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A graduate student teaches a volunteer at the UCLA School of Dentistry about teeth.

The lobby of the UCLA School of Dentistry was filled with anxious patients from many backgrounds, some elderly, some young and most just waiting for their turn to see the dentist. And in the unease of waiting to have a filling checked or cleaning performed, some student volunteers helped add comfort to a tense situation.

These students are part of the UCLA School of Dentistry General Clinic Volunteer Program, which is designed to provide undergraduate students with a chance to learn more about dentistry by volunteering in a dental school environment.

Stephanie Robinson, patient relations manager of the UCLA School of Dentistry General Clinic, emphasized the qualities of the program that allow students to explore the realm of dentistry.

“The goal of the program is to introduce undergraduate students to the field of dentistry by providing experience in the realities of dental practice in an educational setting, including the responsibilities of the student dentist,” Robinson said.

Patient intake is just one aspect of the volunteer program. Others help introduce students to patient care and some of the responsibilities they may face as a dental student.

Hana Kim, a third-year psychobiology student who is currently involved with the program, outlined the importance of the program’s ability to focus on multiple aspects of dentistry.

“The program is able to show you the whole picture of dentistry, not just one section,” Kim said.

The volunteer program offers a wide array of areas in which students can participate and thus provides a more complete view of what dentistry actually entails. These areas include patient intake, billing, teaching labs, central services and other special projects from the office of the general clinic director.

The students rotate in all of the different areas of the program. Volunteers gain knowledge in all aspects concerning dentistry and the field in general.

In patient intake, volunteers are able to work with patients and take on numerous tasks, such as filing, computer data entry and observation of treatment planning.

Tran To, a fourth-year biology student currently in the program, said students are able to learn to empathize with patients and learn from their complaints, which helps students acquire skills necessary as a dental student or dentist.

“You are able to develop interpersonal skills by working with the patients. ... You are able to interact with patients, learn their needs,” To said.

Students are also able to work on dummies and simulate procedures that might be performed on patients.

Volunteers further gain experience from the Central Services area of the program. Here, volunteers are able to sterilize instruments, check out supplies to student dentists, or observe treatments.

Elham Mahdavi-Elizadi, a fourth-year anthropology student who completed the program and plans to apply to dental school, believed it was important to be able to participate in the many different aspects of dentistry.

“I am happy I learned a lot of useful information as far as watching and seeing how everything works. It is not like going and visiting a dentist. ... You really have to be able to communicate with patients and you learn different things,” Mahdavi-Elizadi said.

Though students are not actually performing dental operations, one of the important aspects of the program is that it allows students to gain experience in a dental environment and learn what dental school may be like.

Wes Cardall, a second-year dentistry student, highlighted the importance of being able to work in such an environment.

“It gave me a really good idea about how dental school is. The program also gave me an idea of how the UCLA School of Dentistry would be and what to expect as a dental student,” Cardall said.

When he was in the program, Cardall said he was able to learn more about how dental school is run, gained contacts with other dental students and faculty, and even made a very good friendship in the process.

Robinson said the program enables students to confirm they’ve made the right career choice.

“Volunteers are benefited by being given a chance to confirm that they really want to attend dental school and pursue a career in dentistry. Volunteers are also acquainted with the behind-the-scenes aspect of a dental practice by participating in the various rotations,” Robinson said.