About the Program
Grab the opportunity to learn from qualified dentists by joining our Dentistry internship in Ghana. You’ll shadow dentists as they move around the hospital completing day-to-day tasks. This is a great way to learn about dentistry in a developing country and add practical work experience to your CV.
You’ll also assist dentists as they provide free basic dental checks to disadvantaged children. When you aren’t helping with dental checks, you’ll talk with the children about the importance of good dental health. You can demonstrate effective teeth brushing and run educational talks on gum disease.
If you are a student looking for dentistry work experience in another country, then our Dentistry internship in Ghana is for you.
You’ll have the opportunity to shadow dentists and work with patients who have a culture different to your own. The skills you’ll learn during this internship are a great addition to any CV. This can put you a step ahead of the rest in future job interviews.
Even if you’re not a dental student but are considering a career in this direction, you are welcome to sign up. The focus of this internship is on learning, and we’ll teach you everything you need to know for outreach work. You’ll also have a supervisor who will be there when you need them. They are here to teach you, guide you and support you throughout your time in Ghana.
This internship is open throughout the year. You can join from two weeks, but we encourage you to stay longer. The longer you stay, the more you’ll learn.
This project is also perfect for university medical and healthcare elective students. The real-world insight and knowledge you gain will help shape you as a future medical professional. You will also learn to work with different people and get a broader perspective of global healthcare systems and issues. This benefits your career for years to come. We can organise a placement that meets all of your university's requirements.
As an intern, you’ll shadow dentists and other medical staff at a local hospital. During your internship, you will:
Your work will focus on these areas:
1) Shadow and assist local dentists as they complete their day-to-day tasks in a local hospital
To give you a better idea of dental practices in a developing country, you’ll spend your time observing dentists at your dentistry placement in Ghana. You’ll assist with patient and equipment preparation, and provide patients with support if they feel they need it. Use this opportunity to ask the dentist questions about the conditions of different patients and how they are being treated.
2) Complete basic dental checks alongside a qualified dentist during community outreaches
Many locals living in rural areas cannot afford basic healthcare and are unable to travel to the hospitals and clinics. To improve their access to basic healthcare, you’ll assist dentists with free basic dental checks in the community. You’ll assist with examinations and the dentist will advise or refer patients after discussing their cases with you.
3) Conduct oral hygiene presentations in the community and at schools
Education is key to preventing dental issues. You’ll talk to the community and children at local schools about the importance of good oral hygiene. You’ll also create posters and informative materials to distribute in the community and run teeth brushing demonstrations for the children.
Location
Ghana is a peaceful and welcoming country; Ghana satisfies one's appetite for both modern and traditional life. Its wide valleys, low-lying coastal plains, and thick rainforests resound with the beat of traditional rituals, while her cities glow and vibrate with all the bustle of the modern world. The Ghanaians are the friendliest people in West Africa: warm, proud yet humble with a contagious and calming sense of funniness.
Ghana is hot. It is always hot. What’s more, it's always humid. Humidity usually lingers between 95 and 100 percent. The rainy season lasts from mid-June to mid-November - sometimes. The rain provides a little respite from the intense heat, but temperatures will still be in the mid-80s Fahrenheit. The south of the country experiences the heaviest rainfall during September.
Safety
You’ll wake up each morning to the call of your host mother. Before making your way to the hospital, you can get ready and grab something to eat. Most host families live close to the hospital so you’ll either take a 30-minute walk or grab a quick taxi ride. On your first day, our staff will accompany you to show you the way.
On your first day, your supervisor will be there to show you around. You can expect to work from 8am to 2pm, Monday to Friday. However, you are welcome to stay longer, provided there is a supervisor available. Lunch time is typically at 12pm, but this is not compulsory. Some interns prefer to eat lunch back at their host family after finishing for the day.
You’ll start each day at the hospital by assisting with preparations before they start receiving patients. You’ll then be able to sit in on patient consultations. Once or twice a week you’ll be able to assist local dentists as they examine children at a dental outreach in the community. These will include visits to schools where you will have the opportunity to educate children on the importance of dental hygiene.
Over the weekends, explore more of the beautiful Ghanaian countryside. Hike through one of the many national parks, visit historical museums, or spend the day relaxing on the beach.
During weekends Volunteers/Interns have the opportunity to visit all that Ghana has to offer. Weekend trips available include visits to Mole National Park in the Northern Region of Ghana. This National Park offers a great Safari-like experience and is one of the biggest Elephant Sanctuaries in Africa with the chance to spot Lions, Leopards & Antelopes in their natural habitat. Volunteers can also take a trip to Cape Coast in the Central Region of Ghana to relax in the beautiful beaches and see the famous Cape Coast castle, the Kakum Canopy walkway and Elmina castle, where slave trade begun.
NOTE: We do provide tours, therefore you can add a tour before or after your volunteer program for an additional cost. We can perform quality tours and can offer discounts to volunteers.
Airport pick-up and transportation from Accra to your project sites - Three times daily local dishes - Introduction to host family and program - Accommodation - Placement and supervision in program - 24/7 Hotline for support - Recommendation Letter / Certificate - In country introduction/orientation - Regular Culture/Recreational Activities (Personal spending not included)
You will be met upon arrival and you will be transfer to your project site, it's about 4 -5 hours drive from the airport, Accra.
All accommodation with a Ghana home-stay family is included. Rooms are private (you can share with other volunteers but the price will remain the same) and have all the basic furnishings you could expect, including running water, electricity & clean bathrooms. The home-stay families have been specially chosen by OGVO and have hosted many volunteers over the course of several years. Our home-stay families form some of the most memorable parts of Volunteer Programs and provide amazing insight…..
Three meals a day are provided by the home-stay families and consist mainly of traditional Ghanaian meals with some flexibility for home comforts when available. If you have special eating needs, you can indicate that while applying. Even though special eating needs are not something we can guarantee, we will do our best to meet your needs.
This program is available all year round, so volunteers or interns can arrive any day of the week or any month of the year with advance notice!
Dentistry Internship
If you are a student looking for dentistry work experience in another country, then our Dentistry internship in Ghana is for you.
$258/week
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