Dr. Dave Francis Junio: The Dentist Who Chose to Serve

 Dr. Dave Francis Junio: The Dentist Who Chose to Serve

In the town of Bayambang, there is a dentist who refuses to accept that children must grow up fearing dental chairs or living with preventable pain. For him, dentistry is more than tooth extractions and fillings — it is also about dignity, prevention, and hope.

Dr. Dave Francis Junio began his journey in public health not for prestige, but for purpose. But long before he wore the white coat and carried the title of doctor, his story began in the classrooms that shaped his dedication to learning and service.

He completed his elementary education at Pangasinan State University KD Elementary School, where he first developed the discipline and curiosity that would guide his future career. He then pursued his secondary education at the Pangasinan State University Laboratory High School (Batch 2008), where his academic foundation and sense of community responsibility continued to grow.

Determined to pursue a career in healthcare, he moved to the city to earn his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from Centro Escolar University Makati, one of the country’s respected institutions for dental education. During his training, he developed not only clinical competence but also a strong appreciation for preventive and community-based dentistry.

Believing that public health leadership requires continuous growth and deeper understanding of community health systems, he later pursued and completed his Master’s Degree in Public Health at Lyceum Northwestern University, strengthening his expertise in health promotion, disease prevention, and program development.

Dr. Junio officially began his journey in public health dentistry when he was assigned as a municipal dentist in January 2017. He stepped into a system where oral health services were often limited to the basics. But he saw beyond what was — he envisioned what could be.

He expanded services. Preventive care became a priority. Cleanings, fillings, fluoride applications, and dentures for indigent citizens were no longer optional — they became part of a mission. He initiated structured oral health programs for daycare pupils across Bayambang’s 77 Child Development Centers, integrating lectures, toothbrush drills, and biannual fluoride applications. He made sure oral health education reached not only children but also mothers, students, and community workers.

Under his leadership, Oral Health Month in Bayambang evolved into a movement — vibrant, participatory, and deeply rooted in advocacy. From motorcades to municipal-wide toothbrushing drills, from Project Guro to Project Buntis, he built programs that recognized that oral health is lifelong — from the First 1000 Days to the elderly.

He does not measure success by the number of teeth extracted, but by the number of cavities prevented.

His dedication did not go unnoticed. Recognized by the Department of Health – Region 1 as Best Oral Health Program Implementer and National Awardee as Best Oral Health Program Implementer in Luzon by the Department of Health National Association of Dentists, he proved that even a municipal Rural Health Unit can set a standard for excellence.

Yet beyond the awards, his most powerful vision remains simple and heartfelt: “One day, sana wala na kaming bubunutan na bata na may bulok na ngipin.” (One day, we hope we won’t have to remove any child’s tooth due to severe decay.)

That is not merely a statement, but a promise to the children of Bayambang, to first-time mothers, and to indigent families. ...A promise that public health dentistry can be proactive, compassionate, and transformative.

More than a municipal dentist, Dr. Dave Francis Junio is a builder of programs, a mentor to child development workers, a collaborator with public and private partners, a voice for prevention, and above all, a servant leader who believes that every smile in Bayambang deserves to be healthy.

And he continues — one fluoride application, one lecture, one celebration, one child at a time.