PORTLAND — Lots of kids go to summer camp to sail, play basketball and go camping.

But a group of 28 high school students in Maine is going to camp this week to learn about dentistry. The University of New England’s second Dental Careers Exploration Camp kicks off today and runs through Wednesday at the school’s Portland campus.

At the camp, students will learn about dental techniques, including preparing teeth, taking X-rays and placing sutures. Students will spend one day job-shadowing at a local dentist office.

The University of New England’s College of Dental Medicine is set to open in the fall of 2012. The school’s dean, James Koelbl, says he hopes the camp will inspire the next generation of dentists.