Dear Readers,

“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle.” Dental assistants know this all too well as they meet patients day in and day out—helping to neutralize their fear of dental treatment, explaining complicated procedures, or just offering a comforting presence. They share a moment in that patient’s life, however fleeting, and can make a world of difference.

The kindness of dental assistants doesn’t end there. As you will see in this issue of Inside Dental Assisting, dental assistants show continually that all patients deserve respect, attention, and compassion—and that everyone in the community deserves the same level of dental care. Consider how much dental assistants give back through programs such as Give Kids a Smile or Mission of Mercy or when they work for nonprofits that seek to end disparities in care. Our feature story focuses both on the dental assistants who work at nonprofits in low-income areas, and the dental companies that support these programs.

These stories remind us what makes dental assisting extraordinary. Dental assistants can give back by just devoting a few hours a year to local efforts. Contact your local dental assistants’ association for ways that you can get involved.

Our 2013 Dental Assistant of the Year, Karrie Schutt, CDA, LDA, decided to take her volunteerism to the next level by participating in overseas trips to help people in developing countries with their oral healthcare needs. Not only does she show an altruistic spirit in wanting to help others live better, healthier lives, she also rallies her dental assisting colleagues to pursue their education and promote their profession.

We hope that Inside Dental Assisting continues to be a powerful resource for you. For more insights into dental assisting, visit us online at insidedentalassisting.com and follow us on Facebook. We always enjoy interacting with our readers. Thank you for your continuing support! Please support our sponsors who help make Inside Dental Assisting possible.

Sincerely,

Karen A. Auiler
kauiler@aegiscomm.com