Journal of dental education
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Dental educators provide learning experiences for dental students that help them develop the belief that universal access to oral health care is a social justice imperative that will compel them to provide care to underserved patients after they graduate. To accomplish these learning outcomes, dental schools first recruit underrepresented minority students and students with previous volunteerism experiences. ⋯ The long-term, educational outcomes of these learning experiences have not been assessed to date. Systematic surveys should be conducted of dentists who have had these educational experiences to measure the number who actually care for the underserved in private dental offices, community health "safety net" clinics, and the Indian and Public Health Services.