Dental Student FAQ
Below you will find a list of some frequently asked questions about our program. If you have a question that has not been addressed below, we encourage you to contact us so that we may answer you and add the question & answer to our list below. Thanks!
1. I am a first or second year dental student...can I still volunteer?
Unfortunately, this program is intended for third and fourth years only. Under very strict circumstances has a second year ever been admitted to attend the IOCP rotation. The reason for this is that with at least two years of dental school already completed, third and fourth years have been exposed to a lot more information and are ready for clinic training. Also, some of the pre-requisite courses required for dental students to be admitted into this program are not actually completed until the end of the second year, and in some cases, during the third year. We encourage all interested first and second year dental students to reach out to IOCP coordinator voicing your interest in IOCP and prepare their application for your third or fourth year.
2. Will I still eligible to apply/volunteer at IOCP if I have a couple block rotation scheduled?
Yes. We understand that not everyone can be everywhere all the time. If you feel that you will miss three or more clinic dates we encourage you to hold off applying until a later quarter since we do only meet once a week. You can email us requesting to be put on the Contact list in which we will use to inform students of application timelines for the following rotations, should they decide to hold off the commitment until a later quarter.
3. Is the Smiles for Life training really that important?
Absolutely! There is so much important and pertinent information that is covered in this training course that is absolutely required to complete training prior to beginning your volunteer shifts with IOCP. We will not allow you to start the rotation until your Proof of Completion certificate has been submitted (either by email or in person to coordinator). If you are having trouble locating the certificate after completing the training course, please do not hesitate to email us so that we may provide you with directions on how to retrieve it. For directions in completing Smiles for Life training please click here.
4. How in advance should I inform you guys that I cannot make it to clinic on a certain date?
As soon as possible. We require notice that you will not be able to attend clinic as soon as you are aware of it. For applying dental students, if you know that you will be absent on a certain clinic day of the rotation due to a block or any other reason, please disclose this information in your application or in a separate email to us so that we may take note of it and plan accordingly.
5. Should I submit my application and all supplemental documents by email or in person?
Please submit all applications via email. For application instructions clinic here.
6. How can my GPD provide clearance/permission for me to participate in the IOC Program?
As with submitting your application, there are also a couple ways in which you can submit your approval from your Group Practice Director. One way is by having your GPD email the IOC Coordinator with your full name and "GPD Clearance" in the subject of the email and briefly stating that you have been granted permission to volunteer with our clinic. Make sure that you are CC'ed in the email as a form of confirmation in case we do not, for any reason, receive the email from your GPD. Additionally, you can have your GPD write a brief letter mentioning the exact same thing above (with their signature and contact information) and you can submit that in person along with your application if you so choose to take that option.
7. Is there any sort of time commitment I must make to the program?
Yes - one quarter. We do not expect you to commit anymore than one quarter's worth of volunteering in order to receive the selective credits. If you decide at the end of the rotation that you absolutely love the IOC Program and would like to continue volunteering more of your time, you are welcome to do so only if we do not have enough dental student volunteers for the upcoming rotation. This is so that we can ensure all interested students an equal opportunity at experiencing the Infant Oral Care clinic for at least one rotation.
8. I am thinking of specializing in Pediatric Dentistry but am not sure, will this program help me towards deciding if this specialty is for me?
Without a doubt! How else would you figure out whether or not you would like to spend your career working as a pediatric dentist unless you get first-hand experience working and volunteering in the field. The program is not designed to stress you out. There are no homework assignments and its only only once a week for one quarter. It is meant to be fun and educational! Furthermore, what is more fulfilling than serving a population of young patients whom cannot otherwise afford to receive dental care elsewhere? Our Infant Oral Care Program is one of the only of its kind in Los Angeles and provides a unique mixture of Pediatric Dentistry and Community Health Advocacy. We urge you to apply if you have even the smallest thought of continuing your education in pediatrics. You will not regret it!
1. I am a first or second year dental student...can I still volunteer?
Unfortunately, this program is intended for third and fourth years only. Under very strict circumstances has a second year ever been admitted to attend the IOCP rotation. The reason for this is that with at least two years of dental school already completed, third and fourth years have been exposed to a lot more information and are ready for clinic training. Also, some of the pre-requisite courses required for dental students to be admitted into this program are not actually completed until the end of the second year, and in some cases, during the third year. We encourage all interested first and second year dental students to reach out to IOCP coordinator voicing your interest in IOCP and prepare their application for your third or fourth year.
2. Will I still eligible to apply/volunteer at IOCP if I have a couple block rotation scheduled?
Yes. We understand that not everyone can be everywhere all the time. If you feel that you will miss three or more clinic dates we encourage you to hold off applying until a later quarter since we do only meet once a week. You can email us requesting to be put on the Contact list in which we will use to inform students of application timelines for the following rotations, should they decide to hold off the commitment until a later quarter.
3. Is the Smiles for Life training really that important?
Absolutely! There is so much important and pertinent information that is covered in this training course that is absolutely required to complete training prior to beginning your volunteer shifts with IOCP. We will not allow you to start the rotation until your Proof of Completion certificate has been submitted (either by email or in person to coordinator). If you are having trouble locating the certificate after completing the training course, please do not hesitate to email us so that we may provide you with directions on how to retrieve it. For directions in completing Smiles for Life training please click here.
4. How in advance should I inform you guys that I cannot make it to clinic on a certain date?
As soon as possible. We require notice that you will not be able to attend clinic as soon as you are aware of it. For applying dental students, if you know that you will be absent on a certain clinic day of the rotation due to a block or any other reason, please disclose this information in your application or in a separate email to us so that we may take note of it and plan accordingly.
5. Should I submit my application and all supplemental documents by email or in person?
Please submit all applications via email. For application instructions clinic here.
6. How can my GPD provide clearance/permission for me to participate in the IOC Program?
As with submitting your application, there are also a couple ways in which you can submit your approval from your Group Practice Director. One way is by having your GPD email the IOC Coordinator with your full name and "GPD Clearance" in the subject of the email and briefly stating that you have been granted permission to volunteer with our clinic. Make sure that you are CC'ed in the email as a form of confirmation in case we do not, for any reason, receive the email from your GPD. Additionally, you can have your GPD write a brief letter mentioning the exact same thing above (with their signature and contact information) and you can submit that in person along with your application if you so choose to take that option.
7. Is there any sort of time commitment I must make to the program?
Yes - one quarter. We do not expect you to commit anymore than one quarter's worth of volunteering in order to receive the selective credits. If you decide at the end of the rotation that you absolutely love the IOC Program and would like to continue volunteering more of your time, you are welcome to do so only if we do not have enough dental student volunteers for the upcoming rotation. This is so that we can ensure all interested students an equal opportunity at experiencing the Infant Oral Care clinic for at least one rotation.
8. I am thinking of specializing in Pediatric Dentistry but am not sure, will this program help me towards deciding if this specialty is for me?
Without a doubt! How else would you figure out whether or not you would like to spend your career working as a pediatric dentist unless you get first-hand experience working and volunteering in the field. The program is not designed to stress you out. There are no homework assignments and its only only once a week for one quarter. It is meant to be fun and educational! Furthermore, what is more fulfilling than serving a population of young patients whom cannot otherwise afford to receive dental care elsewhere? Our Infant Oral Care Program is one of the only of its kind in Los Angeles and provides a unique mixture of Pediatric Dentistry and Community Health Advocacy. We urge you to apply if you have even the smallest thought of continuing your education in pediatrics. You will not regret it!