Outreach and service learning: Manitoba's Centre for Community Oral Health.

One of the unique features of the University of Manitoba faculty of dentistry is its successful administration of a substantial network of community-based dental programs that serve disadvantaged populations throughout Manitoba and northern Canada. Many of these dental programs act as host locations for the service learning experiences required of all University of Manitoba dentistry and dental hygiene students. In our experience, health professionals participate only in activities that they feel comfortable with after graduation. Our service learning experiences were therefore developed to help prepare an oral health workforce that is both ready and willing to care for all segments of Canada’s diverse population.