WHAT IS AN OVERSEAS DENTAL INTERNSHIP WITH WORK THE WORLD?
A dental internship abroad is a placement undertaken in a low-resource hospital in the developing world.
The healthcare system will seem a complete contrast to your own, and you’ll get experience with both dentistry practices and conditions you’re unlikely to have encountered.
You choose which destination you want to go to for your internship abroad, and which areas you want to experience, from maxillofacial surgery to general oral hygiene. It’s completely customizable.
You’ll see cases of decay advanced well beyond what you’ve seen before. You’ll learn how sociocultural issues impact patients (oral hygiene is often a secondary concern in our destinations). And you’ll see how local specialists adapt to the challenge of equipment shortages.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A DENTAL INTERNSHIP ABROAD?
To help you (and your resumé) stand apart from the many dental students graduating every year, we’ve specially designed our internships.
On our internships for dental students, you’ll:
- Expand your clinical knowledge and skill set
- Develop your confidence and resourcefulness
- Build your personal and professional network
- Sharpen your verbal and non-verbal communication
- Become more attractive to employers
The best part? Placements run Monday to Friday. Evenings and weekends are yours to adventure across a beautiful destination you might never visit again.
Who are we?
We're Work the World — The experts in planning and building dental internships for international students. We’ve been doing this since 2005, and have built internships for over 18,000 students from more than 400 universities around the world.
We provide a personal, end-to-end service that includes:
Internship customization (choose your destination and areas of clinical interest) | Comprehensive pre-trip support | 24/7 in-country support team | Private, catered accommodation
You’ll arrive on a Sunday and we operate 52 weeks a year, so if you're looking for either term-time or summer internships, we can help. Internship durations start from one week.
For more detail about how our service works click here.
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS?
As long as you are enrolled or have been accepted on a professional dentistry degree at dental school you are eligible.
You can also go on our dental internships abroad if you are already graduated. However, please note that our internships are educational in their nature and designed to give you experience in a low resource hospital setting under the supervision of local qualified professionals.
STEP 1. SUBMIT AN INQUIRY
First, submit an inquiry using the form at the bottom of the page. Tell us where, when and why you want to travel as well as your current level of study.
STEP 2. WE'LL GET IN TOUCH
Next, a member of our consultation team will review your inquiry then call you to discuss your eligibility. They will also answer any questions you may have.
STEP 3. APPROVAL AND CONFIRMATION
Once we have confirmed your eligibility, you need to submit your application form and pay your registration fee. We will then confirm your placement and availability within 48 hours.
DESTINATIONS
Ghana - Takoradi
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Takoradi offers a welcoming West African atmosphere to all. The town is a thriving port community with markets, bars, and restaurants aplenty. The area is also abundant in natural beauty — think safaris, hikes to jungle waterfalls, and trips remote village.
On a dental internship here, you could gain experience with oral conditions uncommon in the developed world. Spend time in the Pediatric Dentistry Department and you’ll come to understand the challenges faced by local professionals when treating conditions like pulpitis, gingivitis, and periodontitis. If you're interested in a dental internship in Africa, put Ghana on your list. Read stories from those who’ve already travelled with us to Takoradi.
Sri Lanka - Kandy
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Kandy’s ancient culture has left its mark on the city, with time-worn shrines and ornate Buddhist temples lining its streets. The city’s outskirts are also home to wildlife like elephants, jaguars, and leopards, making a jungle safari a must-do.
On your dental internship you could be assisting local specialists in busy departments, witnessing how the lack of resources impacts patient care here. You could also have the chance to see cases of oral cancer, the treatment of which will open your eyes to the developing nature of this field. Read stories from those who’ve already travelled with us to Kandy.
Tanzania - Dar es Salaam
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While Dar es Salaam is Tanzania’s second largest city, it happens to be surrounded by game parks, mountains, forests, and warm seas. While here, be sure to go on safari, and stop by the tropical island of Zanzibar for sun, sand, sea, and the occasional beach barbecue.
Oral health issues are commonplace in Tanzania, due to contaminated water and a lack of oral health education. So, on a dental internship here you could be assisting specialists with a range of complex cases relating to oral surgery, pathology and general medicine. Read stories from those who’ve already travelled with us to Dar es Salaam.
Nepal - Kathmandu
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Kathmandu is home to an ancient culture, ornate temples, and is surrounded by a natural beauty ripe for exploration. Here you can trek through jungles to hidden stupas, leap from the world’s highest bungee platform, and go on elephant safaris.
On a dental internship here you could get involved in everything from routine check-ups to abscess surgeries. Show enthusiasm and opportunities across Maxillofacial, Prosthodontics, and Endodontics could also appear. This is, simply put, one of the best dental internships in Asia. Read stories from those who’ve already travelled with us to Kathmandu.
"I was able to see some oral cancers at the OMF clinic which was useful as I had been taught what they might look like but I had never seen any cases in real life."
Hannah Atkinson , University of Birmingham 2024
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"We visited ancient squares and temples, like Durbar Square, and went to see the view from the top of Chandragiri Hills. It was incredible."
Tom Phillips, University of Sheffield 2023
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"A lot of the time we were working with no x-rays. This meant a lot of procedures, such as extractions for example were kind of performed blind."
Stefan Gabora, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine 2022
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"Due to the lack of resources, rubber dams and rotary instruments were not readily available."
Leo Sim, Queen's University, Belfast 2019
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"I saw quite a few cases that I had only learned about in textbooks up until this placement."
Mohamad Abu Sharkh, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry 2018
Read moreWhat is a dental internship?
A dental internship is a clinical rotation dental students can undertake in low-resource hospitals overseas. Every year, more and more dental students are doing their dentistry internships abroad. To create your own customized dental internship overseas, get in touch with us today.
