Are you a student attending a dental assisting school and looking for volunteer opportunities? You can find plenty of ways to get involved in the dental field, even outside of a clinical setting. From education and fundraising to donations and demonstrations, there are many ways to give back to your community. Additionally, organizations like Dental Lifeline Network and Volunteering Solutions offer programs that provide comprehensive, donated treatment for vulnerable people. You can also join the ADA Standards Committee on Dental Products and the ADA Dental Informatics Standards Committee, or volunteer with Global Dental Relief to experience Mexican culture while learning about local dental care.
Read on to learn more about the various volunteer opportunities available for students attending a dental assisting school. Dental education is an important part of any dental assisting school curriculum. You can take your knowledge beyond the classroom by volunteering at local schools or community events. Ask if they have space for an oral care demonstration, where you can teach children and adults about proper oral hygiene. This is a great way to gain experience in the field while giving back to your community. Dental Lifeline Network is another great organization that provides comprehensive, donated treatment for vulnerable people with disabilities, the elderly, or those with medical problems.
With 15,000 volunteer dentists and 3,700 volunteer laboratories, this organization ensures that international dental projects meet the highest standards of medical and dental care. Depending on your level of experience and certifications, you can follow a local dentist, prepare and sterilize equipment, perform maintenance tasks in the clinic or hospital, visit schools and community centers to report on oral hygiene, and even directly help dentists with their work. Volunteering Solutions is another great option for students attending a dental assisting school. Depending on the location, they place volunteers anywhere from large urban hospitals to rural dental clinics in village schools. Global Dental Relief also provides portable dental units and all the instruments and supplies needed to perform restorations, extractions, sealants and preventive care.
Untrained volunteers can support dental professionals by helping them with administrative work, providing educational support to patients, and helping to maintain dental instruments. The American Dental Education Association (ADEA) has some guidelines (PDF download) that all dental students and other responsible volunteers should follow when volunteering for oral health. Additionally, more than 300 volunteers provide clinical services each year through organizations like the Saint Paul District Dental Society and retired dental professionals. If you're a student attending a dental assisting school looking for volunteer opportunities, there are plenty of ways to get involved in the field. From education and fundraising to donations and demonstrations, you can find many ways to give back to your community. Organizations like Dental Lifeline Network and Volunteering Solutions offer programs that provide comprehensive donated treatment for vulnerable people.
You can also join the ADA Standards Committee on Dental Products and the ADA Dental Informatics Standards Committee or volunteer with Global Dental Relief to experience Mexican culture while learning about local dental care.
