The mandate of the Office of the Municipal Dental Office (or the Municipal Dentist within the Municipal Health Office) in the Philippines is to protect and promote the oral health of the community by providing accessible, affordable, and quality public health dental services, with a strong emphasis on preventive and curative care, particularly for underserved populations. This mandate is derived from the Local Government Code of 1991 (Republic Act No. 7160), which devolved basic health services to local government units (LGUs), and the broader "Philippine Dental Act of 2007" (Republic Act No. 9484), which regulates the practice of dentistry in the country to ensure high standards of professional practice.