Dental Volunteering

In our busy lives, our time can seem too precious to do things that are out of our routine. However, when we do volunteer our time for a good cause this makes the effort all the more worthwhile. As dental health professionals we have the privilege to use our minds and unique skill sets on a daily basis to benefit complete strangers. Volunteering can be a fantastic way to utilise these skills and make a positive change in the lives of those less fortunate than ourselves.

Volunteering in dentistry can take all sorts of forms and you can participate at any stage in your career. Joining a committee with your professional organisation or university can be a great way to connect with your peers, share your ideas and experiences and contribute to changes in the direction of your profession.  It is a great way to make connections, develop your interpersonal skills and see what issues the wider world of dentistry holds for us.

Volunteering organisations exist all over the world that seek to provide dentistry to disadvantaged populations. As dentists we can assist them by providing dental services, oral hygiene instruction or training to locals in dental prevention. On their website, federal ADA provides great information on some of these organisations as well as documents on what to consider when planning your trip. While your intentions may be pure, you must consider your own welfare first. Travel in groups to safe countries and volunteer for reputable organisations that are well accepted by the local community. See the opportunity to volunteer as a way to provide long term benefit to the people you interact with rather than as a way to practice your dentistry. Ensure that your indemnity insurance company can provide you with protection for the period you are overseas. Volunteering trips can be a great way to demonstrate your commitment and enthusiasm to the profession. Although it shouldn't be your primary focus, it can also be a great way to develop your skills working in difficult environments and on challenging patients where there is often a strong language and cultural barrier.

Existing volunteering organisations aren't the only way to share your skills and knowledge. Giving talks in your local community at events, schools or local clubs can be a great way to explore your surroundings as well as expose your presence to the locals especially if you are new the area. Your knowledge of dental and general health can be invaluable to these people and education and awareness are key in effecting change in population health. Volunteering can even be done in the comfort of your own surgery. Programs such as ASO "Give a smile" or those run by the ADHF are some good examples of this. There is plenty of good that can be done closer to home and these can be ideal for the busy practitioner who can't find the time for an extended overseas trip.

My personal experience as a volunteer overseas and in Australia has been a humbling one. I have been taken out of my comfort zone and travelled to places I otherwise wouldn't have seen. The days are long and hard but the appreciation to those you treat is worth the effort. Pain relief and treatment of disease in my opinion are noble efforts but the main aim in these communities should be empowering them with the knowledge and skills to take charge of their own long term health. The issue that dental volunteering can have is that short term visits can address suffering but may not necessarily address the etiology of suffering. These people can become reliant on services that "rescue" them from pain and this may lead to deepening inequality despite our best intentions. Instead, our main focus as responsible health professionals can be on education and instruction aiming for long term change. Local, established volunteering organisations may certainly be achieving this already.

Overall, volunteering is a great way to take you far and wide, meet new people and experience new things. It is valuable in developing yourself as a clinician and a human being and can allow you to create lifelong memories that you will hold forever. Care must be taken in the planning of your trip to ensure that you are safe, and providing valuable services to the locals. Be sure to ask the right questions about your organisation and the place you are visiting to ensure that you are comfortable that they are in line with your own values. Volunteering can be done anywhere and anytime and can be a great way to break the monotony of study or clinical practice. Often the greatest change can be made right at home. When done right and for the right reasons, volunteering is something that you will not regret.