Dentistry Internship in Mexico

Gain work experience by learning directly from dentists and participating in dental outreaches

Destination

Mexico

Age

18+ y/o

Minimum Stay

1 week

Start Date

Anytime

Accommodation

Homestay

Requirements

You need to speak basic Spanish.

What’s Included

24/7 Support

Round-the-clock support on the ground and 24/7 back up from our global teams.

Accommodation & Amenities

Clean, safe, and welcoming accommodation. A home away from home with comfortable amenities.

Activities, Training & Equipment

All programme activities and equipment, including training and workshops from experienced professionals.

Certification

Certified record of service hours, workshops, and activities for your CV.

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Starting at £1,520 for 1 weeks

Flexible 0% Interest payments

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Trip Overview

Clinical shadowing and observation

Shadow dentists in Guadalajara clinics, observing procedures and gaining insights into diverse dental practices in Mexico.

Oral hygiene community outreach

Assist with oral hygiene education in local communities, promoting preventative dental care and improving public health awareness.

Practical dental assistance

Support clinic staff with patient screenings, instrument preparation, and minor tasks, developing hands-on practical skills for the future.

Local living and immersion

Experience Mexican culture by living with a host family, enjoying authentic cuisine, and exploring Guadalajara’s vibrant city life.

Professional dental development

Enhance your CV with international experience, contributing to community health while gaining valuable dental work experience in Mexico.

What you need to know

Overview

Our Dentistry internship in Mexico 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, you can seize the opportunity to build on your practical dental knowledge.

You can use this experience to add work experience to your CV, and it will give you a lot to talk about in interviews. Talk about what you saw and learnt and how you overcame any challenges you faced. You’ll also have a deeper insight into the healthcare challenges people face in developing countries.

You don’t need any previous experience to join. You’ll have a supervisor to guide you, and you can reach out to Projects Abroad staff anytime you need to. You can find out whether dentistry is the right career for you by getting first-hand experience of what the day-to-day life of a dentist is like.

However, you do need to be at least 18 years old to join. You’ll also need to speak basic Spanish.

This project runs throughout the year. Please contact us to discuss which dates work for you.

A Day in the Life

On a typical day, you’ll wake up and enjoy a tasty breakfast with your host family. You’ll use public transport to get to your placement. On your first day, our staff will show you the easiest way to get there.

Your workday will run from 8am until 1pm, Monday to Friday. You’ll have your weekends free.

You will usually shadow the dentists in consultations and occasionally on easy procedures, depending on what is scheduled for the day.

Once a month (depending on the overall number of interns), you’ll go out into a rural community to help at outreaches or raise awareness about dental care.

In the evenings, you can spend time exploring local markets or visiting the string of culinary establishments in the city centre. Or you could spend time with your host family to get to know them better and fully immerse yourself in their way of life.

Aims & Impact

The aim of this project is to give you the chance to learn more about dentistry firsthand. You’ll learn directly from dentists, and they’ll teach you how to diagnose and treat the conditions you see. We encourage you to ask questions and take notes to make the most of your internship.

In Mexico, many of the disadvantaged communities we work with have little or no access to basic healthcare or dental services. Either they can’t afford to pay for treatment, or they have no means to travel to a clinic. You will be part of our efforts to overcome this by participating in outreach work.

Your main role during outreaches will be to help raise awareness about the importance of dental hygiene. By teaching local community members the ins and outs of dental care, you’ll help with preventing tooth decay and gum disease.

To make sure we’re always working towards a long-term vision, we’ve outlined several goals in our Medical Management Plan:

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 a Dentistry internship in Mexico and help us work towards these goals.

Activities

You’ll work in 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 dentistry staff and experience their daily routine
Assist with minor tasks like patient screenings and preparing instruments for procedures
Conduct community outreaches and raise awareness of the importance of oral hygiene

Your work will focus on these areas:

Observe professional dentists

The majority of your internship will be spent shadowing dentists in a dental clinic or healthcare centre. You’ll get to observe patients being screened, sit in on consultations, and observe procedures. These procedures include tooth extractions and tooth cavity cleaning.

You may also be able to observe more complex procedures, like endodontics procedures and maxillofacial surgeries. You will be permitted to enter the operating room to observe.

Assist dentistry staff

You’ll also have the chance to assist with minor tasks. This will include helping prepare instruments and equipment and giving patients information about oral hygiene.

Community outreaches

You can also raise awareness about the importance of oral hygiene during outreaches in schools and around the community. You’ll give talks on how to brush teeth correctly, and 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.

Map & Location

¡Hola! Get ready for a fiesta of flavours, colours, and experiences in Mexico. The birthplace of chocolate and the Day of the Dead celebrations, Mexico is a captivating nation with incredible food. people, music, and more.

It also has a rich history with Mayan ruins and colonial towns to explore, and is home to the world’s smallest volcano! Our project locations in Mexico are safe and you will be welcomed into the community like one of the locals immediately.

Guadalajara

Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco in western Mexico, is steeped in tradition and brimming with modern energy. With a population of over 1.4 million, it’s the second-largest city in Mexico, and boasts a rich history and mild climate year round.

Famed for its mariachi music, tequila, and delicious cuisine, the city houses historic landmarks like the Guadalajara Cathedral and the Teatro Degollado. Wander along cobbled streets and experience the lively atmosphere of this enchanting city.

Food & Accommodation

You’ll have everything you need to enjoy an incredible experience in Mexico, including a clean bed, three meals a day, and fresh drinking water. You’ll stay with a caring host family, vetted by Projects Abroad, who will treat you like one of their own from the moment you arrive.

Your home away from home will be clean, safe, and secure, with Projects Abroad staff members handling your transport to and from your placement. Your host family will provide delicious home-cooked food throughout your stay and introduce you to Mexican culture.

Speak Spanish with them every day, share your experiences and culture, and make meaningful connections with people around the world. We will try to have you share your accommodation with other participants so you can experience the real Mexico together.

Free Time and Leisure

With beautiful beaches, eye-catching art galleries, and buzzing restaurants, there’s something for everyone in Mexico. You’ll have plenty to do during your free time on your project in this dynamic country.

There’s something captivating about touring through old buildings. If you’re into neo-gothic architecture, treat yourself to a trip to the Templo Expiatorio del Santisimo Sacramento. It’s a work of art with its ornate steeples and glowing stained glass windows.

There are also plenty of museums, giving you the chance to immerse yourself in the country’s rich history. For something different, you can spend the day appreciating the wildlife and lush vegetation of Las Peñas Ecological Park.

You can’t take a trip to Mexico without tasting authentic Mexican cuisine. You can spend an evening enjoying pozole or tamales at a local restaurant and watching the vivid orange-red sun melt into the horizon.

We have a host of different projects in Mexico so there’ll likely be lots of other volunteers in the area during your trip. That gives you the flexibility to choose to travel and explore in a group or on your own.

Your Arrival Made Easy

When you arrive at your respective airport, a member of Projects Abroad staff will be there to meet you. You can find more detailed information on arrival airports, orientation, and visas on our Mexico Arrival Procedures page.