The dental externship: an educational methodology for extramural experiences.

Although this pilot program in extramural experiences failed to confront any major injustices of the health care system, the establishment of the externship succeeded in filling a major gap in the present curriculum. The selected sites afforded students the experience of relating to psychiatric patients, institutional bureaucracy, and incarcerated populations. Social attitudes appeared modified as a consequence of the externship, and a commitment to improve the delivery system was made.