The shocking discovery of blood-stained surgical tools at a Colorado hospital is a wake-up call for every dental practice. When sterilization falls behind, even briefly, safety can break down fast and dentistry faces the same risks, especially with short staffing, rushed schedules, and inconsistent infection control habits. In this episode, Kevin Henry and infection control expert Mary Govoni, CDA, RDH, discuss how incidents like this happen and why dental teams must stay alert. They talk through common failures in instrument processing, gaps in PPE use, and how post-pandemic complacency has led to rising safety concerns in many practices. Mary explains the importance of proper onboarding, reliable training, and strong infection control routines especially as respiratory illnesses surge and demands on clinical teams increase. She also addresses often-missed issues such as waterline testing and how dental assistants can identify red flags and advocate for safer practices. Links: Association for Dental Safety: https://www.myads.org/ Dental Infection Prevention and Control: https://www.cdc.gov/dental-infection-control/hcp/index.html State inspectors found trays of blood-caked surgical tools at University of Colorado Hospital: https://www.denverpost.com/2025/10/17/uchealth-university-colorado-hospital-inspections-sterilization/ Connect with Mary Govoni Website: https://www.marygovoni.com/ Email: mary@marygovoni.com BIG NEWS! The annual dental podcast contest is officially underway, and we’d love your support. If you enjoy this podcast, now’s your chance to help us shine! Just head over to https://dentalpodcast.org/vote/ and hit the big “Vote” button on the bottom banner. Voting runs from November 1 through December 31, 2025, so jump in and make your vote count. Thanks for being an amazing part of this community! —-------------------- Big things are coming in 2026 for dental assistants! Join me at the Rocky Mountain Dental Convention in Denver, January 22–23, for Real Talk About the State of Dental Assistants happening 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM MST. We’re getting real about what’s working, what needs improvement, and how we can strengthen the future of our profession together. Then meet me at the Chicago Midwinter Meeting, February 20–21, for two powerful sessions: ✨ Harnessing the Power of Personalities in the Dental Practice February 20, 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM learn how understanding personalities can transform teamwork and communication in your dental practice. 🔥 Battling and Beating the Demons of Dental Assisting February 21, 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM an honest, empowering session just for dental assistants about overcoming the real challenges in our profession. Let’s connect, learn, and grow together. In 2026 it’s going to be a year of real conversations and real change for dental assistants everywhere. 👉 Rocky Mountain Dental Convention: https://rmdconline.com/ 👉 Chicago Midwinter Meeting: https://midwintermeeting.eventscribe.net/?_gl=1*15ae5ic*_ga*MTY3Nzc0OTM5OC4xNzU5OTcxOTAw*_ga_VZTQV2NKLH*czE3NTk5NzE5MDAkbzEkZzAkdDE3NTk5NzE5MDAkajYwJGwwJGgw
