The old insignia of Dentistry is similar to that of medicine; two serpents entwined around a staff, with the difference of letter D for Dentistry placed at the middle of the staff to distinguish it from Medicine.

This insignia originated, according to mythology, in the life of Hermes, the son of Zeus, known to the Romans as Mercury, a messenger of the gods. Apollo, god of manly youth and beauty, poetry, oracles, healing and music, expressed his desire to possess Hermes of Mercury's lyre. In exchange for the lyre, Apollo offered a magic wand which exercised influence over all, bestowing wealth and all things good. The wand was of an olive branch with garlands the first caduceus.One day, while Hermes or Mercury was on his errand, he witnessed two serpents or snakes fighting which he separated with the magic wand or staff. Henceforth, Mercury bore with him in his daily mission, his magic wand around which two serpents are entwined.

Their presence on medical and dental insignias is associated with goodness, wisdom and ability to heal. Hermes or Mercury, as messenger, signified speed wherefore two wings were added at the top of the staff. This is only one of the innumerable portrayals of the caduceus.

Few people knew the origin of this historic insignia. Still fewer knew the story of it's successor, the sign of Aesculapius with staff and one serpent around it. Aesculapius, the blameless physician and a sage in arts and science lived from 1200 to 1300 D.C. He was of human origin, but became so skilled that he not only healed the sick but restored the dead to life. Pluto, guardian of departed souls soon feared he might lose his job due to inactivity. He complained to Zeus, who struck Aesculapius dead with a thunderbolt. Later on, Legends established Aesculapius as a god, the son of Apollo.

The new branch of insignia for the Dental Service, AFP, is symbolized by the serpent encircled about an ancient cautery or staff, the sign of Aesculapius. The base letter of an O represents omicron (circle or letter o) for "odont" or tooth. The ancient Tagalog letter "Da" is used to symbolized Dentistry. Two sprigs of flowering sampaguita are used, it being the national flower of the republic. The thirty two leaves represents the permanent set, while the ten sampaguita buds represents the temporary set. This, and the ancient Tagalog "Da" are typically local in every respect except in that of the serpent on a staff and the base letter O which really are universal symbols from the ancient Greeks but not the property of any country or region.