COVID-19 UPDATE: NOVEMBER 2022
Sorry for the update delay! We want you to rest-assured that the office is still maintaining its own internal protocol, which includes staff wearing masks. We are no longer requiring our patients to mask, but ask that you do what is most comfortable for you, especially as we head into the winter & holiday season!
COVID-19 UPDATE: MAY 2021
While we’re excited & hopeful about the recent announcements from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) & Governor Baker about mask wearing, our office protocol will remain the same as it has since we reopened in May 2020.
**Masks are still required at healthcare facilities, which includes dental offices, per Governor Baker and the Massachusetts Dental Society.**
Here’s what you can expect when you come to visit:
- Even if you’re fully vaccinated, we require that you enter our facility wearing a mask and keep it on except for when you’re in the chair.
- Our team will continue to wear masks throughout the office as well as CDC-recommended PPE while treating patients.
- Our goal is to ensure the health and safety of everyone who enters through our doors, so bear with us as we start to navigate back toward normalcy.
We appreciate your cooperation in helping to protect fellow patients and staff, and we’re so lucky & grateful to have you as a part of our HDG family!
Stay safe & well,
Dr. Richard, Dr. Bravoco & Dr. Powers
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COVID-19 UPDATE: SEPTEMBER 2020
Your health and safety, as well as that of our team’s, continue to be our priority. Highland Dental Group shall continue to follow OSHA and CDC guidelines for infection control and update and adhere to any new guidelines specific to COVID-19.
What to expect before your appointment:
Our staff will text you an online pre-screening form 24 hours before your appointment. If you would prefer to answer the form over the phone, please call the office the day before your scheduled appointment.
- When you arrive at the office, please call from the parking lot to review the screening questions.
- At this time, we are asking that you then wait in the lobby of the building or in your car prior to your appointment.
- Please wear a mask or face covering when entering the building.
Appointments will be extended and staggered to reduce wait times as well as the number of patients in the office at any given time.
At the time of your appointment:
- You will be called into the office by one of the providers and asked to sanitize your hands with hand sanitizer.
- Your temperature will be taken with a touchless thermometer. Readings over 100.3 F will be rescheduled per guidelines.
- All staff will be wearing appropriate PPE (i.e. surgical masks, respirator masks, gowns, gloves and face shields), as applicable.
We have air purifiers with medical grade filters in our reception area as well as in each treatment room. We also have other intra-oral dental equipment to reduce the amount of aerosol developed during procedures.
After your appointment:
We ask that you call the office if you develop any COVID-19 symptoms within 24-48 hours after being seen.
We appreciate your patience and understanding and please know that, as always, we are here for you and we have your best interests and health in mind as we update our practice policies during this time.
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COVID-19 UPDATE: MAY 2020
Your health and safety, as well as that of our team’s, continues to be our priority. Highland Dental Group shall continue to follow OSHA and CDC guidelines for infection control and update and adhere to any new guidelines specific to COVID-19.
We continue to follow the recommendation of the Massachusetts Dental Society and shall remain closed for non-urgent dental care through May 18, 2020. For any dental emergencies, please call the office at 978-740-5135.
If you will be seen at the office for an emergency appointment, a series of screening questions, regarding COVID-19 symptoms and exposure will be asked of you when scheduling your appointment as well as the day of the appointment.
Keeping each patient’s and team member’s safety in mind, if you are going to be seen at the office for an emergency appointment, please remember that per the Salem Health Department, with the recommendation of the CDC and state authorities, any person entering an essential business in Salem must be wearing a cloth face covering or mask. In an effort to keep everyone as safe as possible, we are also asking that only the patient come into the office, exceptions will be made on an individual case by case basis. We are also asking that you call ahead when you have arrived before entering the building and we will then inform you when your treatment room is ready. The above requests are to help us to achieve proper social distancing measures and to keep all patients and team members safe.
We appreciate your patience and understanding and please know that, as always, we are here for you and we have your best interests and health in mind as we update our practice policies during this time.