At a glance
- Shadow dentists in dental clinics and health centres and learn from observing them. This is a great opportunity to get an insight into how dentistry is practiced in a developing country.
- You’ll get to see advanced cases that you wouldn’t see on an internship in your home country. Many of the health centres and clinics are under re-sourced, rest assured your help is greatly appreciated.
- You’ll be based in Arusha, a city in northern Tanzania. With scenic nature trails and a bustling city centre, it’s the perfect setting to experience life in East Africa.
Is the Dentistry internship in Tanzania right for me?
Our Dentistry internship in Tanzania is perfect for anyone interested in a career in dentistry. It will give you relevant experience to draw on when you apply to study. If you’re already studying, seize the opportunity to build your practical dentistry knowledge.
You don’t need any previous experience to join. You'll have a supervisor to guide you, and you can reach out to our staff anytime you need to. You can find out whether dentistry is the right career for you by getting first-hand dentistry experience.
This project runs all year round so you can join whenever it suits you. The minimum duration is two weeks, but we recommend staying longer to get the most out of your placement.
What will I do at my dentistry placement in Tanzania?
You’ll gain dentistry work experience in Tanzania at a dental clinic or healthcare centre. In both placements, there are plenty of ways you can learn and gain experience. These are some of your main tasks:
- Shadow and observe local dentists and experience their daily routine
- Assist with minor tasks like patient screening and preparing instruments for procedures
- Raise awareness of the importance of oral hygiene in local schools and communities
Your work will focus on these areas:
Observe and assist professional dentists
A large part of your internship will be spent in a dental clinic or healthcare centre, shadowing local staff. You’ll spend your time getting to know the daily routine of a dentist in Tanzania.
You’ll sit in on consultations and observe procedures, such as root canals and bonding. You might also get to see advanced cases first-hand, something you wouldn’t experience on an internship in your home country. Local dentists will teach you how to diagnose and treat these different conditions.
You’ll also have the chance to assist with minor tasks. This will include things like screening patients before consultations, helping prepare instruments and equipment, and giving patients information about oral hygiene.
Oral hygiene awareness campaigns
If you’re eager to make a difference in local communities, you can also raise awareness about the importance of oral hygiene in schools and around the community. However, this aspect of the internship is optional. You can organise your own outreaches and give talks on how to brush teeth correctly. If you’re feeling creative, you can make oral hygiene posters to hang on classroom walls. This will give students a visual reminder about why they need to care for their teeth.
Where in Tanzania will I work?
Arusha
On this Dentistry internship, you’ll spend most of your time in dental clinics or healthcare centres. The facilities and equipment might be more basic than what you’re used to. Time spent at your dentistry placement in Tanzania is a good opportunity to see how dentists cope in an under-resourced setting. If you do awareness work, this will be based in schools and rural communities.
This internship is based in Arusha, a city nestled at the foot of Mount Meru. It has a busy city centre, with buzzing bars and restaurants. There are also more rural communities on the outskirts of Arusha. You’ll see some developed buildings and tarred roads, but there will also be lots of dirt roads between more rustic buildings.
A typical day on the Dentistry internship in Tanzania
Your work will usually run from 8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday. You’ll have your weekends free.
On a typical day, you’ll wake up and enjoy a tasty breakfast with your host family. Then, you’ll grab your notebook and catch a dalla dalla (shared minibus taxi) to your placement. On your first day, Projects Abroad staff will accompany you to show you the way.
Mornings will usually be busier than your afternoons. You’ll start your work by sitting in on consultations and observing dental procedures. In the afternoons, you can help prepare equipment or ask local staff questions about the different cases you’ve seen throughout the day. This is a great opportunity to hear all about dentistry directly from professionals.
If you’d like, you can organise outreaches to raise awareness about dental care. This is a chance to teach children about the importance of caring for their teeth, to help with preventing future health problems.
In the evenings, you can spend time exploring, and enjoying dinner with your host family or other Projects Abroad interns and volunteers.
What are the aims and impact of this Dentistry internship?
The main aim of this project is to give you the chance to learn more about dentistry first-hand. You’ll also get to experience what dentistry is like in a developing country. As you shadow local staff, you’ll gain valuable experience to enhance your CV.
You can also help raise awareness about the importance of dental hygiene. By teaching local students the ins and outs of dental care, you can help with preventing tooth decay and gum disease. Without easy access to dental clinics, it’s particularly important to work towards preventing dental problems in these communities.
To make sure we’re always working towards a long-term vision, we’ve outlined five goals in our Medical Management Plan for Tanzania. These goals are:
- Improve access to basic healthcare for disadvantaged groups
- Promote awareness of non-communicable diseases
- Improve hygiene standards
- Improve the quality of healthcare provided to patients
- Encourage an understanding of medical practices and promote an exchange of medical knowledge
Join our dental internship in Tanzania and play a part in working towards these goals.
Management plans
We set out the aims and objectives of our projects in documents called Management Plans. We use them to properly plan the work you’ll do. They also help us measure and evaluate our achievements and impact each year.
Ultimately, our Management Plans help us make our projects better. This in turn means you get to be part of something that makes a real impact where it’s needed. Read more about our Management Plans.
Measuring our impact
Our projects work towards clear long-term goals, with specific annual objectives. Every volunteer and intern we send to these projects helps us work towards these goals, no matter how long they spend on our projects.
Every year we take a step back and look at how much progress we've made towards these goals. We put together a Global Impact Report, which documents our achievements. Find out more about the impact our global community of volunteers, interns and staff make, and read the latest report.
Food and accommodation
You'll stay with a host family in Arusha. They will welcome you into their home, eager to share their customs and have you teach them about your own culture. We believe that this is the best way to immerse yourself in the culture of Tanzania and have a truly unique experience.
We will always try to let you live alongside at least one other Projects Abroad volunteer or intern at the same host family. Your room will be modest, but comfortable, clean, and safe.
Your programme fee includes three meals a day.
Find out more about our accommodation.
Leisure activities and free time
A trip to Tanzania is the chance to experience life in the heart of Africa. There’s plenty to see and do here during your free time on your project.
A project in Tanzania wouldn’t be complete without a safari! This is a chance to see the beautiful wildlife of this country, like elephants, rhinos, and lions.
What’s more, Tanzania is home to the highest mountain in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro. Hiking around the base through lush vegetation is a peaceful way to spend an afternoon.
Browsing through a vibrant, local market is a must while you’re there. You can also spend time in a Maasai village, getting to know a completely different way of life.
There will likely be many other volunteers in Tanzania with you. This means you have the option to explore the country independently or with a group of like-minded volunteers from different projects.
Safety and staff support
Your safety and security is our prime concern. We have many procedures and systems to ensure you have the support you need to enjoy your trip with peace of mind. Our Projects Abroad staff are available 24 hours a day to help, and will be on-hand to make sure you settle in well at your accommodation and placement. If you encounter any problems, they will be available to help at any time.
Find out more about safety and backup.
Meet the team in Tanzania
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