DENTAL HEALTHCARE - Dentistry observation opportunity

Program Description

Work side by side with dentists at a neighbourhood dental health clinic. This program offers you hands-on dentistry work experience and is aimed at current professionals and aspiring dentists. It provides an opportunity to work in the local hospital-based dental clinic or a neighbourhood health clinic, where you will experience the stark contrast between the Western dentist practice and the day-to-day realities of dentistry at a public dental clinic in a developing country.
Your level of possible involvement will largely depend on your professional and Spanish language skills, as well as your motivation and willingness to get involved. Your work schedule will be created in a meeting with the departmental director, the volunteer coordinator and supervisor. As with any medical service, volunteers should recognize that their schedules may be subject to sudden changes and are dictated by patients' needs.
During this observation and experience program, you will be shadowing the doctors and nurses and you will also be able to get hands-on experience in accordance with your qualifications and language skills. In order to get the most out of your involvement - or if you have a specific health care goal - please contact us in a timely manner to discuss your options in detail.
Working hours will be primarily in the morning when the dentists are at the hospital/health clinic. Intermediate to advanced Spanish speakers will get the most out of the work in the hospital.

Highlights

● Observing, shadowing and assisting the dentist
● Teaching prevention of oral diseases through proper hygiene and regular check-ups for professional cleaning and evaluation (special prevention program for pregnant women)
● Providing oral health services support, which includes dental assistance, dental hygiene and dental therapy
● Assisting the dentist according to your skills and experience with dental treatments: dental restorations, crowns, bridges, dentures, root canal therapy, periodontal therapy and extraction of teeth as well as dental examinations and diagnosis
● You are welcome to work in community projects by Aldeas de Paz such as free English classes for locals.

Qualifications

This program is suitable for dentistry students and electives. The key requirements for a medical volunteer/intern are initiative, enthusiasm, and readiness to work in unfamiliar circumstances. The dentist program is available for elective students, dental students with free holiday time, pre-university students and also students taking, or planning to take, specialist dentistry courses. More specialized skills will allow for more specialized activities. Basic Spanish skills are needed, but an advanced level of Spanish experience will open up more opportunities.
A placement is possible both in the Hospital and neighbourhood health clinics in Samana, La Pascuala and Las Terrenas.

Volunteer Types

Dental volunteering

What`s Included

• Volunteer placement in the program/s of your choice • Accommodation • Placement introduction and hand-outs, supervision, regular briefings • 6 free Spanish language lessons • Certificate and/or written reference upon completion • Full support and 7 days, 24 hour back-up from our local staff • Bus terminal pick-up: Our staff will welcome you to our home-base upon arrival and ensure that all of your needs are met - from a safe and comfortable place to stay, to unparalleled access to insight.

All travel costs must be covered by the intern. Budget at least 38 € for in-country travel on top of whatever your plane ticket costs and 200 € a month for personal expenses depending on your lifestyl

Program Locations

Samana, Dominican Republic

Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic

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Program Details

Provider:

Locations:

Dominican Republic: Samana
Dominican Republic: Las Terrenas

Terms:

Fall, Spring, Summer, Throughout the year

Program Duration:

1-3 months, 6-12 months, Customizable

Languages:

English, Spanish

Participants:

American, Asian, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi, South African, Worldwide

Cost:

The minimum contribution starts at € 140 per week including double room accommodation at our Aldeas de Paz guesthouse. For a single room we add € 30 per week (Samaná) and € 40 per week (Las Terrenas). Minimum donation for the host family stay is € 230 per week and includes a private bedroom and two meals (breakfast and lunch).