled in dentistry during the Philippine-Republics era
- Dr. Luz C. Macapanpan focused her research on dental histology
- Nieva Basa Eraña-Velázquez was the first Filipino woman dentist
- Dr. Rufino Achacoso is known for advancing the field of prosthodontics in the Philippines
Military Dentistry in the Philippines
- Philippine Republic Act No. 481 created the Dental Corps of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
- The Dental Corps became a separate technical service from the military's Medical Service
- Congressman and dental physician Ricardo Y. Ladrido sponsored the law
Dental Associations and Publications in the Philippines
- The Sociedad dental de Filipinas was founded in 1908
- The National Dental Association was established in 1924
- After World War II, the two organizations merged to form the Philippine Dental Association (PDA)
- The Odontologia Filipina and the National Dental Review were notable dental publications
- The Philippine Dental Association published the Journal of the Philippine Dental Association in 1948
Marker from the National Historical Commission of the Philippines
- The National Historical Commission of the Philippines installed a historical marker for the dentistry profession
- The marker is titled 'Dental Profession in the Philippines'
- It was installed in 1961 at the Philippine Dental Association building in Makati City
- The marker recognizes the historical significance of dentistry in the country
- The marker highlights the establishment of the first dental clinic, dental association, dental college, and dental publication in the Philippines.
Dentistry in the Philippines can be divided into five periods of dental practice. Using the timeline of Philippine history as a template, they are: the Pre-Spanish era (from the Prehistoric period to the Classical period), the Spanish era, the American era, the Japanese occupation era (during World War II) and the independent Philippine-Republics era.
