Whether you are still considering a career in dentistry or you are absolutely sure this is what you want to do, nothing beats the advantage of gaining first-hand dentistry experience. It can also be said that the best dentistry experience can be found not here in the UK, but overseas in places such as India, Tanzania and the Caribbean. Shadowing a dentist in one of these countries can present a more varied array of cases than you may find at home. Gap Medics are experts in providing these kinds of placement, and here is how they can benefit you and your future:

Even before enrolling on a University dentistry course, having the opportunity to see what goes on in a dental surgery for the dentistry unit of a hospital is a wonderful chance to see what you could be doing in the future. Of course, when you do come to apply for university, being able to put down your history in dentistry (especially as a volunteer) may be the difference in making your application stand out from the crowd. Dentistry and all medical professions are keenly sought after and any edge you can get over other applicants is vitally important.

Of course, boosting your CV with the addition of dentistry experience is not the only benefit of these placements; working with the local professionals and seeing how they go about their daily business is simply an experience you cannot find here in the UK. In poorer countries and in facilities with fewer resources, you may find that the dentists and other health professionals you are working with must be more innovative and resourceful than here at home. This kind of dentistry experience may well open your eyes to both problems and solutions which will benefit you in the future.

You will not be alone as you gain this dentistry experience; you will be living and working with other potential dentists and medical professionals taking advantage of the same kind of placement as you. What may begin as an opportunity to share knowledge and experience may end in the formation of lifelong friendships and professional colleagues. Dentistry experience of this kind may not only be about pulling teeth!

While gaining this dentistry experience, you will not simply be following a qualified dentist around a dental unit; you’ll be able to gain hands-on experience, assisting them in carrying out their dentistry procedures where appropriate. You will also have the opportunity to attend teaching sessions both based on your specific field of interest, and also on more general clinical skills. You will be immersed in a world full of potential to learn and as such it will not just be your dentistry experience that benefits, but also your life experience.

Imagine the difference between enrolling on a dentistry degree course with only the most basic of previous knowledge, compared to beginning your training with such a rich background of travel and dentistry experience behind you. Having experienced one of these placements, your knowledge, confidence and communication skills will be boosted vastly and th