Gov ’t revives centralized dental record system

Law enforcement agencies and dentists have revived a 38-year-old measure institutionalizing a centralized dental record system that can help in crime-solving and disaster emergency response.

Signed in 1978, Presidential Decree 1575 mandated all practicing dentists to “keep and maintain an accurate and complete record of the dentition of all their patients, which shall include a history and description of the patient’s dentition and the treatments made.”

The decree also required dentists to submit dental records to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for record purposes after 10 years.

In February 2013, the NBI and the Philippine Dental Association (PDA) agreed to draft the implementing rules and regulations for PD 1575, create a multi-sectoral council, determine the most efficient means to keep the dental records and make all Filipinos aware of this measure.

The NBI on Friday gathered around 300 dentists and forensics practitioners in a forum on institutionalizing a standard dental data record system.

During the forum, NBI Director Virgilio Mendez said dental records stored at the agency would help a lot in identifying victims of disasters and crimes, and dental records are more practical to use than DNA testing.

PDA executive director Dr. Maria Arlissa Aguiluz raised concern that dentists still have to get their patients’ consent to submit their dental records to the centralized dental record system.

“For example, I’m sure my patients would ask me, who will access my records, and for what purpose?” Aguiluz pointed out.

But Aguiluz said the PDA, which is composed of 12,000 dentists, is still willing to extend help to the NBI to revive the measure.

NBI chief dentist Dr. Ann Manos said the concerns raised in the forum would be addressed soon by the technical working group formed by the NBI.

NBI also presented its updated standard dental data record sheet.

Manos said establishing a database would require upgrading NBI’s facilities to ensure the proper and organized storage of dental data. The NBI is also pushing for the passage of the proposed NBI Modernization Act, which would pave way to the upgrading.