Participating in volunteer dental care abroad offers more than just clinical experience, it shows future dental professionals what it really means to serve communities in need. Through Smiles Movement’s volunteer clinics, many students have shared powerful stories of growth, compassion, and transformation. Below are three student testimonials that highlight different aspects of what volunteers learn, and why these outreach programs change lives.

Clara: Discovering Purpose Through Hands-On Care

One of our best testimonials comes from Clara, a pre‑dental student from South Carolina. Her first trip with Smiles Movement was in Peru, and she later returned for a second experience in Riobamba, Ecuador. Her journey shows how volunteering in dental care abroad programs can evolve from observation to active participation.

“We filled some cavities, we extracted some teeth, and that is a really hands-on experience for me, which is why I think it’s my favorite station.”

For Clara, assisting with fillings and extractions allowed her to gain real clinical exposure, something difficult to find in typical undergraduate settings. She also contributed to logistics: setting up clinic spaces, organizing supplies, and helping run outreach efforts. Through that work she learned not just dental skills, but leadership, responsibility, and how to collaborate within a team.

Clara reflects that the value of the volunteer clinic wasn't just in the technical learning, but in seeing how having access to dental care can transform lives and restore dignity to patients.

Zoe: From Pre‑Dental Interest to Community Service

Another great testimonial comes from Zoe, who joined Smiles Movement through a pre‑dental program aimed at students with little to no clinical background. Her testimonial showcases how volunteering in dental care abroad programs can serve as a first step for students exploring dentistry, offering exposure, confidence, and clarity about the field. 

For Zoe, working in mobile clinics, assisting with patient intake, helping manage hygiene materials, and shadowing dental professionals allowed her to understand what dental service looks like on the ground. Through this exposure, she gained not only technical insight but also cultural awareness, empathy for patients, and a recognition of how access to dental care impacts overall health. Her experience helped confirm that a dental career could be more than a job, it could be a calling.

Why Volunteer Experiences Matter

These individual stories highlight different lessons that can be learned from volunteer dental care abroad programs. For Clara, it was hands‑on care, clinical confidence, and a sense of purpose. For Zoe, it was first exposure, clarity about career aspirations, and gaining a deeper cultural understanding. But both reflect something essential: the ability of volunteer clinics to combine learning with service, and to provide experiences that traditional classroom education rarely ever offers.

By working with underserved communities, volunteers witness firsthand how lack of dental care affects people’s lives, from pain and infection to social stigma and neglect. They learn to treat with compassion, adapt to resource limitations, and understand the real-world consequences of inequality in healthcare access.

Smiles Movement’s Model 

Smiles Movement ensures that volunteers are working under the supervision of licensed dental professionals, that clinics are organized with proper hygiene and follow-up care, and that every trip is rooted in community partnership. This makes the dental care offered through our programs ethical, meaningful, and impactful, both for students and the patients they serve.

Students like Clara and Zoe show that even a short-term trip abroad can change how one views dentistry, health care, and global responsibility. For those looking to explore dentistry, contribute to underserved communities, and learn under real conditions, these are experiences worth considering.

If you’re interested in exploring dental volunteer opportunities and want to learn more about upcoming volunteer trips, download our brochure here!