It is with a feeling of pride and a deep sense of belonging that we identify ourselves with the recognized father of the International College of Dentist…. Dr. Louis Ottofy. Unknown to many and possibly a surprise as well, is the fact that he left a legacy in Philippine Dentistry, particularly in the fields of licensure, dental public health, and dental education. The relevance of his contributions to the growth and development of the profession in our country deserves “a place in the sun”. No history of the Philippine Dentistry will be complete without mention of this great man. The writer deems it appropriate, therefore, to cite aspects of Dr. Ottofy’s life during his stay in the Philippines, as a token of the nation’s gratitude and esteem. A facet of the life of this worthy man of science will serve as fitting introduction to the history of an equally worthy dental organization in this part of the world…… The International College of Dentists, Philippine Section!
Dr. Louis Ottofy was very active in all fields of dentistry that he could well be dubbed as “Mr. Dentistry” during his time. The first recorded contribution of this man in Philippine Dentistry is his active participation in the organization of the first association of dentist in the Philippines in 1908. Together with other active Filipino dentists at the time, they organized the Socieded Dental de Filipinas. They worked for the accreditation of dental schools to make dentistry a truly professional calling. The people of Manila owe him the establishment of an institution which catered to their dental health needs when on August 13, 1912 he recommended the creation of the Dental Infirmary of the Philippine General Hospital. Little did Dr. Ottofy realize that this would develop into a premier government hospital that would eventually serve both an educational and a service institution. The dental infirmary he created is now a full-fledge department of the University of the Philippines Philippine General Hospital Medical Center and serves the country as a teaching, training, service and research center. Many of the dentist both in the government and in private practice passed through the portals of this institution. Another feather to his cap was the founding of the Department of Dentistry of the College of Medicine and Surgery, University of the Philippines on February 8, 1915. He was the first head of this department and the first director when it became a school during the school year 1917 1918. This school is now an autonomous College of Dentistry of the University….the only state supported dental school in the Philippines. Its graduates have gone far and wide, all over the world, sharing in the upliftment and recognition of dentistry and sowing the seeds which Dr. Ottofy has planned. Together with private dental schools in the Philippines, they are all pooling their resources to give our country the best that the art and science of dentistry can offer.
As Director of the School of Dentistry, University of the Philippines, he was given a salary of eight thousand (8,000.00) pesos per annum. A former student wrote that with this salary, he offered scholarship in every high school for the study of dentistry, offering free tuition. He was given the rank of full professor and was also engaged in the training of few dentists who served during World War I. It was said that there was no formal course of instruction when the School of Dentistry, University of the Philippines was opened and that practically, Dr. Ottofy was lone member of the faculty besides being administrator. He would give formal lectures to the class for less than an hour and would leave for his other duties. When he gives examinations, he would just write the questions on the board, and then announce to his students to adopt the honor system. He would then leave and give instruction to take the finished examination papers to his residence. It was also said that the office of Dr. Ottofy was then situated along the passage from the amphitheater of the College of Medicine and Surgery leading to the main hallway. This office consisted of an old desk with a skull and chair, so that some faculty members and students made jokes of his office.
The dental infirmary of the Philippine General Hospital was the clinical dentistry training venue of the school and Dr. Ottofy gave instructions there, too. At the time, Novocaine capsules were not yet known and Cocaine injection of ½% was used in the infirmary for tooth extraction procedure. Fainting was a common occurrence, but Dr. Ottofy demonstrated his skill and many fainting spells were prevented. It was said that he demonstrated how to remove broken roots of anterior teeth in rapid succession that before the patient could scream, the roots were already out.
On February 5, 1915, Act No. 2462 was enacted by the Philippines Legislature. This placed dental education under state regulation. Both private dental schools and colleges including dental departments of universities became subjects to rules and regulations of the Board of Dental Examiners. As Secretary-Treasurer of this Board, Dr. Ottofy made extensive inspections of existing dental schools and departments of Dentistry and made recommendations to uplift the standard of education and dental public health service. He did not hesitate to censure substandard dental institutions and recommend their closures if it so warranted.
The year 1925 saw the emergence of another dental organization due to inactivity of the Sociedad Dental de Filipinas. This was the National Dental Assoociation and it worked for the betterment of the quality of faculty members of dental schools and colleges as well as the increase from three (3) to four (4) year course in dentistry. Dr. Ottofy was again an active participant in this innovative and progressive endeavor and was one of the original founding members. The two organizations, the Sociedad Dental de Filipinas and the National Dental Association eventually closed ranks and in 1945 became what is today, the Philippine Dental Association.
The life of Dr. Louis Ottofy in the Philippines served not only as an inspiration but a promise for better dentistry. His memory will live as long as there is dentistry in the Philippines….as long as there are men who will take over where others left off. There will always be Filipino dentists and Filipino dental organizations to carry on the challenges and keep on the good work.
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