Exploring various types of dental practitioners in Taiwan based on dental-related laws and regulations during the Japanese colonial period (1895–1945)

During the Japanese colonial period in Taiwan (1895–1945), the medical management system included a complex set of laws and regulations governing dental practice. This study aimed to explore and classify the various types of dental practitioners in Taiwan during this era. Both direct and indirect historical materials related to medical and dental laws and regulations issued during the Japanese colonial period in Taiwan were collected and analyzed. Content regarding dental practitioners and their qualification requirements was extracted, compared, and categorized to reconstruct eight types of dental practitioners during this period. Analysis of legal documents revealed a series of regulations that shaped dental practice, beginning with the 1896 Taiwan Medical Practice Regulations and later including the Taiwan Dentists Order (1916), the Limited-location Physicians and Dentists Licensing Policies (1916–1918), and other regulations defining dental authority among physicians. Based on these regulations, eight types of dental practitioners were identified and grouped into three categories: (1) those with formal school education and training (dentists and three types of physicians with various dental licenses); (2) those who passed examinations based on experience or workplace training (e.g., traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, limited-location physicians/dentists); and (3) those granted special permission to continue specific dental work (denturists and tooth extractors). Dental practice in Taiwan during the Japanese colonial period was diverse, shaped by evolving laws and practical needs. Eight distinct types of dental practitioners emerged, reflecting a multi-layered dental qualification system that integrated formal education, examinations, and special permissions.