INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE TOKYO (IST)
International Externship Program - Clinical Elective in Dentistry
July 13-17, 2026
As part of its continuing commitment to fostering international collaboration and providing students with opportunities for international exchange, the University of the Philippines College of Dentistry (UPCD) participated in the Institute of Science Tokyo (IST) International Externship Program - Clinical Elective in Dentistry last July 13-17.
Representing UPCD were Joaquin Lorenzo R. Alesna and Joshua Daniel G. Dabalos, sixth- and fifth-year clinicians, respectively. They were joined by three third-year dental students from National Taiwan University (NTU). Held over one week, the program provided participants with an immersive introduction to Japan’s dental education and healthcare system through a series of hospital observerships and academic exchanges at the Institute of Science Tokyo Dental Hospital. The activities throughout the week are outlined below.
Day 1
The five participants began their first day with an orientation and campus tour facilitated by the university’s International Exchange Support Group. This was followed by an observership under the Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, where they were given the opportunity to scrub in and observe a bimaxillary osteotomy up close, which was done with the aid of CAD/CAM simulations and models. They were also able to observe several chairside surgical procedures. The day concluded with a student exchange activity, where participants from UPCD, NTU, and IST presented their respective institutions, shared their experiences in dental education, and learned more about their respective countries’ cultures.
Day 2
The second day started with an observership under the Department of Maxillofacial Orthognathics, where participants observed various clinical orthodontic procedures and toured the department’s research and laboratory facilities. This was followed by an observership under the Department of Dental Anesthesiology, where they again observed several Operating Room procedures, with particular emphasis on the effects and applications of different sedative agents, as well as patient management during and after sedation. They were also given a short lecture on the common nerve blocks applied in their OR, particularly the Trigeminal Nerve Block.
Day 3
For the third day, the participants, guided by their IST student ambassadors, took a short break from the academic activities and spent the morning exploring Akihabara, a nearby district known as a center of Japanese pop culture, electronics, and anime. They also visited the nearby Kanda Myoujin Shrine, providing an opportunity to experience and appreciate aspects of Tokyo’s local culture and heritage. In the afternoon, the participants had an observership under the Department of General Dentistry II, where they were toured around the dental hospital, with an emphasis on the hospital’s workflow. They were also able to observe patient management under the Orofacial Pain Clinic.
Day 4
The fourth day began with an observership under the Department of Pulp Biology and Endodontics, where the participants observed endodontic treatment, retreatment, and broken instrument retrieval, all of which were performed with the aid of an endodontic microscope. They were also shown the facilities used for endodontic research. They then had an observership under the Department of Masticatory Function and Health Sciences, where they witnessed the process of mouthguard fabrication using ethylene vinyl acetate. They were also given a lecture on the fundamentals of Sports Dentistry, together with several sample cases.
Day 5
On their fifth day, the participants had an observership under the Department of Pediatric Dentistry/Special Needs Dentistry. There, the participants observed pediatric patient treatment and behavior management. This was followed by a brief tour in the Dental Museum. Finally, the program was formally concluded with a courtesy visit with the dean, Dr. Kenji Fueki, where the participants again presented their respective universities, gave feedback about the externship program, and were awarded their certificates.
Overall, the program highlighted both the similarities and differences between the Japanese and Philippine dental systems. While dental care in Japan demonstrated a more hospital-based approach, many of the foundational concepts and clinical principles encountered throughout the program were already previously encountered by the UPCD participants throughout their academic and clinical training at the college. By seeing these core dental principles applied in a different context, the participants gain
not only a better appreciation for these concepts, but are also opened to new possibilities without limiting themselves to only what is seen in the Philippines. As such, it could be said that opportunities such as this help ensure that UPCD students remain up to par with international standards.
- Joshua Daniel G. Dabalos and Joaquin Lorenzo R. Alesna
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