Dental Assistants Recognition Week 2025: Ways to celebrate
It’s time to celebrate those all-important dental team members, your dental assistants! Sponsored by the American Dental Assistants Association and celebrated the first week in March, the theme of Dental Assistants Recognition Week (DARW) 2025, March 2–8, is “Superheroes behind the Smiles.”
Few people fit the superhero distinction as fully as dental assistants. They’re hard-working dental team members who may not earn as much money or receive the amount of respect that other team members do. But hopefully that mindset is moving into the past, and as the dental assisting career advances, so will the profession’s pay and status. Consistent steps are being taken to advance the career.
Ask any dental team member and they’ll tell you their office would not run as smoothly, efficiently, and profitably without the dental assistants. Assistants are often the team members able to relate well to patients, as patients may feel less intimated about asking an assistant their questions. So, DAs can be a key component in guiding patients toward case acceptance.
How to celebrate DARW in your dental practice
Most dental teams need little convincing when it comes to taking time for a celebration, and DARW is no exception. There have been numerous suggestions from dental professionals each year for some of the nicest ways to celebrate assistants. Some of best ones will never go out of style! And your assistants will ride the high of your appreciation and celebration for weeks.
First, I hope you regularly say, “Thank you for your hard work.” If not, DARW is a great time to start, and then get into the habit of thanking your assistants regularly. It’s one of the easiest and often overlooked ways dentists can encourage their assistants.
Another quick and easy thing you can do year-round is to acknowledge your assistants’ good work in front of other team members and patients. Talk about a confidence boost for the DAs. This will encourage them to continue to do well, and they’ll appreciate you as their boss.
Here’s what Tija Hunter, EFDA, suggested a couple of years ago:
1. Grab the rest of the assistants and head out to lunch. Even if you’re the only assistant, take a break.
2. Go above and beyond saying “thank you” this week. While we should be doing this every day, do more of it this week. Recognize each other for all we do.
3. Write notes to the assistants. This costs so little and can mean so much.
4. Have an office potluck. Throw down some grub and enjoy lunch together.
5. Make sure your patients know this is a special week and recognize each other in front of them.
6. Post pictures on social media. Team members are like family, so snap some pictures and show the world your work family.
Office manager Kyle Summerford organizes DARW activities in his dental office. Here are some of his suggestions:
1.A bonus. Nothing says “thank you” like a little extra cash.
2. Buy lunch. Don’t forget the dessert and lit candles!
3. Give a gift card to each member of your dental assisting staff.
4. Take a group staff photo with the assistants front and center, caption it DARW, and place it on your website and social media outlets.
5. Say thank you. These words can mean so much at the end of a hectic day.
Finally, the importance of DARW cannot be stressed enough. The week has been set aside to:
- Raise awareness about the dental assisting profession.
- Highlight dental assistants’ valuable contributions.
- Acknowledge assistants as important dental team members.
Don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate with your team and let your assistants know how much you appreciate them. Everyone will have fun in the process!
