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Reasons to Smile

Dental holidays aren’t just fun - they’re powerful tools for patient engagement, team motivation, and community outreach. From themed promotions to educational moments, these observances help your practice stay visible, relevant, and connected.

Below is a month-by-month guide to dental-related holidays and awareness events, along with creative ways to celebrate each one in-office or online.
 

January

Start the year strong by highlighting collaboration and restorative care.

• Medical Group Practice Week (4th week): Host a “Meet the Team” open house with interactive stations showing each role in your practice
• Prosthodontist Day (Jan 22): Create a mini “Smile Gallery” wall featuring before-and-after cases
• Dental Drill Appreciation Day (Jan 26): Set up a “Guess the Tool” trivia game in the waiting room

February

Focus on prevention and pediatric care.

• International Dentist Day (Feb 9): Feature short video interviews with your dentists on in-office screens
• Toothache Day (Feb 9): Create a “Toothache Prevention Kit” with floss, toothpaste, and a checklist
• Periodontist Day (Feb 23): Offer complimentary gum screenings and hand out gum-friendly snacks
• Tooth Fairy Day (Feb 28): Set up a Tooth Fairy photo booth and give out personalized certificates
• National Children’s Dental Health Month: Host a “Brush & Paint” art day for kids
• Gum Disease Awareness Month: Share daily gum care tips and launch a “Healthy Gums Challenge”

March

Shine a light on your team and global oral health.

• National Dentist’s Day (Mar 6): Let patients “Ask the Dentist Anything” with a live Q&A
• Dental Assistants Recognition Week: Host a surprise breakfast and let patients write thank-you notes
• Employee Appreciation Day: Create a “Wall of Gratitude” where staff can post shout-outs
• World Oral Health Day (Mar 20): Run a “Brush-a-thon” challenge with prizes for participation

 April

Emphasize prevention, diagnostics, and patient education.

• Dental Hygienist Week (2^nd week of April): Give hygienists personalized lab coats and feature them on your website
• National Prosthodontics Awareness Week (Apr 20–26): Host a “Smile Makeover” consultation day
• Oral Cancer Awareness Month: Offer free screenings and create educational handouts
• National Facial Protection Month: Partner with local sports teams to distribute mouthguards
• National Oral Medicine and Radiology Day (Apr 24): Showcase your imaging tech with a behind-the-scenes tour

May

Celebrate milestones and tooth-saving care.

• Root Canal Awareness Week (2nd week): Run a “Tooth Trivia” contest focused on endodontic facts
• Root Canal Day (2nd Wednesday): Share a case study and offer consultations
• National Receptionist’s Day (May 14): Give your front desk team custom mugs or tote bags
• Save Your Tooth Month: Share infographics and patient education on tooth preservation
• Mental Health Awareness Month: Create a calming corner in the break room with wellness resources
• National Smiles Month (May 12–June 12): Launch a “Smile of the Week” campaign featuring patient stories

 June

Celebrate smiles and diversity in dentistry.

• Public Health Dentistry Day (Jun 19): Host a community pop-up clinic or donate oral health kits
• Toothbrush Day (Jun 26): Set up a toothbrush swap station for patients
• Dental Diversity Month: Celebrate your team’s backgrounds with a cultural potluck

July

Take time to reflect and appreciate.

• National Dental Hygiene Month (July): Launch a “Healthy Habits” challenge with daily oral care tips and offer complimentary hygiene kits to patients.
• National Dental Assistant Month (July): Celebrate your dental assistants with personalized shout-outs, team lunches, and a “Meet Your Assistant” spotlight wall.

August

Bring joy to your youngest patients.

• National Fresh Breath Day (Aug 6): Offer complimentary breath checks and samples
• National Align Your Teeth Day (Aug 11): Host a free ortho consult day with digital smile simulations
• Tooth Fairy Day (Aug 22): Create a “Tooth Tracker” chart for kids to log their lost teeth

September

Focus on gum health and leadership.

• National Gum Care Month: Share daily gum care tips and run a challenge
• Office Manager Appreciation Month: Surprise your office manager with a custom plaque and team tribute

October

Celebrate hygiene, orthodontics, and kindness.

• World Smile Day (1st Friday): Set up a smile wall with patient photos and notes
• Dental Hygiene Month: Host a “Floss Like a Boss” contest with creative flossing videos
• National Orthodontic Health Month: Create a “Brace Yourself” selfie station
  Boss’s Day (Oct 16): Share anonymous stories or lessons learned from your leadership team

November

Raise awareness and reinforce healthy habits.

• National Brush Day (Nov 1): Hand out two-minute timers and host brushing demos
• National Flossing Day (Nov 28): Run a “Floss & Win” raffle for patients
• TMJ Awareness Month: Offer mini consults and relaxation tips for jaw pain
• Mouth Cancer Awareness Month: Create a visual display and offer screenings

December

Wrap up the year with a focus on hygiene and safety.

• Handwashing Awareness Week (1st full week): Create a fun handwashing station with glitter-based demos

Let Every Month Be a Reason to Smile

These observances are more than just calendar dates. They’re opportunities to build trust, educate your patients, and celebrate the people who make your practice thrive. At DEXIS, we’re proud to support dental professionals with imaging solutions that help you deliver confident care every day.