Dental Electives Abroad
Dental Electives Abroad
Go-Elective's dentistry placement programs abroad offer dental students a unique and immersive experience, providing exposure to diverse dental practices and an opportunity to contribute to communities with limited access to oral healthcare in Africa.
In economically disadvantaged nations, dental care remains expensive and often inaccessible. Patients typically lack awareness of basic oral hygiene, seeking dental assistance only when their conditions reach unbearable levels. Considering this and other sociocultural issues, the program exposes participants to notably advanced dental cases, offering valuable learning opportunities.
Go-Elective offers a range of customized dental programs for various participants, including college students, dental professionals, pre-dental students, and even high school students. Our program follows the ADEA Guidelines for Ethical Academic and Industry Interactions.
Go-Elective's Dental Program Duration & Schedule
The dental electives abroad are flexible, ranging from 2 to 12 weeks. You can tailor the duration to align with your academic commitments and personal availability. Hospital rotations are typically from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on weekdays, providing you with afternoons for additional activities, including residence-based global health seminars, language lessons, or relaxation.
What’s Included in the Program
Go Elective offers a comprehensive surgery internship abroad package.
We provide pre-trip support; airport transfers; 24/7 assistance; safe, spacious, and comfortable housing; private transport; unlimited Wi-Fi access; laundry services; chef-prepared meals tailored to personal dietary preferences; hospital fees; orientation; mentorship/training; residence-based weekly global health seminars; language lessons; recommendation letter/certificate of participation; volunteering opportunities as well as a chance to explore the destination, hike Mt. Kilimanjaro or go on a safari.
Why Choose Go Elective?
In today’s interconnected world, gaining a global healthcare perspective is essential. International dentistry elective experiences not only give you an edge in academic and job applications but also enable cultural interaction, skill adaptation, and practical, hands-on learning beyond the classroom.
In Kenya and Tanzania, the scarcity of dental resources and technology contributes to a lack of access to quality oral health for many. Through our dental electives, you'll encounter diverse dental practices and conditions, gaining global insights and skills necessary for your future career. Besides, our dental elective programs abroad come with distinct advantages including:
Flexible Program Durations and Dates
You can tailor your experience to your schedule. Our program durations range from 2 to 12 weeks, allowing you to choose dates that work best for your educational and professional commitments.
Global Health Impact
You will gain international exposure by exploring diverse dental approaches worldwide and immersing yourself in various procedures performed by experienced dentists. You?ll also experience firsthand the impact of limited resources, poverty, and socio-cultural traditions on oral healthcare delivery. In regions with minimal access to health care, your contribution becomes crucial.
Unique Clinical Experiences
With a shortage of dentists in the region, you'll encounter diverse dental conditions contributing to both your skill set and the local community's healthcare.
Exposure to Diverse Specialties
Explore a range of specialties, including periodontics, orthodontics, prosthodontics, dental public health, endodontics, pediatric dentistry, and maxillofacial surgery.
Hands-On Learning in the Operating Room
Participate in basic dental care, including gum treatment, restorative dentistry, extractions, and orthodontic treatment.
Community Outreach and Volunteering
Contribute to the well-being of the communities where we operate by taking part in our community outreach programs and dental hygiene clinics, making a positive impact on the local communities. This includes teaching dental hygiene in local orphanages, or schools as well as distributing free toothbrushes and toothpaste.
Global Health Seminars
Engage in biweekly residence-based global health seminars, providing in-depth discussions on the healthcare system in the host country. Attend sessions with local dentists and other healthcare professionals, gaining a broader perspective.
Safaris & Cultural Immersion
Why travel so far and miss out on exploring your placement destination? Consider a safari in the Maasai Mara or Serengeti, or, for hikers, the chance to conquer Africa's tallest peak, Mt. Kilimanjaro. These opportunities await when you open yourself to exploring beyond your familiar borders. Picture yourself immersed in a new country, navigating vibrant markets, and sampling exotic cuisines.
Unique Program Highlights
Are you a dental student in the clinical years or a dental practitioner seeking a volunteer opportunity? Explore our tailored dental electives in developing countries designed to align with your objectives and provide exposure to unique dental practice environments. Our placements encompass a range of dental care activities, including basic care, restorative dentistry, tooth extraction, management of traumatic injuries, orthodontics, root canal treatment, and more. Despite the familiarity of these tasks, the diagnostic approaches and treatment methods employed in diverse settings will expand your understanding. This elective attachment offers insights into the application of innovation and creativity to deliver dental care in resource-limited settings.
In addition to participating in routine dental clinic rotations, our program includes involvement in dental education initiatives to raise awareness about the importance of seeking preventive dental services among populations. Whether you are a dental student looking for an elective abroad or a practitioner seeking a volunteer opportunity, reach out to us for expert advice. We can help structure your dental elective experience to align with your interests and meet your school's specifications, ensuring a meaningful and enriching learning experience.
Hospital Profile
One of our featured hospitals is the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital, with a rich history dating back to 1908. It's now the second-largest public hospital in Kenya, serving a primary population of over a million people and a secondary population of about 3 million. Patients travel from across Kenya and East Africa to seek high-quality and compassionate healthcare at this institution.
We also work with other public and private healthcare centers in Mombasa, Malindi, Nairobi, Kakamega, and Arusha in Tanzania.
Elective Supervision & Mentorship While Abroad:
Upon your arrival, our staff will meet you at the airport and drive you to our residence, allowing you to relax after your journey. The following day, you will receive a local area orientation, followed by a hospital induction.
During the hospital induction, you will be assigned a doctor mentor who will guide you throughout the program. We maintain daily communication with your supervisor to ensure your learning experience stays on track and aligns with your objectives.
GE Elective Programs Health & Safety
Our program residences are situated in the safest parts of the cities where we work. Each residence is in a gated community with security staff available all through. The accommodations might involve sharing a room with one other person depending on the number of participants at that particular time.
The residences are equipped with a TV, Wi-Fi, kitchen, dining area, and access to a swimming pool. Additionally, we offer private transportation in the destinations.
GE Dental Program Approach & Specialties
Participants will receive comprehensive exposure to dental skills and procedures. From initial history-taking and examination to tasks like cleaning, scaling, fillings, extractions, composite restorations, aesthetic dentistry, and the treatment of gum disease, you'll gain proficiency in diverse aspects of dental care. This unique experience will broaden your understanding and refine your skills, allowing you to navigate the complexities of providing dental care in resource-limited settings.
Specialties
The specialties include periodontics, orthodontics, prosthodontics, dental public health, endodontics, pediatric dentistry, and maxillofacial surgery. Be aware that there is a limited number of openings, so we recommend securing your spot as early as possible. We maintain a controlled number of students to uphold the quality of our clinical placements.
Scope, Task & Responsibilities of Medical Students in Our Surgery Program
Students will have access to the clinical area, however, tasks are usually assigned to the discretion of the supervisor after adequate orientation and evaluation of your clinical knowledge or skillset.
Under supervision and mentorship, participants, depending on their experience level, engage in basic dental care such as:
- Treating bleeding and swollen gums.
- Performing restorative dentistry (permanent filling in decayed teeth).
- Conducting extractions of erupted teeth and removal of fractured roots.
- Managing traumatic injuries to teeth and the soft tissues of the mouth.
- Administering orthodontic treatment.
- Replacing missing teeth with removable dentures.
- Conducting routine dental check-ups.
- Performing root canal treatment and maxillofacial surgery.
- Facilitating educational seminars and community awareness on dental hygiene
Observations During the Program
- Witnessing resource constraints and reliance on outdated equipment
- Addressing severe oral hygiene issues, particularly among children with extensive decay
- Noticing a lack of robust sterilization practices in dental procedures
- Encountering patients with delayed presentations and advanced conditions due to
limited access - Observing fundamental differences in dental practices, with minimal focus on preventive
dentistry - Recognizing oral health challenges rooted in a lack of education on dental hygiene
Benefits and Outcomes of the Dental Elective
- Gain a unique experience that sets you apart from your peers
- Enhance your academic profile through practical exposure
- Build a professional network with other program participants
- Build soft skills and confidence by stepping out of your comfort zone
- Find inspiration for potential specializations in the field
- Expand your knowledge base in oral health programs
- Contribute to the maintenance of dental equipment
Adventure Beyond Medicine
We understand that exploring the local culture and attractions is an important part of your experience. In your free time, you'll have the opportunity to go on safaris, join excursions, or even take on adventurous activities like hiking Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain in Africa.
These optional add-on activities allow you to fully immerse yourself in the beauty and culture of the placement destinations.
Preparing for Your Elective Abroad
Before embarking on your medical elective program, we recommend familiarizing yourself with your designated placement location. Learning about the language, climate, local customs, and culture will enrich your experience and help you adapt more easily. We will cover this in the pre-trip sessions.
Don't Leave Your Friends Behind!
Most applications are solo trips that then join other participants in the program. However,
you are free to travel with a group of friends or classmates. Moreover, you have the option
of extending your experience by inviting your family to join you for a memorable safari at
the program's conclusion.
Note that there may be group discounts available for those who choose to travel with friends
or classmates.
Other Placement Options
Besides healthcare, other work placement options available are Teaching, Community Development, Business Treks, HIV work, Orphanage Work, Agriculture, Environmental Protection, and more.
Our programs revolve around volunteering, studying abroad, career exploration, cultural immersion, language study, and gap year programs. Which can all be used for school credit.
Applications for 2026 & Summer 2027 Internships:
Ready to expand your horizons in dental healthcare? Go-Elective is here to support you at every step, from liaising with university staff to handling paperwork, visas, and flights. Reach out for specific advice or more information about our dental elective programs in 2026 or the summer of 2027.
Join Go-Elective, scrub up, and make a difference in the world of oral healthcare!
Success Stories from Our Alumni Network
Go Elective surpassed my expectations. From the moment I arrived, the GE staff made me feel at ease. The shadowing experience I got from the rural clinics in Mombasa was incredible, allowing me to see things I don't think I would have seen anywhere else.
Kayla Foord, Premed Internship
Success Stories from Our Alumni Network
Working with a skilled surgeon was incredible, but the real highlight was the eye-opening experience at the Coast General Hospital. It humbled me and showed me the impact that the medical profession can have worldwide.
Matthew O'Donnell, Medical Elective
Go Elective surpassed my expectations. From the moment I arrived, the GE staff made me feel at ease. The shadowing experience I got from the rural clinics in Mombasa was incredible, allowing me to see things I don't think I would have seen anywhere else.
Kayla Foord, Premed Internship
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Go Elective offers immersive opportunities for medical students, pre-med undergraduates, residents, nursing practitioners, and PAs to gain guided invaluable experience in busy hospitals abroad. Discover the power of study, travel, and impact.
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