04 Mar Thank You, Dentists: How to Show Your Dentist You Care
Just around the corner sits a holiday that we might easily overlook: March 6, National Dentist’s Day. While you may not take the day off work or throw a party to celebrate the importance of healthy teeth and the professionals who care for them, consider at least pausing to reflect. Having healthy teeth is vital to your well-being. That means the people who care for your teeth are vital, too. This National Dentist’s Day, we want to encourage you as the patient to take a moment to let your dentists know you appreciate that work.
What does my dentist do for me?
Before we think about how to express our thankfulness for our dentists, let’s think about what they do for us! The job of a dentist is to ensure that your teeth stay healthy and strong over a lifetime of wear and tear.
When you go to your biannual visit, it’s probably the hygienist who’s doing your cleaning. But it’s the dentist who fills any cavities you might have. If your tooth is damaged, they’ll be the one to take it out. If you need a crown or a veneer or some other specialized procedure, that’ll also be your dentist who does the job. We can generally categorize the work your dentist does into three groups: preventative, restorative, and emergency work. As the Cleveland Clinic explains, restorative work includes things like fillings, crowns, and dental implants. Preventative treatment includes things like sealants, fluoride treatments, dental x-rays, and exams. Emergency work means things like root canals and taking care of knocked-out teeth.
Your dentist does more than just look out for your teeth, though. They also monitor your gums, warding off gum disease and encouraging gum health. According to the CDC, gum disease is one of the biggest threats to dental health. If gum disease develops, your entire body is at risk. Gum disease is a form of inflammation, and as Locust Family Dentistry so aptly put it, “chronic inflammation is our body’s enemy.” This means that the oversight of a dentist is vital! Without them, your teeth, gums, and overall health would suffer.
Why should I let them know I care?
This question can be answered countless ways. For starters, letting them know you appreciate them honors the hard work they do. The work of a dentist can be mentally, emotionally, and physically taxing, not to mention requiring careful skill to execute. By pausing in your busy schedule to thank them somehow, you signal that you see and value the hard work they do. Their satisfaction in their job is then likely to go up, which will tend to make them perform with more excellence at it, and then the positive feedback loop continues.
Expressing gratitude not only benefits your dentist by making them feel seen and valued. Recounting what you appreciate about your dentist, their office, and their team will remind you how grateful you are to have those things in the first place. As the New York Times reports, expressing thankfulness increases “the well-being of the giver and the recipient.” Writing that thank-you note doesn’t just brighten their day—it’ll brighten yours, too.
How can I show them I care?
This National Dentist’s Day, consider showing your dentist and even their whole dental team that you are grateful for the work they do to keep your teeth healthy all year round. We’ve included some suggestions, but feel free to get creative! Gifts don’t have to be extravagant or expensive. They just have to show thought and care.
Idea #1: Thank-You Notes
In the digital age, who isn’t touched by a handwritten note? Surely you have a few pieces of nice stationery stashed somewhere. Consider getting one out and writing a thank-you note to the people who care for your teeth. If you need some help thinking of what to say, the Internet is full of prompts and templates for writing dentist thank-you notes.
Idea #2: Small Tokens of Appreciation
No dentist would turn down a Chick-Fil-A gift card, or a gift certificate to a spa. If you’re on a tighter budget, you could bring a bouquet of flowers from your own garden! You could also choose a practical gift, like nice pens that they could use in the office.
Idea #3: Baked Goods
Everyone loves a homemade pan of brownies, fresh out of the oven. This one’s budget-friendly, and delicious! It’s not as tooth-friendly, though, so make sure to brush your teeth after if you eat one! Dropping off a plate of fresh cookies or muffins with a thank you note is a great way to tell your dentists you’re thankful for all they do.
As we’ve said, it doesn’t have to be something fancy or expensive. Any gesture of appreciation and thanks, big or small, will go a long way to show them that you are thankful for all they do. As always, if you need to schedule your next appointment, please contact our office today. Happy National Dentist’s Day from us to you!
About Our Team
Our team at Washington Family Dental has over 30 years of experience in the field of dentistry and a reputation for excellent patient care.
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