Summer goes by so fast. Although, technically, we have until September 22 at 3:40 p.m. for the actual autumnal equinox, summer seems to end on August 31. With all the "return to school" appointments, we may have begun to forget the relaxing, rejuvenating, and rewarding days of summer. Did you reward yourself and your team this summer?

I had a wonderful, rewarding experience that I shared with 1,200 of my favorite dental hygienists. I had the honor of attending RDH Under One Roof™, the premier education event for dental hygienists, which was recently held in Chicago. This meeting is such a phenomenal educational and networking meeting for dental hygienists that it was attended by well over a thousand ladies and gentlemen practitioners.

For those of you who haven't heard of this outstanding program yet, RDH Under One Roof™ has been going strong for more than eight years. Nationally renowned clinicians and authors present on a variety of topics from oral/systemic links to instrumentation to minimally invasive dentistry. Your hygienists in attendance not only enjoy a fantastic venue in a great city, but also receive many hours of continuing education. This is a great way for your hygienist(s) to network with Mark Hartley, the editor of RDH Magazine and several of the authors they have come to know and love.

One of the best things about this conference is the format of course scheduling. Unlike having to sit through lengthy presentations and only having time for two courses per day, RDH Under One Roof™ has a two-hour format, giving the participant the opportunity to attend several courses in one day. In addition, there are exhibits from many dental companies, demonstrating hygiene-specific products. What an outstanding reward for your hygienist! Next year, the program will move to Las Vegas (July 29?31) at the Rio Suites. Plan for it!

Of course, we do not want to forget our honored chairside companions! Dental assistants have a rewarding conference too. The annual Professional Dental Assisting Conference, recently held in Norwalk, Va., was a gathering of more than 300 dental assistants for education, enrichment, and a little entertainment. Several hands-on courses are available in addition to informational courses led by leaders in the dental assisting community. Please watch our Web site (www.wdjournal.com) for all upcoming enrichment programs for your dental team members.

One way we are able to reward our practices is to thank our patients for referring new patients to us. How often do you personally mention to your patients that you are accepting new patients? Some offices delegate the new patient requests to team members who spend more time with patients. But how much more powerful is it when we remind patients that we are always accepting wonderful patients like themselves!

We have a mantra in our office: "Our best patients come from our best patients." When patients complete a treatment plan, whether it is something minor or a few return visits, we always thank them and let them know we would be honored if they would consider sending us their friends and family. Sometimes patients do not know that you are accepting new patients unless you remind them. They see your busy reception area with patients waiting to be treated and may be under the misconception that you do not need any more patients.

Some offices reward patients for dental referrals. A small token of appreciation to acknowledge your appreciation of their trust and confidence is a wonderful idea. A small potted plant, a coffee mug, a gift certificate to a local eatery are all great ideas. How do you reward your patients? In an upcoming feature article, Woman Dentist eJournal will discuss some innovative ideas to thank your loyal patients for the greatest gifts they bestow upon us. For now, please visit our Women Dentist's Cafe in the PennWell Dental Community and let us know how you reward your patients for their kindest gifts — their word-of-mouth referral. Don't forget about sending us your virtual postcard from your vacation too!

We should focus on rewarding ourselves both professionally and personally. Everyone needs a little positive reinforcement, don't they? That occasional thank you to team members does make a difference! Have you sent an e-card to your business manager lately, thanking her for her dedication? What about a note of appreciation to your dental assistant? To get our best, we also have to give our best to our team. We should spend a few minutes at our morning (or afternoon) team huddle, saying something positive about each team member. Paying it forward will bring back a multitude of rewards.

Finally, reward yourself. Eat that hot fudge sundae on occasion. Walk along the beach. Enjoy a few minutes of solitude reading a romance novel. Visit a good friend for lunch. Tour a museum in your hometown. It's all good. We all work hard in the plethora of roles we are engaged in on a daily basis. We need to find at least five minutes out of the day to sit back, relax, and rewind, even if rewinding is a high-power aerobic exercise class! It is all about "me time" to balance our busy lives.

Have a fantastic rest of your summer!

Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you. — Diana Spencer

Walk tall as the trees,
live strong as the mountains,
be gentle as the spring winds,
keep the warmth of the summer sun
in your heart, and the Great Spirit
will always be with you.
— American Indian Proverb, unknown tribe