The Department of Dentistry was established at the same time that the Manila Doctors Hospital (MDH) was founded in 1956. Dr. Bienvenido Erafia, one of the collaborators of the Hospital, was its first active dental practitioner. He held his clinic at the ground floor with three associates.

After several years of practice, he developed cancer and was brought to the United States for treatment. He died later of lymphosarcoma. One of his associates, Dr. Linda Chavez continued to hold clinic for one and a half more years.

The Prepaid Department then did not offer dental service to its clients. Patients needing dental care were referred to the active dental practitioner of the hospital for management.

In 1980, Dr. Conrado Lucero joined the hospital staff and held his clinic at the Prepaid Department serving the hospital as its hospital dentist. He joined the active staff in 1983 and had his own clinic at the ground floor of the hospital. In July of 1985, he again transferred his clinic at the eighth floor of the newly-built Medical Arts Center Building (MAC).

In November of 1985, Dr. Perla Cruz- Triviño became an active staff of the hospital and established her clinic at the seventh floor of the MAC Building.

Having only two staff members in the department, Dr. Lucero was designated chairman, and Dr. Triviño, vice-chairperson. In January, 2001, Dr. Triviño was appointed chairperson of the Department of Dentistry.

In Year 2002, the Oral Maxillofacial Unit of the Department was formed with Drs. Rodelio Cruz and Mario Esquillo, both courtesy staff, as its members.

In February 4, 2003, during the First Dental Awareness Week Celebration of the Hospital, the Department of Dentistry was formally established as a department bearing its new name, Department of Dental Medicine, with its other courtesy staff members:

Dr. Lourdes Lucero-Abenis, Dr. Rodelio Cruz, Dr. Mario Esquillo, Dr. Raddy Mabasa, Dr. Ronaldo Vergara, and Dr. Victoria Vergara (prepaid).

With the establishment of the Department of Dental Medicine, there were several firsts in the department, and Manila Doctors Hospital.

o      February 3-9,2003            - First Dental Awareness Week

o      February 4-9,2003             - First Poster Exhibit

o      February 8, 2003              - First Free Clinic

o      February 22, 2005             - First Dental Mission (Maricaban)

Its general direction is to continuously provide quality service to all patients of Manila Doctors Hospital needing the specialty of dental medicine and to continually contribute to the mission, business development, financial sustainability, and corporate social responsibility of the hospital.

Admission

Dental patients may be admitted in the hospital as a walk in patients or with admitting orders given by the attending dental consultant during consultation in his office. They may be admitted also via the emergency room or through referrals from the IMSD.

Consultation

Dental consultations are rendered in the private dental clinics of the staff located at the Doña Salustiana Tower or the Dental Unit of the Industrial Medical Services Department (IMSD).

OPERATING SCHEDULE

This depends on the availability of the oral dentist or surgeon, the patient, operating room, and anesthesiologists.

Contact number              

Direct line                : 524 – 5598

Trunk line                 : 524 - 3011

Extension line           : 5240

DEPARTMENT SERVICES

The Department of Dental Medicine provides diagnostic and therapeutic dental health procedures to all patients in need of such service. These services are being offered in the private clinics of the staff and in the dental section of the IMSD.

Endodontics

 This branch is responsible in preventing extraction of the tooth by removal of the infected nerve, achieving sepsis of the root canal and sealing it for the purpose of prolonging the life of the tooth.

Restorative Dentistry

This Branch is responsible for the preservation of the pulp and maintaining the health of the tooth and arresting caries, and likewise preserving its supporting structures by restoring it to its proper contour, contact, and anatomy.

Oral Surgery

This section deals with the diagnosis, the surgical and adjunctive treatment of the disease, injuries and defects of the human jaws and associated structures.

Orthodontics

This division deals with diagnosis, prevention, and correction of abnormality of the masticatory structure particularly the occlusion, aesthetics, including the temporomandibular joint and providing treatment thereof.

Pediatric Dentistry

This section specializes in the dental care of children.

Periodontics

This is branch deals with the study of the periodontium, the diseases associated with it, and management of such conditions.

Prosthodontics

This section deals with replacing badly carious but restorable teeth, or missing teeth with artificial appliances such as crowns, bridges, dentures, and the like, so as to restore impaired function and improve aesthetics.

DOCTOR SPECIALTY

Active Staff

Dr. Conrado Lucero Jr.          - General Dentistry                   

Dr. Perla Cruz-Trivino           - General Dentistry and Prosthodontics

Courtesy Staff

Dr. Lourdes L. Abenis            - General Dentistry                               

Dr. Mario Esquillo                  - Oral Maxillofacial Surgery

Dr. Ma. Cristina L. Estrada    – Oral Surgery

Dr. Ronaldo Vergara              – Orthodontics

Dr. Victoria Vergara              - General Dentistry