The Great Practice for Dental Assistants to Work Awards program celebrates outstanding dental and dental specialty practices and clinics across the country that prioritize dental assistant recognition, satisfaction, and professional growth.

Organizers reported that the 2024 award program generated hundreds of applications from across the United States. Nine practices were selected as winners, including two AAO member practices. Congratulations to Dr. Mark McDonough of Pennington, New Jersey, Drs. John and Megan Welk of Bismarck, North Dakota and their teams.

Insights from the Winners
Dr. Mark McDonough established his practice in 1994 not long after completing the orthodontic residency program at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia.

“We have an awesome team of treatment coordinators and assistants, many of whom have been with me for 15 to 25 years,” he says. “The team has been built through word of mouth over the past 30 years. Whenever we need a new team member, it seems that someone has a friend who wants to join us.”

 An orthodontic assistant, Leeann McCullough, applied for consideration of the practice by the Great Practice for Dental Assistants to Work program. Ms. McCullough has worked with Dr. McDonough for 30 years.

“It is important that each person’s personality shines and different patients will naturally gravitate to different team members,” says Dr. McDonough. “I set the standard and let everyone work in their own way to achieve that standard. This is how we can serve a wide variety of patients who all feel that they have a friend here.  We also travel to one significant meeting each year. I think it is important to have shared experiences while keeping up with the latest concepts and technology.”

Husband and wife orthodontists Dr. John and Dr. Megan Welk met in dental school and decided to practice in Bismarck, Dr. John’s hometown after completing residencies at two different orthodontic programs. They have operated their office with the current staff for three years, and in January 2024 became the owners of the practice, now called Hometown Orthodontics. The doctors are very grateful for the team’s support during the practice’s transitions.

“One of our assistants entered us into the Great Practice for Dental Assistants contest without our knowledge – and then we learned we had won,” says Dr. Megan Welk. “We’re still beside ourselves, because we have always had strong beliefs about promoting our staff and creating a positive work environment for them.

“We’ve taken a few key steps to create a positive environment for our team,” says Dr. Welk. “One is prioritizing our assistants’ lives outside of work. We want them to know that they have the freedom to attend their children’s activities or stay home when they are sick without ever having to question how it will impact their jobs.

“Another step we’ve taken is ensuring excellent communication within our office,” Dr. Welk adds. “We understand that a team is made up of different personalizes that will disagree at times, but meeting regularly as a group and taking time to check in with our assistants in a one-on-one setting does wonders in clearing up miscommunications and making everyone feel heard and valued.”

The doctors also empower their team with training and education. They attend CE events as a group.

“We also take time often to teach our assistants new skills and help them understand the ‘why’ behind what we are doing,” says Dr. Welk. “We also regularly discuss the importance of providing nothing less than excellent care to our patients. I think that instills a sense of purpose and motivation for everyone, doctors included.”

AAO Member Practices Recognized as Runners-Up in the Award Program
The following AAO member practices were2024Great Practice for Dental Assistants to Work runners-up:

  • Ai Orthodontics, Dr. Aejaaz A. Issa, Emmaus, PA
  • Braces & Smiles, Dr. Brian Lee, Queens, NY
  • SKS Orthodontics, Dr. Gregory Stock, Fayetteville, NY 

AAO Resources: Orthodontic Practice Staffing
A new AAO Environmental & Technology Scan, Navigating Challenges and Solutions, reveals ongoing staffing challenges in U.S. orthodontic practices. Over 50% of orthodontists report staff turnover as a significant issue, underscoring the need to attract and retain qualified talent while leveraging technology. 

The U.S. Department of Labor projects rapid growth in healthcare occupations, contributing to the current talent shortage due to work-life imbalance, inadequate pay, and limited growth opportunities. 

The AAO report recommends effective recruitment and retention strategies, alongside technological adoption, to reduce reliance on staff for routine tasks. For detailed strategies and resources, visit the AAO Staff Recruiting Resources page on the member website.

About the Great Practice for Dental Assistants to Work Awards Program
Dental assistants are valuable, high-contributing members of the dental team, as research on the Financial Impact of Dental Assistants shows. The Dental Assisting National Board and the DALE Foundation created the Great Practice for Dental Assistants to Work Awards in 2024 to recognize the dental practices and clinics that foster supportive and fulfilling environments for dental assistants.