Dentistry is a rewarding career path for many people. Dentists provide medical advice, clean teeth, fill cavities, and perform oral surgery in order to maintain their patients’ oral health. A four-year undergraduate degree in dentistry is followed a two- to three-year orthodontic degree. Dental internships are used some undergraduate students to gain work experience and improve their dental school applications.
Internships in dentistry for undergraduates can be local or international. Students must have excellent grades in a pre-dental university track to be considered for these programs. Preparing equipment and supplies, mixing materials, interacting with patients, performing basic medical procedures, and assisting doctors with more complex procedures are all responsibilities of dental interns. Local internships can be paid or unpaid, with paid positions going to students who have more experience or can devote more time. Participants in local dental internships are typically required to work at least eight hours per week.
For undergraduate interns, office jobs are also a popular choice. Although these positions provide less direct medical contact with patients, they help interns understand the business side of dentistry while also exposing them to a variety of orthodontic procedures. Data entry, billing, customer service, scheduling appointments, and resolving patient insurance issues are common responsibilities for office-based dental internships.
Participating in international dental internships is another option for undergraduate pre-dental students. These programs are primarily carried out in rural areas of countries with underdeveloped medical systems. Due to the limited number of dentists in the locations they serve, international participants will have a much more active role in patient care than students participating in local internships. These types of internships are particularly beneficial for students who plan to live abroad after graduation.
Internships abroad are typically unpaid, and participants may be responsible for some or all of the travel expenses. The majority of organizers and participants see these programs as a mix of volunteerism and education. Programs can range from one to three months in length. Additional benefits, such as language training or cultural experiences, are available in some programs.
Residency programs may be an option for those who have already completed dental school but want to add to their resumes with additional experience. Residents are expected to work full-time and rotate through a variety of specialized facilities or practices. Hospitals and larger private practices offer residency programs, which help dentists gain the necessary hands-on experience to practice independently and are required for professional licensing in some areas.