Dentistry Electives

You’ll have an eye-opening dentistry elective in Takoradi, as there are huge differences in practise and resource between Ghana and the UK. For example, when the lights on dental chairs are broken, dentists have to resort to using their mobile phone torches to see. And in terms of practise, you’ll see that patient-centred care is absent — children are often restrained during procedures, for example. You’ll also see that there’s a big difference in how much patients understand about oral health, so you’ll be able to offer some education too. Read stories from those who’ve already travelled with us to Takoradi.

On your dental elective abroad, you’ll see that dentistry in Sri Lanka hasn’t advanced at the same rate as it has in the UK, so in spite of offering similar treatments, there are big differences in the way they’re carried out. You may also see tooth staining that results from patients chewing betel leaves (a mild stimulant). Chewing these leaves can lead to cavities and, in extreme cases, oral cancer. Sri Lanka has high oral cancer rates, and many clinicians believe that betel leaves are the main reason for this. The learning experience goes both ways, so expect local dentists to be interested in hearing about the latest techniques in the UK too! Read stories from those who’ve already travelled with us to Kandy. 

If you do your dental elective placement in Dar es Salaam, you’ll see that many Tanzanians suffer from oral health issues. Similar to some of our other destinations, this is because of a lack of education around oral health. You’ll see a lot of patients suffering from dental fluorosis too, and this is due to water contamination and diet. A placement here is eye-opening, and things will be different from what you’re used to in the UK. For example, patient-centred care isn’t high on the list of priorities and there are no options for sedation, or really any resources to do anything other than help patients with their immediate pain. Read stories from those who’ve already travelled with us to Dar es Salaam.

On a dentistry placement in Nepal, you’ll see conditions that you might only see in clinical journals in the UK. Odontogenic cysts, for example. Previous students have even reported sitting in on advanced surgeries like mandibular resections. On the other hand, the lack of resources in the hospital will help you to appreciate just how advanced care is for patients in the UK, even on the NHS. Early diagnosis is rare in Kathmandu, so basic preventative treatment options are limited. You’ll also note that contact time with patients is shorter than in the UK — there are so many patients to see that local dentists just don’t have the time. Read stories from those who’ve already travelled with us to Kathmandu.