Volunteering at a Dental School: Important?

[Mycoalwin]

I've had the opportunity to do quite a bit of shadowing already (GP + specialities) since my parents and relatives are all GP's and specialists (however, I can't really get a recommendation from them since they're related). I figured I could volunteer at a nearby dental school's clinic — this would increase my exposure to dentistry for sure, and I could get a recommendation from the administrator should I need it.

Is this extra volunteering helpful/"highly recommended" if I already have decent shadowing experience? The schools I'm looking into that require a non-academic LOR (from a dentist, employer, or "other") are UoP and UCSF. I would guess I can use my PI's letter as substitute?

Unless the volunteering is absolutely unhelpful to my application, right now I'm thinking: if I have time for it, might as well do it. Thoughts please?

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[Mycoalwin]

Forgot to add: I have plenty of other volunteering hours, so this question is based strictly on dental experience.

 

[Glimmer1991]

I can only imagine that it would help--especially if it's at your top-choice school. It certainly isn't a necessity, though.