When is Dental Hygiene Week?
National Dental Hygienist Week is almost here and Zest Dental Solutions is ready to celebrate! If you haven’t heard yet, the second week in April is recognized as National Dental Hygienist Appreciation Week – Is your practice ready to recognize these hard workers who keep patients happy and the practice running?
What National Dental Hygiene Week Means to Us
Dental Hygienists (as well as the whole staff) are the backbone of every practice. They get the most face-time with patients, and as such, they are what keep patients coming back for regular preventive care. They pour themselves into remembering the tiny details that make patients feel special and field their concerns and issues before they see the doctor. For all these reasons and more, Dental Hygienists deserve a huge thank you and shout out. In fact, one week of celebration does not feel like nearly enough time to give these dental professionals the appreciation they deserve!
That’s why we are extending the festivities for the entire month of April! This whole month, we will be spotlighting leaders in the dental hygiene field, discussing hygiene-related topics, going over hygiene product tips, and more! If you have a hygiene topic, you’d like to see us touch on, be sure to let us know by contacting us online.
How You Can Celebrate & Show Your Appreciation
We know you appreciate your staff, but sometimes it can be difficult to think of how to celebrate in ways that will resonate with them. That’s where we come in! We are no mind readers, but as a leader in the dental manufacturing industry, we have our finger on the pulse and are happy to share some ideas with you.
Encourage the professional development of your dental hygiene team
One great way to show your support for your hygiene team is to empower them with Continuing Education and professional development opportunities. They will be able to grow within their careers while also adding value to your practice. While there are many educational and networking opportunities out there, we also accept hygienists and staff at our ZestMasters events at a discounted rate when accompanied by a doctor. If you’ve been thinking of attending a course, now is the perfect time to treat yourself and your team to an opportunity to level up, bond, and grow together!
Amplify the voices of dental hygiene experts
During National Dental Hygiene week, be on the lookout for engaging posts and articles on your feed. If you see something helpful or thought provoking from a hygienist or a topic about hygiene, be sure to repost! This boosts their reach and also helps position you as a thought leader in the industry – a win-win for everyone! The original author gets more eyes on their work and you will get more impressions on your social media profiles.
For bonus points, ask one of your Dental Hygienists to write a brief email newsletter to send to your patients highlighting their top hygiene tips. (Everyone could use a refresher on proper flossing techniques every now and then!)
Plan a team outing
The saying is trite but applicable: work hard, play hard! Your hygiene staff works tirelessly to ensure patients are happy, educated, informed, and healthy. Show your team that their efforts aren’t going unnoticed by planning a team bonding outing. Take them bowling, share a meal, catch a new blockbuster at the movies, or maybe even team up for a couple rounds of mini golf! The options are endless and you’re sure to be able to find an activity in your area that everyone will enjoy together.
If you don’t know what your budget is or what common interests your team might have, this is the perfect opportunity to get to know them better! Circulating a fun email poll will help you learn about your team while ensuring the activity with the most interest gets chosen. (This can also help you plan a date that works for everyone’s schedule!)
Treat Your Hygiene Team to Some Upgrades!
Gift cards for new scrubs anyone? Do some digging and find out what your hygiene staff's favorite brand of scrubs are whether it's figs, medelita, or another high-quality brand. Then, purchase an e-gift card so they can pick out their size and favorite styles and colors. Everyone loves an excuse to do a little online shopping!
Keep the upgrades going and make sure your hygiene tools, equipment, and materials are properly stocked and working properly. This is a great time to do some spring cleaning. Ask your staff to see if any of their equipment has been giving them issues lately. (They might be too shy to speak up!)
By upgrading your hygiene equipment and materials you will not only be making your hygienists’ lives easier, but you will also be increasing patient comfort and satisfaction too! We offer products that can enhance and expand your current offerings:
- Regal Go – Use this convenient on-the-go oral care brush and cleaning gel dispenser combo for any fixed oral appliance such as bridges, orthodontic brackets, and fixed overdentures.
- Regal Protect – This dental sealant is great for natural teeth and dentures alike as it will not stain the prosthesis, unlike other leading sealants on the market!
- MicroEtcher – For simple preparation prior to applying a sealant, be sure to check out our MicroEtcher IIA.
Run a hygiene special at your practice
Similar to a new patient special, you can run a promotion for discounted or free hygiene services during the month of April. Instead of restricting it to new patients only, open it up to new and existing patients to broaden your reach and fill those seats. Have mainly insurance patients at your practice? To accommodate folks who prefer to use their insurance benefits over paying out of pocket or with an in-house membership, you can offer a gift card or other incentive for patients who come in for a cleaning this month.
Finally, to boost team morale during this influx of appointments, you can run a contest to see which team member conducts the most cleanings during the month. Recognize the winner with an extra day off, a free dinner, or a giftcard of their choosing!
How are you celebrating National Dental Hygienist Appreciation Week?
By celebrating National Dental Hygiene Week, you will be boosting your team’s confidence and encouraging proper oral health for your patients. We’d love to hear how you’re planning to celebrate dental hygiene week at your office. Do you have any ideas hidden up your sleeve that we’ve missed? Share your thoughts with us by connecting on Instagram, LinkedIn, or Facebook. As always, if you have any questions, be sure to reach out. Our friendly and knowledgeable team is just a click away!
