What is Dental Smiles Month? — June is nationally recognized as Dental Smiles Month. The mission behind the campaign is to bring awareness to the importance of dental health and promote healthy smiles. A smile matters because often it is the first feature we notice about one another and a way to express confidence. The health of your oral cavity is directly linked to your overall wellness, and many health conditions can arise from bacteria spreading from the mouth to the rest of the body. Dental Smiles Month is dedicated to making dental resources available and educating the community.
Serving your community well can be beneficial to yourself and others during the process of establishing your dental office in the local community. Serving others establishes rapport and can give insight into the values of a dental office. Also, it can be rewarding to be able to contribute to the community. Many ways in which that can be done are through volunteering, monetary contributions, and donating dental supplies.
Designating a day once a month to offer free services can benefit those in the community and your office. This is a way to give back to the community and bring in people who may never have stepped into your office otherwise. Getting their foot in the door can lead to a long-lasting relationship in which they continue returning for future treatment and refer others. Free clinic days should still require scheduled appointments ahead of time to ensure the dental team does not feel overwhelmed. These designated days can include services such as:
Hosting a school assembly about the importance of dental health is a great way to make dental education fun for children. Did you know in the US, dental caries are the number one most common preventable childhood disease? Providing a space to educate students on how to take care of their teeth equips children with the knowledge to make changes that can improve their dental health. Dental education can influence change which has the opportunity to create a lasting impact that benefits them now and in the future. Providing demonstrations during the assembly can ensure the children are using dental products correctly, and gifting goodie bags containing these products can enhance dental hygiene routines such as:
Creating a platform on social media sites and a dedicated website is necessary today for any dental office to stand out among the competition. These platforms can be leveraged to educate more people about dental health and provide value to current patients. Providing dental educational tools is also a way to market your office for others to find and become a part of the dental family. Educational tools can be provided in the form of videos, text, and blog posts dedicated to a specific topic. This information can consist of topics such as preparing a child for their first dental appointment, pediatric dental care, braces, Invisalign, adult dental hygiene routines, etc. Trusted information from a reliable resource is invaluable and necessary for those looking to find answers.
Gaining the attention of those in your local community can be accomplished by sponsoring local sports teams. The teams can vary from little leagues to professional sports leagues in your area. Typically, a donation will be made on your behalf in exchange for advertisements with your office name and logo on team jerseys, banners, and various advertisements. The sporting events can provide an opportunity for your office to set up a booth to talk to attendees, hand out flyers, and raffle dental items and services. In addition, free tickets are provided to games which can be distributed to dental team members for a group outing!
Non-profit dental clinics provide dental services to those who are low-income and uninsured. They rely heavily on funding and support given by the community to keep their clinic afloat. Therefore, donations and volunteers are necessary to continue their efforts. Volunteering at a non-profit dental clinic is a great way to have a positive impact on your local community if your budget does not have the capacity for donations otherwise. Donating your time and expertise can be equally as valuable!
Spread Awareness Of The Importance Of Dental Health With A Smile!
Benjamin, Regina M. “Oral Health: The Silent Epidemic.” Public Health Reports (Washington, D.C. : 1974), 2010, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2821841/.