Kids' coloring contest
Difficulty: EasyBest on: In the office
- Concept
- Print a tooth-themed coloring page and let kids color it in the waiting room or at home. Hang the entries on a wall and draw a winner each month. It gives kids something to do while they wait.
- How to enter
- Kids color the page and hand it in at the front desk with a first name and age. Each page is one entry in a monthly random draw.
- Prize idea
- A $30 toy store gift card and a fun kids' electric toothbrush (about $50).
- Avoid
- Don't post children's full names or faces. Use first names only, and get a parent's written OK for any photo.
Oral care bundle draw
Difficulty: EasyBest on: Instagram and Facebook
- Concept
- Give away a bundle of everyday oral care items: an electric toothbrush, floss picks and a travel kit. It's useful and on topic without being a treatment. Run it online for followers in your area.
- How to enter
- Comment your favorite healthy snack on the post. Draw one winner at random from the comments.
- Prize idea
- An electric toothbrush and an oral care kit (about $60 to $90).
- Avoid
- Don't describe what the products will do for anyone's teeth. Name the items and their value, nothing more.
Meet the team trivia
Difficulty: EasyBest on: Facebook
- Concept
- Post fun facts about your team over a week, then quiz followers on them. Correct answers go into a draw. Patients get to know the people behind the masks.
- How to enter
- Answer the three questions in one comment on the quiz post. Draw one winner at random from the comments with all three right.
- Prize idea
- A $50 restaurant gift card (about $50).
- Avoid
- Don't share staff details they haven't agreed to. Ask each person what they're happy to post.
Back-to-school backpack draw
Difficulty: EasyBest on: Facebook
- Concept
- Before the school year starts, give away backpacks filled with school supplies to local families. Families get something they need, and it has nothing to do with treatment. Partner with a local stationery shop for the supplies.
- How to enter
- A parent comments the grade their child is starting. Draw three winners at random from the comments.
- Prize idea
- Three backpacks with supplies (about $50 each, $150 in total).
- Avoid
- Don't ask for children's names or photos in the comments. A grade level is enough.
Food bank week
Difficulty: EasyBest on: In the office
- Concept
- Pick a local food bank and collect donations at the office for a week. Everyone who brings an item or signs a thank-you card for the volunteers gets one entry in a draw. It keeps the focus on the community, not the practice.
- How to enter
- Bring a food item or sign the thank-you card at the front desk. Signing the card is free, so nobody has to donate to enter.
- Prize idea
- A family movie night package (about $75).
- Avoid
- Don't make the donation the only way in. Offer the free card and say so on the poster.
Halloween costume photo contest
Difficulty: MediumBest on: Email and Facebook
- Concept
- Invite families to send a photo of their kids' costumes for a Halloween contest. Staff pick winners in categories like funniest and most creative. It's seasonal, fun and far from anything clinical.
- How to enter
- A parent emails one costume photo and gives written permission to post it. Staff score the entries in three categories.
- Prize idea
- A $25 toy store gift card for each category winner (about $75 in total).
- Avoid
- Don't post any photo without a parent's written consent. Keep the consent with the entry.
Community fair photo booth
Difficulty: MediumBest on: In person at local events
- Concept
- Set up a photo booth with props at a town fair and print photos on the spot. Each person who takes a photo can drop a card in a box for a family prize. It's friendly and memorable, with no clinical angle at all.
- How to enter
- Take a photo at the booth and drop a name card in the box. Draw one winner at the end of the day.
- Prize idea
- A $100 family fun center gift card (about $100).
- Avoid
- Don't post booth photos without asking. Check with each group whether they're happy to appear online.
Water-first week challenge
Difficulty: EasyBest on: Instagram and Facebook
- Concept
- Run a seven-day challenge to drink water instead of sugary drinks, with a check-in on day seven. It's a simple habit with a fun community feel. Everyone who checks in is entered.
- How to enter
- Comment 'day 7' on the challenge post at the end of the week. Draw one winner at random from those comments.
- Prize idea
- An insulated water bottle and a $40 sports store gift card (about $70).
- Avoid
- Don't promise health results from the challenge. Keep the posts about the habit and the fun.
Name the office mascot
Difficulty: EasyBest on: In the office and Facebook
- Concept
- Get a plush mascot for the waiting room and let kids name it. Staff pick the winning name from the suggestions. The mascot becomes part of every child's visit.
- How to enter
- Kids write a name on a card at the front desk, or a parent comments it online. Staff pick the best name using a simple scorecard.
- Prize idea
- A matching plush for the winner plus a $20 bookshop voucher (about $45).
- Avoid
- Don't post the winning child's full name. A first name and age are enough, with a parent's OK.
Teacher thank-you draw
Difficulty: EasyBest on: Facebook
- Concept
- Ask the community to nominate a local teacher for a thank-you prize. It connects the practice with schools and families. Pick the winner at random from the nominations.
- How to enter
- Comment a teacher's first name and school. Draw one nomination at random, then contact the teacher before announcing.
- Prize idea
- A $100 dinner gift card and flowers (about $130).
- Avoid
- Don't announce a nominee before they agree. Some teachers prefer to stay private.
Questions and answers
Can a dental office give away free treatment?
Check with your state dental board and your insurer first, because rules on advertising and on offering services as prizes vary. Everyday prizes like toothbrushes and gift cards avoid the question.
Can we post photos of patients who win?
Only with written permission, and never mention their treatment. Treat any patient photo or name as private information. A thank-you post with the prize and a first name is enough.
Can we run a giveaway only for patients?
You can, but keep it simple and don't tie entries to booking appointments or treatment. Ask your dental board or compliance adviser if you're unsure. An open community giveaway avoids the issue.
What makes a good dental office prize?
Useful, everyday and non-clinical: an electric toothbrush, a family movie night, a gift card to a local business. Avoid prizes that need a clinical decision before they can be used.
How should we announce a winner?
Contact the winner privately first, then post a first name and the prize with their permission. The winner announcement maker makes a simple image.