The Philippine Board of Orthodontics
2010 Schedule of Examinations:

Phase I: Application, Interview and Dexterity Examination
Application Fee: P 3,500.00

Examination Date: (concluded)

Phase II: Written Examinations
Application Fee: P 4,000.00

Examination Date: (concluded)

Phase III / IV : Clinical Presentation of 5 / 10 Cases
Application Fees: Phase III: P 4,500.00, Phase IV: P 5,000.00

Examination Date: July 28, 2010
Application Deadline: April 28, 2010

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE PHILIPPINE BOARD OF ORTHODONTICS

In connection with the 5th National Dental Health Month, the Philippine Board of Orthodontics (PBO) would like to keep the public well-informed of the specialty of Orthodontics.

The Philippine Board of Orthodontics, an autonomous body, which is the only orthodontic board accredited by the Professional Regulation Commission’s Board of Dentistry as the specialty board to certify orthodontic practitioners, was created so that some measure of quality control could be imposed over the practice of orthodontic specialty. It aims to uphold the dignity and standard of the specialty of Orthodontics and to safeguard the dental health of patients.

In choosing an orthodontist, the public must be aware of the importance of seeking qualified orthodontic practitioners. The Philippine Board of Orthodontics awards Certificates to orthodontic practitioners who have successfully met the requirements and passed the qualifying examinations set by the Board. These worthy candidates are conferred the honorary designation, “Diplomate of the Philippine Board of Orthodontics” or DPBO. This Certificate is not an academic degree nor is it a license to practice orthodontics. However, it is a certification that the holder has met the standards of academic knowledge and clinical proficiency that the Board has set. Currently, there are only 18 PBO-certified Diplomates practicing in the Philippines.

All PBO Diplomates are Fellows of the Association of Philippine Orthodontists, which is the only orthodontic association recognized by the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) and the World Federation of Orthodontists (WFO). The AAO is the only orthodontic association recognized by the American Dental Association while the WFO is the umbrella organization which consists of LEGITIMATE orthodontic associations all over the world. The PBO is currently in touch with the WFO and its organizing group which monitors the activities of various diplomate boards globally.

Not all dentists are orthodontists. Ideally, an orthodontic specialist should have undergone at least 2 to 3 years formal training at an accredited graduate school specializing in Orthodontics or should have passed the four phases of PBO examinations thereby obtaining the Diplomate status (DPBO) which is conferred by the Philippine Board of Orthodontics.

The public is encouraged to verify the credentials of their chosen orthodontist in order to avail of optimum and proper treatment. It is imperative that the patient chooses a qualified orthodontist. In doing so, the patient can be confident that the treatment being rendered follows only the acceptable orthodontic principles that conforms to global standards.

World Federation of Orthodontists compiles list of national, regional orthodontic certifying boards serving specialty of orthodontics

In an effort to encourage board certification among orthodontists around the world, the WFO Committee on National and Regional Orthodontic Boards has been collecting information on orthodontic certifying boards for the past several months. Now, as a result of the committee’s efforts, the WFO has identified the 11 orthodontic certifying boards that are serving the specialty.

The 11 boards include the American Board of Orthodontics, the Australasian Orthodontic Board, the Brazilian Board of Orthodontics, the European Board of Orthodontics, the French Board of Orthodontics, the German Board of Orthodontics, the Italian Board of Orthodontics, the Mexican Board of Orthodontics, the Philippine Board of Orthodontics, the Taiwan Board of Orthodontics and the Thai Board of Orthodontics.

“This list increases awareness of the importance of boards in elevating the standards of orthodontic practice,” said Dr. Roberto Justus, chair of the committee and a member of the WFO Executive Committee. “In addition, by providing the boards’ Web site addresses and contact information for committee members and board presidents, fellows can learn more about the boards and the examination criteria of how orthodontic cases should be finished. They can then compare their own results with the recommended standards and, hopefully, incorporate these standards into their practices.”

Access to this type of information may also help fellows establish new certifying boards, Dr. Justus said. Currently, orthodontists in Argentina are working to create anew certifying board. “Members of the Argentinean Board of Orthodontics are presently working on finalizing bylaws of their orthodontic board,” he said.

The committee’s next project is to establish prototype guidelines for orthodontic board bylaws and examination criteria that would assist in the formation of new boards.

Thirteen WFO fellows now serve on the Committee on National and Regional Orthodontic Boards. In December 2007,the WFO Executive Committee appointed Dr. Ermelinda Sabater-Galang of the Philippine Board of Orthodontics to serve on this committee. To review the complete list of the committee members, as well as the presidents of the certifying boards, please refer to the sidebars below and on page 3. The Web sites of the certifying boards are also listed on our Links Page (click here).

Centeno, Lim and Reyes hurdle PBO 2007 Phase IV Exam
Chua passes PBO Phase III Examination

The Philippine Board of Orthodontics is proud to announce that barely five months after the Induction last August 2006 of Dr. Sandra S. Adriano and Dr. Marianne P. Hernandez as Diplomates of the Philippine Board of Orthodontics, the roster into the College increased with the successful hurdling of the PBO Phase IV Examination by Dr. Angela C. Castro-Centeno, Dr. Dennis C. Lim and Dr. Maria Victoria R. Reyes, conducted this past January 30-31, 2007 at the Manila Polo Club, Makati City.

Dr. Angela C. Castro-Centeno was born in Baliuag, Bulacan and obtained her Doctor of Dental Medicine from the University of the East in 1988 and was ranked 5th in the May 1989 PRC Dental Boards. She obtained her Certificate of Proficiency in Orthodontics from the University of the Philippines Graduate Program in Orthodontics in 1992 where she has been a Professional Lecturer since 1994. She recently was inducted as Fellow, Academy of Dentistry International.

Dr. Dennis C. Lim hails from Zamboanga City and received his Doctor of Dental Medicine from the University of the East in 1986. He obtained his Certificate of Proficiency in Orthodontics and Master of Science in Dentistry (Orthodontics) from the University of the Philippines GRaduate Program in Orthodontics in 1997, after which he underwent additional orthodontic training at the Kanagawa Dental College in Japan from 1998-1999. An article written by him appeared in the International Journal of the MEAW Technic and Research Foundation in December 1998. He taught previously at both the UP Graduate Program in Orthodontics and the University of Baguio Graduate Program in Orthodontics, the latter at which he was the Program Director. Aside from his multi-city orthodontic practices, he is a lecturer at the MultiLoop Edgewise Archwire (MEAW) Study Club and the Philippine Academy of Orthodontics.

Dr. Maria Victoria R. Reyes graduated from the UP College of Dentistry in 1987 and undertook the Preceptorship on the Biologic Basis and Clinical Practice of Orthodontics under Dr. Luz C. Macapanpan from 1988-89. She was formerly a Clinical Instructor at the University of the East College of Dentistry. She successfully completed the PBO Phases I to IV Examinations. One of her Phase III Case Reports was published in the Philippine Journal of Orthodontics in August 2003.

Expected to join their ranks soon as Diplomate is Dr. Patrick S. Chua, who hails from Dumaguete City and graduated from the Centro Escolar University College of Dentistry in 1984. He likewise undertook the Preceptorship on the Biologic Basis and Clinical Practice of Orthodontics under Dr. Luz Macapanpan from 1988-89. Additional orthodontic training was obtained under the preceptorship of Dr. Ranny Tuazon in 1999 and the MEAW Study Club in 2003.

As part of the Phase III Examination, Dr. Chua successfully presented five (5) orthodontic cases and underwent an oral examination on his cases while each of the 3 Phase IV Examination candidates successfully presented ten (10) clinical cases each which accounted for 50% of their examination score. An additional 25% of their score came from their oral defense of the candidate's cases while the remaining 25% was earned from their diagnosis and treatment planning of the Board's clinical cases.

With the caliber of recent candidates and the quality of orthodontic cases presented to the PBO, the PBO is optimistic about the state of clinical orthodontic care being rendered by those who successfully undertake the examination phases of the PBO. Members of the Examination Committee included Dr. Patricia Claparols, Dr. Robert Eustaqiuo, Dr. Marilyn Leung, Dr. Marina Tan with Dr. Crisanta Santayana as PBO Examination Committee HEad with Dr. Ermelinda S. Galang as Chair, PBO.

These reports will be forwarded to the PRC Board of Dentistry.