VIDA UW

With our dental program, you get an interactive shadowing experience helping patients as you learn basic dental techniques. Instead of just shadowing local dentists, we are going to really put you to work to assist with various procedures. You don’t just shadow the local dentist, you also have a great responsibility helping to educate and motivate patients toward better health while actively participating in the on-site clinic administration.

 

Our local licensed dentists help maintain protocols for volunteers and staff members throughout Central America, in order to maintain a code of ethics for our practices here in Central America. Volunteers are allowed to actively participate in all areas of the clinic at the discretion of VIDA staff, but all procedures performed at the local mobile clinics are the complete responsibility of the licensed VIDA Dental professional in charge of the clinic. Volunteers are not liable for any procedures or their outcomes. Volunteers are encouraged to participate as much as possible during the entire clinic process without ethically compromising the welfare of our patients.

 

Depending on the volunteer’s level of prior experience (dental assistant, previous mission trip experience, pre-dental student vs. 4th year dental school student) will determine the volunteer´s ability to achieve independence in procedures. The ability to absorb and retain information is also important as we have had pre-dental students with little or no experience and when in a mixed level group, this permits the advanced dental students to share their knowledge to undergraduates. These teaching sessions are guided by the licensed professional, an experience we highly recommend.