Deanna Otts-Whitfield is a Marine Corps veteran and dental professional with over 16 years of experience in hygiene, infection prevention, and compliance. She holds a bachelor's in dental hygiene, a master's in healthcare quality and safety, and is CDIPC certified. After serving one tour in Iraq as a heavy truck driver, Deanna transitioned to civilian life and discovered dental hygiene by literally going down a university program list. Her military background as a rule follower who appreciates black-and-white procedures naturally aligned with infection control compliance work. In 2019, feeling bored with clinical practice and seeking something bigger, she pursued her master's degree which opened doors to the consulting world. Now as owner of Copper Penny Consulting, Deanna empowers dental teams with practical strategies to enhance safety and compliance, serving on professional boards and passionately elevating patient care standards across the industry through virtual assessments, comprehensive training, and ongoing support.

In this episode....

Concerned about potential compliance violations hiding in plain sight at your practice, but not sure where to start or what you might be missing? Many dental practices operate under the dangerous assumption that following basic protocols learned in school is sufficient, while unknowingly exposing patients and staff to serious health risks through contaminated waterlines, improper sterilization procedures, and cross-contamination from everyday habits like keeping drinks in sterilization areas. What if the difference between a safe practice and a potential OSHA violation is simply not knowing what you don't know?

According to Deanna Otts-Whitfield, a Marine Corps veteran turned compliance consultant with 16 years of dental experience, most practices have good intentions but lack awareness of current safety standards that extend far beyond basic infection control. Her shocking revelations include dentists still practicing without gloves in rural communities, biofilm-contaminated water systems delivering microorganisms directly into patients' bloodstreams during procedures, and staff unknowingly creating cross-contamination by placing personal items near ultrasonic cleaners that aerosolize dangerous pathogens. Her military-trained eye for detail reveals that compliance isn't just about avoiding fines—it's about the ethical responsibility healthcare providers have to model safety behaviors and create protocols that protect everyone in the practice.

In this episode of The Marketing32 Show, host Brett Allen interviews Deanna Otts-Whitfield about the critical but often overlooked world of dental compliance and safety. They explore her unique journey from Marine Corps truck driver to dental compliance expert, discuss shocking real-world examples of practices unknowingly putting patients at risk, and dive into her comprehensive virtual assessment process that uncovers violations from sterilization areas to electrical panels. The conversation reveals how seemingly innocent habits like keeping drinks near ultrasonic cleaners can create serious health hazards, while providing practical insights into OSHA's expanding scope and the growing trend of whistleblower complaints that triggered over $100,000 in fines across dental offices in 2023.