How to Celebrate Dental Assistants Recognition Week When You’re a Dental Assistant
Your role as a dental assistant is important. You deserve to be celebrated during Dental Assistants Recognition Week, and so do the other dental assistants around you.
It’s Dental Assistants Recognition Week and we’re busy celebrating all dental assistants by telling them how much we appreciate them, sending messages just to thank them, posting our appreciation on social media, reaching out to help them get the education they need while working, and more! Dental Assistants deserve to be recognized for the services they provide in dental offices, and we’re happy to oblige.
Dental Assistants Recognition Week is celebrated each year during the first full week of March. It was officially created in 1977 by the American Dental Assistants Association (ADAA) as a way to recognize dental assistants’ contributions to the dental profession and public health.
Dental Assistants Recognition Week is a time to recognize dental assistants' training, diligence, and importance to dental teams. It is a time to make sure we show appreciation for dental assistants who work hard to support dentists during procedures, take dental X-rays, and help us feel more comfortable when we visit the dental office. It’s also a great time to do something special for the dental assistants in your life, so show them how much you appreciate them!
How can you celebrate Dental Assistants Recognition Week as a dental assistant yourself?
Your role as a dental assistant is important for the proper functioning of a dental office and for the comfort and well-being of its patients. You deserve to be recognized for your efforts, and so do the other dental assistants around you. Here are a few ways to not only celebrate, but also to show your appreciation during Dental Assistants Recognition Week.
1. Take some time for yourself.
Make it a priority to do something that’s just for you this week. This could mean getting a pedicure, stopping for Starbucks, indulging in a special treat, or simply sitting down to read a book and enjoying some peace and quiet. You deserve a break, so make it a point to take one (no matter how small) this week.
2. Reflect on this past year as a dental assistant.
Take a few moments to think about all that you’ve accomplished, the people you’ve helped, the friends you’ve made on the job, and the impact you’ve had this year. Embrace the times when you made a difference, and let go of the times when the outcome wasn’t as desirable.
3. Do something fun with your coworkers.
Go out to eat together on your lunch break or after work. Bake some cookies or a special treat and place it in the break room. Do something to celebrate with your coworkers and show them that you appreciate them and like having them as a part of your team.
4. Recognize someone who has made an impact on your career.
Send an email, letter, or card to someone who has made a difference in your dental assistant career. This could be a teacher who took extra time to make sure you understood a concept, a mentor who helped you become the dental assistant you are today, or even a coworker who knows when to give you a good laugh or make you smile. Make sure they know how special they are and how much they mean to you this week.
5. Engage with the community.
Help promote the dental assistant profession by engaging with the community around you and educating others about the important role dental assistants play in helping patients achieve good oral health. This could mean volunteering for career day at a local school, getting involved in a non-profit, planning to go on a relief or mission trip to provide dental care for those in need, or simply sharing a tribute to dental assistants on social media.
6. Get the education you need to further your career.
The demand for qualified dental assistants continues to grow each year. A great way to celebrate Dental Assistants Recognition Week is getting the education you need to make an even bigger impact on the oral health of patients. You can opt to obtain skills-based certifications such as Dental X-ray Certification, Dental Anesthesia Assistant, Certified Dental Assistant, and others. Or maybe it’s time to begin a Dental Hygiene degree program to help you become a dental hygienist.
No matter how you choose to celebrate, don’t let this week go by without expressing gratitude for your profession and the dental assistants around you. Happy Dental Assistant Recognition Week from Achieve!
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