One of the most rewarding aspects of international volunteering is that it compels you to step outside of your comfort zone. Whether you're a student, aspiring healthcare provider, or early in your dental career, pushing your boundaries through a volunteer trip can open your eyes to new perspectives, foster personal growth, and make a lasting impact on communities in need.
For many students, volunteering abroad is their first extended time away from home. It's often their initial experience working in underserved communities or navigating unfamiliar cultures and languages. This uncertainty can feel overwhelming at first, but it also creates one of the most powerful learning environments possible.
Comfort zones are familiar and feel safe. But growth rarely happens in those places. When you participate in a dentist volunteer opportunity, you're not just learning about oral health. You're building real-life problem-solving skills, developing cultural empathy, and learning how to communicate and lead under pressure.
These experiences prepare you for more than your next class or exam. They prepare you for life as a healthcare provider.
Alanis and Fernanda’s story is just one example of how students have transformed through Smiles Movement. These two pre-dental students from NC State traveled to provide dental education and support in underserved communities.
“If you take it as an opportunity for growth, you will be really grateful that you came and you overcome something that you didn't think you could.” – Alanis
“My advice would be to really have an open mind...you will be really grateful that you came and that you put yourself out there.” – Fernanda
What started as uncertainty turned into transformation. These students returned not only with experience for their dental school applications but also with a new sense of confidence and purpose.
A Smiles Movement volunteer trip offers the chance to practice adaptability and emotional resilience. You may find yourself speaking a different language, trying unfamiliar foods, or helping children in remote schools brush their teeth for the first time.
You'll encounter challenges you can't prepare for in a textbook. The power goes out in a clinic. It starts to rain in the middle of a community presentation. A child looks at you, unsure of what to do with the toothbrush you just handed them.
These are the moments where you grow. You figure it out. You rely on your team. You ask for help. And in the process, you become more prepared for your future in dentistry.
There's a deeper reward in this kind of discomfort. When you volunteer abroad, you're choosing to put someone else's needs ahead of your own. You're stepping into communities with limited access to care and offering your time, skills, and compassion.
For the people you serve, your presence matters. For the children who now understand how to take care of their teeth. For the families who receive hygiene kits they couldn't afford on their own. For the health workers who know they're not alone in the effort to care for their neighbors.
Stepping outside of your comfort zone is not just about personal growth. It's about showing up where you're needed and learning how to be of service in ways that are respectful and ethical.
Each Smiles Movement program includes orientation, cultural education, and full in-country support. Volunteers are never expected to take on clinical tasks they're not trained for. Instead, they are integrated into local teams to assist with oral health education, hygiene outreach, and clinic logistics.
Our destinations include Peru, Ecuador, Tanzania, Costa Rica, and Guatemala. Each offers a unique opportunity to learn from experienced providers while working within culturally rich and diverse communities.
Whether you're teaching kids how to brush their teeth, assembling hygiene kits, or helping run a dental screening station, you'll be part of a team making a real impact.
If you're considering joining your first volunteer trip, remember this advice from Alanis and Fernanda:
As Fernanda shared, “It really gives you a whole different perspective that you might have not even thought of existed... you will be really grateful that you came and that you put yourself out there.”
This perspective can change your future. It can inform how you treat your patients, how you design your practice, and how you think about global health.
Volunteering abroad is more than an item on your resume. It is a turning point. It's a decision to grow, serve, and see the world through a wider lens.
If you are ready to step outside of your comfort zone, Smiles Movement is here to guide you. Our programs are built on ethical partnerships, real education, and opportunities for both personal and professional transformation.
Download our brochure to learn more about how you can get involved in a Smiles Movement.
Let your journey begin with courage. Let it lead you toward impact.