Dental Assistants Recognition Week
Did you hear that it was Dental Assistants Recognition Week from March 2nd-8th? If not, I’m here to tell you all about it.
A Theme of Embracing Change
The theme this year was “Dental Assisting: Embracing the Changes of the Profession.” As you know if you read my blog, dental assistants really have a wide variety of duties that they perform.
The president of the ADAA, Lori Paschal, says,
“The role of the dental assistant has evolved over the years, contributing to quality dental care.
“Whether working chairside, managing various aspects of the dental office or the laboratory, working in dental sales or educating future dental assistants, today’s dental assistants are role models of a professional and progressive force in the field of dentistry.”
I couldn’t agree more!
I love that there is a week set aside to highlight how well-respected dental assistants are. They are so critical to patient care and to assisting the team at any dentist practice.
I try to make it clear that I appreciate my dental assistants year-round, rather than focusing on that one week. Still, the fact that they have a week dedicated to letting the world know how fantastic they are is just so great.
We regularly do team building activities to build camaraderie in our office. It’s actually one of the biggest, most important things that we do. We often bring in experts to speak to us or have our staff go to classes. We love to learn how to function better to make the office more fun.
I hope you’ll take a moment to thank your dental assistants. It may not be the official week of recognition, but I don’t think that should stop you!
~Dr. Rhea Haugseth
Rhea M. Haugseth, DMD maintained a private practice in Marietta, GA from 1982- 2017. She attended the University of Louisville Dental School and completed her pediatric dental residency at Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital / Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry and a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. She is proud to be a Fellow the American College of Dentists, the International College of Dentists, and the Pierre Fauchard Academy – National Honorary Organizations for Dentists.
Dr. Haugseth is a Past President of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), the Southeastern Society of Pediatric Dentistry (SSPD), and the Georgia Academy of Pediatric Dentistry(GaPD). Dr. Haugseth has been a National Spokesperson for the AAPD since 1989 and has been frequently interviewed for radio, print, and national television.
Dr. Haugseth is the Founder (2013) and Director of the Atlanta Pediatric Dental Assistant School in Atlanta Georgia. She is also the Founder (2014) and Director of the Pediatric Dental Team Association. She is committed to pediatric dental team members and continues to develop ways to enhance their knowledge and skills both in and out of the dental office.