Shadow a Dentist or Do a Pre-Dental Internship Abroad?

Understanding the Best Path to Dental School—and How Global Experience Fits In

If you’re preparing to apply to dental school, gaining clinical exposure is non-negotiable. Most schools require, and all strongly prefer, that applicants complete substantial shadowing hours to understand the realities of dentistry.

But how you get those hours matters. Should you shadow a local dentist in your hometown or take it a step further with a pre-dental internship abroad?

The truth is, both options have merit, but they offer different experiences, benefits, and impacts on your dental school application.

Let’s break down the pros, cons, and best-fit scenarios for each and explore why an international dental internship might be the best move you make this year.

> Explore Go-Elective Pre-Dental and Dental Internships Abroad 

What Is Dental Shadowing?

Dental shadowing typically means observing a licensed dentist in a clinical setting. You don’t treat patients or perform procedures—instead, you:

• Observe clinical interactions and procedures
• Learn how dentists diagnose, treat, and communicate
• See the workflow of private practice or clinic life
• Gain exposure to specialties (e.g., endodontics, oral surgery)

Most U.S. dental schools recommend 100+ hours of shadowing, with some requiring it across multiple settings or specialties.

Shadowing can be done locally and flexibly, making it a practical first step for many students.

What Is a Pre-Dental Internship Abroad?

A pre-dental internship abroad goes beyond observation. With programs like Go Elective, students are placed in public hospitals and dental clinics in Kenya or Tanzania where they:

• Shadow dentists in high-volume, public settings
• Observe complex cases (e.g., late-stage infections, trauma care)
• Assist with community dental health education
• Explore how dentistry operates in low-resource healthcare systems
• Experience a new culture and build soft skills like adaptability and communication

It’s hands-on, immersive, and eye-opening.

Shadowing a Dentist: Pros and Cons

Pros

✅ Easy to arrange locally
✅ Required or recommended by nearly all dental schools
✅ Helps confirm your interest in dentistry
✅ Flexible scheduling - can fit around school or work

Cons

❌ Often limited to one dentist or specialty
❌ Minimal patient interaction especially for programs that are strictly shadowing
❌ Less exposure to public health and community outreach
❌ May feel repetitive or lack diversity of clinical cases

Shadowing is essential—but it’s just the beginning.

Pre-Dental Internship Abroad: Pros and Cons

Pros

✅ Deeper clinical exposure across diverse cases and departments
✅ Opportunity to observe dental care in underserved communities
✅ Builds cross-cultural communication and global health insight
✅ Adds standout experiences to your personal statement and interviews
✅ May include outreach, oral hygiene education, or public health projects

Cons

❌ Requires international travel and upfront costs
❌ May not count toward formal shadowing hours at all schools
❌ More structured and time-intensive than local shadowing
❌ You must ensure ethical observation—no treatment beyond your training level

Go Elective ensures all pre-dental internships are safe, educational, and within appropriate scope.

What Do Dental Schools Prefer?

Most U.S. dental schools do not require international experience—but many view it as a valuable differentiator, especially when combined with traditional shadowing.

According to the ADEA (American Dental Education Association):

“Dental schools seek applicants with a demonstrated understanding of the profession, cultural competence, and service orientation.”

A quality pre-dental internship abroad can highlight all three.

✅ Best approach? Combine both:

• Do local shadowing to meet baseline expectations
• Add an international internship to deepen your experience and stand out

What You’ll Actually Learn on a Pre-Dental Internship in Africa

At Go Elective, pre-dental interns rotate through departments such as:

• General Dentistry: Extractions, fillings, oral hygiene education
• Pediatric Dentistry: Patient behavior management, early tooth decay
• Oral Surgery: Trauma care, tumor removals, emergency procedures
• Community Outreach: Oral health workshops in schools or villages

You’ll also observe challenges in public health delivery—like resource constraints, late-stage presentations, or high patient volumes. These insights help shape your understanding of dentistry as a global profession.

Testimonial:

“Seeing how dentists in Tanzania manage complex cases without modern tools made me realize how much I take for granted—and how important patient education is.” — Former Go Elective intern

How to Talk About Either Experience in Your Dental School Application

✅ Personal Statement: 

Highlight a transformative moment, whether abroad or local, and explain how it shaped your commitment to dentistry.

✅ AADSAS Experience Section: 

Be clear and honest. Label international internships as “Dental Shadowing” or “Health Volunteer,” with detailed task descriptions.

✅ Interviews: 

Use your internship to demonstrate cultural humility, resilience, and interest in underserved populations.

Final Verdict: Shadowing or Internship?

Final Thoughts: Why Not Both?

If your goal is to become a compassionate, well-rounded dentist, you don’t have to choose one or the other.

Start by shadowing a local dentist to meet admissions requirements. Then take your experience further by joining a global internship program like Go Elective.

You’ll return with a richer understanding of healthcare, stronger communication skills, and stories that will set you apart from the crowd.

Ready to Take Your Pre-Dental Experience Global?

Go Elective offers pre-dental internships abroad.

✓ Shadow real dentists in public clinics
✓ Assist with community health projects
✓ Cultural immersion and global exposure
✓ Safe housing and in-country support

Apply today and build a dental school application that tells a bigger story.

Article Details

Categories

Recent Articles , Pre-health, Dental Internships,

Author: Go-Elective Abroad

Date Published: Jun 27, 2025