Dentistry Internship in Ghana

You will have the opportunity to work with Our Generation Voluntary Organisation’s (OGVO) dental elective internship programs in Ghana. Participants will be able to choose between working in cities or villages while assisting professional dentists. This is a great opportunity for dental students who want to add hands-on experience to their training. First and second year dental students will shadow doctors and help with basic tasks. Third and fourth year students will have the opportunity to do hands-on tasks like extractions, fillings and scaling, depending on interest and skill. This program is designed for those who want to excel in their field and who want to experience dental work in rural or urban settings.

Program participants must be in the dental field in order to qualify for this internship placement. You may encounter situations that are not common to your home country and you will also experience different methods of treatment. This will add to your wealth of experience and make you a standout candidate in your future career. You can opt to intern/volunteer with one of the hospitals or clinics in Kumasi or in the semi-rural Akuapim Togo Mountains. Patients often travel great distances to be able to go to the hospital for treatment.

Travel tips

You should arrive into Kotoka International Airport in Accra (airport code ACC). You will be met at the airport by one of our staffs who will be holding a named sign. He/she will take you to your accommodation where you will spend the rest of your day at leisure.

Can I use this program as part of a university or college placement?

It is certainly possible to use one of OGVO’s programs as part of your university or college placement. Project staff can sign off any paperwork required by your course tutors. OGVO regularly receives medical, childcare, psychology and nursing placement students at our projects in Ghana and we have ties with some of the leading universities.

If you’re a course tutor and would like further information about how one of OGVO’s programs could meet the placement requirements for your degree course then please contact us directly.

A typical day on the Dentistry internship in Ghana

You’ll wake up each morning to the call of your host mother. Before making your way to the hospital, you can get ready and grab something to eat. Most host families live close to the hospital so you’ll either take walk or grab a quick taxi ride. On your first day, our staff will accompany you to show you the way.

On your first day, your supervisor will be there to show you around. You can expect to work from 8am to 2pm, Monday to Friday. However, you are welcome to stay longer, provided there is a supervisor available. Lunch time is typically at 12pm, but this is not compulsory. Some interns prefer to eat lunch back at their host family after finishing for the day.

You’ll start each day at the hospital by assisting with preparations before they start receiving patients. You’ll then be able to sit in on patient consultations. Once or twice a week you’ll be able to assist local dentists as they examine children at a dental outreach in the community. These will include visits to schools where you will have the opportunity to educate children on the importance of dental hygiene.

Over the weekends, explore more of the beautiful Ghanaian countryside. Hike through one of the many national parks, visit historical museums, or spend the day relaxing on the beach.