Dental Exploring Program Information
Learn what a career in dentistry has to offer
OHSU’s Dental Explorers program provides participants with a general understanding of what a career in dentistry is all about. Participating high school and college students have been very enthusiastic about their experience, and many of them have successfully matriculated to dental school.
Monthly two-hour meetings are held at the School of Dentistry with an emphasis on hands-on activities. The first hour is composed of a lecture from dental school faculty from a variety of disciplines, while the second hour is a laboratory experience. Current dental students organize the monthly meetings and act as mentors.
Space is limited to sixty participants and is reserved on a first-come first-served basis. Applications are available online. A complete application including consent forms, a confidentiality statement and a $70 fee must be received to reserve a space. A waiting list will be maintained for students with complete applications received after the first sixty spaces have been reserved. Students will be notified as space becomes available.
Registration for the 2023–24 series opens soon!
Registration opens October 9, 2023.
The following documents will be required during the registration process:
- A participant consent form
- A medical consent form
- A confidentiality statement
- A $70 participation fee, payable online
The curriculum for the upcoming series hasn’t yet been finalized, but looking over last year's schedule will give you an idea of what to expect:
Please note that masks are required at all times in clinical spaces at OHSU. For the hands-on portion of your classes, masks will be mandatory. Although full vaccination against Covid-19 is no longer required, it is highly recommended.
*In some cases, completion of the Dental Explorers class may be used towards high school course requirements, but this should be prearranged with the participant’s high school. OHSU and the School of Dentistry do not issue academic credit towards high school diplomas. Students seeking academic credit towards high school coursework or a letter of completion are allowed no more than one absence over the duration of the course before any form verifying completion is signed or a letter of completion is composed.