Dental Assistant Nation

Did you know hand-foot-and-mouth disease can knock an adult out for a week? Kevin Henry welcomes infectious disease and compliance expert Joyce Weeks of Dental Ed for a timely conversation on keeping dental teams safe as school is back in session and community bugs resurface. Joyce shares her journey from HIV vaccine research to teaching dental professionals about OSHA and infection control, and why understanding the “why” behind safety protocols makes all the difference. She explains how easily illnesses like hand-foot-and-mouth or measles can spread through carriers who don’t even show symptoms, and why dental teams must remain vigilant long after the COVID era. From simple handwashing habits at home to choosing the right level of mask in the operatory, Joyce makes clear how small actions can protect not only dental assistants but also their families, patients, and communities. The discussion dives into the reality of what happens when a visibly sick patient shows up for treatment and how regulations dif