ASDA Dental Dose Blog

Do you enjoy volunteering? Do you want to make a change in people’s lives?

Do you want to educate those without access to proper oral health? Well, Healthcare for the Homeless in Houston is a great place to start. Their mission is to serve those who lack access to healthcare. This non-profit organization teaches both the patients and you as volunteers. It's not just about dental work; it is about understanding how oral health can impact a person’s overall health and self-confidence.

WHAT VOLUNTEERS CAN LEARN:

As a volunteer, you’ll learn about dental tools, how to set up procedures, and even connect with current dental students. Through hands-on experience, you'll learn how to assist in dental care and see firsthand the challenges that come with providing care in communities where people don’t have access to it. Volunteering at HHH is an incredible start to learning about public health and how to treat patients. You will understand both the technical and interpersonal sides of dentistry.

MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE:

I recently got the opportunity to volunteer this school year (since spots are limited), and I have made many new friends while learning many new things. Over the summer, I shadowed at different offices to get a feel for dentistry, but HHH has really allowed me to get my feet wetter. Through my experience, I’ve met people of all different smiles. Many homeless individuals don't have proper access to healthcare which often leads to neglect as they opt-out of taking care of themselves. At HHH, patients can receive free of charge oral exams, cleanings, fillings, extractions, and restorations along with information on how to maintain their new beautiful smiles afterward.

CONNECTING WITH STUDENT DENTISTS:

While assisting, volunteers are given the opportunity to engage with student dentists from dental schools across the United States like UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry and Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health. While assisting with procedures, you can ask questions, gain insight into their dental journey, and get advice on what to expect!

These invaluable experiences with dental students allow you to get a more personal look as pre-dental students. One time, while assisting with a bite registration, I went to talk with the dental student about his journey to dental school and his experiences at HHH. Despite attending ASDOH, he returned to HHH because of the connections he gained while being a pre-dental student as well. He talked about the mentorship he received from other students and still keeps in contact with them.

How has volunteering at HHH helped you know dentistry was for you?

Jodi:

“Healthcare for the Homeless has been an amazing experience for me. I have learned so much more about the nitty-gritty of dentistry here than I ever did through all my shadowing. It’s just so different to be there chairside, actually assisting with treatments and taking care of patients rather than just watching from afar. It’s given me tons of insight into the field, and for me personally it has only solidified my interest in it further. Outside of that, it’s been a wonderful way to build connections. I have met so many great predental students from all over Houston and it’s been really fun getting to know them. We’re always exchanging advice and experiences and just doing whatever we can to support each other as we stumble our way towards our common goal. I really encourage any other predental student to get involved if they have the time because getting access to this type of experience and the endless opportunities it provides is just too good to pass up.”

Victoria:

“Volunteering at HHH provides a good first-person, hands-on introduction to the dental field. In exchange for helping an underserved community, volunteers can interact with current dental students and other staff to learn more about the general dental field. Speaking personally, volunteering at HHH has been a good learning experience because we can learn by assisting more flexibly, and seeing all kinds of procedures performed in different ways. HHH has only solidified my resolve to join the dental field to help those in need.”

Tuyen:

“I am so glad I took a gap year!! This time has allowed me to gain more work, volunteer, and dental experiences, as well as take a much-needed break. While it was hard seeing others go directly into dental school, I’ve learned that everyone is on their own journey and timeline. I had to do what was best for me and I’m incredibly grateful for the friendships and experiences I’ve gained along the way.”

CONCLUSION:

In the end, volunteering isn't about the hours on the screen, but about growing as a future dentist. Through the people you meet, the skills you learn, and the stories you hear, will shape the kind of dentist you will become. This experience sheds light on healthcare gaps that exist in forms you didn’t know much about before. The friendships you form and the mentors you gain will only strengthen your decision to pursue dentistry while also giving back to our community.

This Article was written by Teresa Nguyen:

Hello everyone! My name is Teresa Nguyen, and this is my first year as an ASDA member. I am passionate about dentistry and love how ASDA has given me many opportunities to make a difference in people’s lives. In my free time, I enjoy exploring new hobbies every week, from arts and crafts to gaming. I am excited to connect with everyone and contribute even more to ASDA.

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