UK Volunteering Frequently Asked Questions
General FAQs
We are always looking for new volunteers! Our charity clinics operate across the whole of the UK helping people in need. Please complete this form to register your interest in volunteering. Depending on the role you are applying for you will then receive a follow up email with an application form that will ask for a little more information.
Unfortunately, we are unable to take volunteers under the age of 18 or offer work experience placements on our charity dental clinics. If you are over 18 and have the right to volunteer in the UK, then we would love for you to volunteer with us.
I’m not clinically trained, can I volunteer for Dentaid The Dental Charity?
If you are not clinically trained but would still like to volunteer, we are always looking for people to be part of our oral health education scheme BrightBites.
BrightBites is delivered across the UK and aims to teach school-aged children how to better look after their teeth.
Our clinics are focused on providing emergency care, and we are in need of dentists and dental nurses to support this. Most therapists and hygienists are also trained as dental nurses and are able to help us in this capacity. If you can assist as a dental nurse we'd greatly appreciate it.
We work very closely with the venue for maximum engagement with patients. We support the venue in creating a patient list and aim to treat 2 people each hour with urgent care always being the priority. On average, we see 8 people per clinic.
We aim to provide outreach dental clinics for the most vulnerable people in our communities. Our clinics provide dental care and oral health advice for people experiencing homelessness, survivors of abuse, vulnerable women, cancer patients, fishing communities, families experiencing poverty, and those at risk of health inequalities. The specific type of clinic is listed on our volunteering opportunities page alongside the date and location.
Application information
We require dentists to have 3-4 years’ experience before volunteering on the mobile dental unit. You would be the only dentist on-site and we would not want to put you in a position where you felt uncomfortable or did not yet have the skills required to deliver treatment. Many of our patients have complex medical needs and may not have seen a dentist for 10-15 years.
- Start by completing our initial interest form
- After submitting the interest form, we will email you an application form based on the role you are applying for. This form will ask for details such as your GDC number, indemnity insurance information (if you are a dentist), CV, your emergency contact, and details of two professional references.
- The system will automatically contact your professional references via email. It will only take them about 2-3 minutes to answer a couple of questions.
- A member of the Dentaid team will give you a call to discuss the volunteering process, explain how clinics run, and review available opportunities. Bring any questions you may have!
- If you don’t have a transferable DBS we will arrange a DBS check for you. You’ll need to provide three documents (e.g., passport, driving licence, and a utility bill) but we will email you separately about this.
- Now that we have everything we need, the final step is to email you our policies and procedures to read and sign before attending one of our clinics. We will also confirm the date of your first clinic with you.
- Seven days before every clinic that you are scheduled to attend, we will email you with all the necessary details, including location, parking details, and a copy of the Standard Operating Procedure for that particular type of clinic.
Just like applying for a job we do ask all volunteer dentists and dental nurses to provide two references. One of these must be a clinical refence. All references are sent a short online questionnaire via email that should only take 2-3 minutes to complete.
Our roles do require a disclosure check (DBS). We have a team internally who manage this online process, and we will request and pay for it. During the application process you will be asked to provide three documents (e.g. passport, driving licence, and a utility bill) but we will email you separately about this.
We may be able to use an existing enhanced DBS, we will ask you to provide a copy of an existing DBS during the application process.
Onboard the Mobile Dental Unit
Typically, clinic days start at 9.30 with an induction and the clinic will then run 10am - 2pm. On average we see 8 patients in that time.
When a patient comes aboard the unit, they are offered free dental screening and treatment including oral cancer checks, scale and polish, fluoride varnish, x-rays, fillings and extractions as well as toothbrushing and dietary advice. The dental units visit the locations on a regular basis to ensure that ongoing treatment is delivered if required. In most cases our patients need several appointments to become dentally fit.
We can cover your indemnity and reimburse modest travel costs.
Patients are offered a free dental screening and treatment including oral cancer checks, scale and polish, fluoride varnish, x-rays, fillings and extractions as well as toothbrushing and dietary advice.
The mobile unit is fully equipped to function like a dental surgery in practice, allowing us to provide comprehensive dental care. This includes:
- Dentally Software: Our laptops are equipped with Dentally for managing patient records and appointments.
- X-ray Capabilities: The unit includes an X-ray machine and digital processor.
- Dental Tools: Amalgamator, curing light, Cavitron, and all necessary instruments and materials to perform treatments, including extractions, GIC fillings, and composite fillings.
- Decontamination Area: The unit is equipped with an autoclave for sterilising instruments. Volunteer nurses are not required to participate in the decontamination process, as this is managed by our team.
Yes, there are certain procedures we do not perform. These include amalgam fillings, root canal treatments (RCT), crowns, and dentures.
As well as a volunteer dentist and dental nurse, each clinic is supported by two members of the Dentaid Team - a clinical supervisor (who supports you, the patients and oversees the clinic area) and a mobile dental unit officer (who is responsible for the vehicle).
Any volunteering with us will be carried out in a safe environment. All our staff have been suitable trained, and we have policies in place to keep everyone safe.
The safety and well-being of our volunteers is our top priority. If you do have any questions the UK clinic team will be able to answer these in your volunteering onboarding phone call.
We use Dentally for note talking and charting.
Please don’t worry if this programme is new to you, training can be provided during your induction and there will always be a Dentaid member of staff on-hand to answer any questions.
There are templates set up so that note taking can be as efficient as possible. Please keep in mind that other dentists may need to read your notes next time the patient visits the clinic.
On the day logistics
You can park on-site at most of the venues, or we will advise where local parking is available.
This information will be included in the clinic details, which will be sent to your email a week before your scheduled clinic.
The venue will provide you with hot drinks and our vehicles carry bottles of drinking water but please bring along your own lunch and snacks.
Due to allergies no foods containing nuts should be bought onboard the mobile dental units.
Please bring your own scrubs with you and the venue will provide you with somewhere to change. Medical history takers do not need to wear scrubs.
All our surgeries are on the back of lorries and although they have heating on chilly mornings it can take a while for things to warm up. When it’s cold we suggest you wear layers under your scrubs!
All necessary PPE will be provided however we are desperately short of gloves. If possible, we would greatly appreciate it if you could bring a box of gloves in your size and donate them to us.