ADA News

Doing good: Students and instructors at Ross Medical Education Center in New Baltimore, Mich., celebrated DARW in 2012 by contributing to a canned food drive for their community.

It's time to recognize and thank the people in your dental practice who help make it run so smoothly and effortlessly.

Dental offices throughout the world will celebrate Dental Assistants Recognition Week March 3-9. The theme of "Key to Productivity: The Professional Dental Assistant" continues this year.

"Dental assistants are highly valuable members of the dental team and make significant contributions to the oral health of the public," said Carolyn Breen, president of the American Dental Assistants Association. "What better time to thank dental assistants for the important role they play in patient care, than by honoring them nationally during Dental Assistant Recognition Week?"

Each year, dentists take a week to honor dental assistants for their role on the dental team, recognizing their broad spectrum of duties and highlighting their often unheralded contribution to quality dental care. The American Dental Assistants Association, American Dental Association, Canadian Dental Assistants Association and Canadian Dental Association jointly recognize the observance. Dental assistant associations, dental assisting schools, and U.S. Army and Air Force dental clinics all join dental offices in honoring dental assistants during this designated week.

Volunteer spirit: Four classes at Remington College's Fort Worth, Texax, campus volunteered in 2012 at Mission Arlington, assisting with extractions, hygiene, X-rays and sterilization.

"My practice wouldn't run nearly as well as it does without the amazing help from my dental assistants," said Dr. Jonathan Knapp, chair of the Council on Dental Practice. "Dental assistants are on the front lines of the practice; making sure the patients are happy and the dentist is running efficiently and on time and that all of the logistics of patient care are top notch."

Dental assistants will celebrate their contributions to the profession by participating in educational and charity events and other team activities. Dentists typically show their respect for dental assistants' diverse contributions to the dental profession and the public by providing perks such as luncheons, flowers or treats.

Each year, the ADA urges dental assistants and offices to describe their activities and successes throughout the week and submit them for publication in The Dental Assistant, the ADAA journal. Dental team members can visit the ADAA's website, dentalassistant.org, to download a kit that includes ideas for a news release; an overview on using social media to promote DARW online; sample proclamations and public service announcements; and in-house promotions. It also includes examples of what last year's participants did to recognize DARW.