Recent Blog Posts

• Solution-Based Communication: Strengthening Teamwork in the Dental Office

  Posted: July 01, 2026

  Categories: Office Life , Professional
  

  Running a dental practice takes more than strong clinical skills, it requires effective communication. From the front desk to the operatory, the way we talk with each other can either build trust and efficiency or create unnecessary tension. One communication style that empowers both leaders and team members is solution-based communication.

  What is Solution-Based Communication?

  Solution-based communication is a way of speaking and listening that focuses on outcomes and collaboration, rather than blame or dwelling on problems. Instead of pointing fingers or getting stuck on what went wrong, the conversation turns toward what can be done to improve the situation.

  Think of it as shifting from:
  “Why did this go wrong?”
  to
  “How can we make this work better next time?”

  Why It Matters in a Dental Office

  Dental teams are unique: hygienists, assistants, dentists, and administrators

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• Package Labelling Occurs PRIOR to Sterilization

  Posted: June 17, 2026

  Categories: IPAC Compliance , Infection Control , Professional , maxill University
  

  Instrument reprocessing is intended to follow a linear, one-way workflow. The process moves from contaminated to clean, then inspected, packaged, labelled, sterilized, cooled, inspected again, and stored. Each step prepares the item for the next step, and the workflow should not move backward once the item has progressed forward.

  For this reason, labelling belongs before sterilization. The label is part of packaging and load preparation. It connects the package to the sterilization record, including the date processed, sterilizer used, load or cycle information, and the individual responsible for packaging. Once the package has been sterilized, the focus is no longer to “work on” the package; it is to protect the sterile barrier, allow the package to cool, inspect it, and store it appropriately.

  The expected workflow is:

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• The Lifelong Learner or the Learning Dodger?

  Posted: June 02, 2026

  Categories: Professional , maxill University
  

  I started using the term ‘Learning Dodger’ a few years ago when I began to notice a pattern among some dental professionals. They weren’t disengaged entirely, and they weren’t necessarily poor clinicians, but something was missing. They avoided growth opportunities, skipped over new ideas, and resisted updating their knowledge. I didn’t know what to call it at first, but the phrase dodging learning seemed to fit.

  It’s also a concept I wrestle with personally. As someone currently completing a BA in Adult Education, I can’t get enough of learning, I’m always looking forward to my next “educational fix.” For me, growth feels energizing, not exhausting. So when I encounter professionals dodging learning, I find myself both curious and concerned. Why would someone resist something that fuels so much professional pride and purpose?

  Dentistry and dental hygiene are professions rooted in science, technology, and evidence-based care. From infection prevention to new p

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• When the Control BI Fails: What It Means and What to Do Next

  Posted: May 13, 2026

  Categories: IPAC Compliance , Infection Control , Professional , maxill University
  

  In the world of dental sterilization assurance, biological indicators (BIs) are the most reliable method of verifying whether a sterilizer is functioning effectively. These indicators test the true effectiveness of a sterilization cycle by challenging it with highly resistant bacterial spores. But what happens when it's not the test BI that fails, but the control BI?

  While a failed test BI raises red flags for a potential sterilization breach, a failed control BI introduces an entirely different set of concerns. This article breaks down what a control BI is, what its failure means, and the exact steps your office should take to investigate and correct the issue.

  What is a Control BI?

  A Control BI is a self-contained biological indicator that is not exposed to the sterilization process. Its job is to serve as a positive control to prove that the spores

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