COVID-19 Update

*UPDATE 10/1/20*
All services are back on our regular schedule at this time. SANTA FE clients please note we have returned to our pre-Covid schedule for you as well. Pickups and drop offs will occur Mondays and Wednesdays. On these days repairs/relines will be returned same day before 2:30pm. Same day pickups must be received by our drivers no later than 9:30am for same day return. If not that case will be returned the next business day we are in SF. If you have any questions please let us know. Thank you for your continued support.

*UPDATE 8/31/20*
We are continuing to forge ahead like all of you right now. We appreciate your continued trust as we work together in caring for your patients. As we continue to ramp up our operations please be assured the majority of our processes are back to their regular scheduled turn around times. Here is where we stand currently:

1. All REPAIRS/RELINES are now back to same day return. As always the complexity of some repairs may take additional time and Duraflex repairs are and have always been a full day turnaround. 
2. SANTA FE schedule will change slightly. With adequate notice we will do pickups and drop offs Monday-Thursday starting Monday August 31. Any REPAIRS/RELINES picked up will now be a next day return. This change allows us to spend an adequate amount of time ensuring these processes are done properly instead of quickly and also gives us greater ability to get regular cases back to you in a more timely manner. 
3. CAST METAL FRAMES continue to be a day or so behind our previous schedule. Please allow a full two weeks from day of pickup for frame try-in. Try-ins with teeth in wax or straight to completion will obviously take more time. Please call with any questions regarding scheduling. We will also be diligent about contacting you on day of pickup if the return date on script is earlier than we can deliver.

Questions? Call me. Want to vent about the world? Call me. Want to get back to "normal"? Stay safe, stay strong, and let's keep doing the little things that protect us and our patients so we can convince our Governor that the dental community is a safe place to be and deserves the opportunity to be allowed to see more people sooner than later. Thank you all for what you do.

Matthew Neighbors


​*UPDATE 7/1/20*
We want to thank all of our doctors for their effort, patience and understanding during this extraordinary time. We are continually evaluating and evolving with the changes around us and will keep you updated here as to those changes. Here are our current working standards:

1. REPAIRS/RELINES will begin to return to same day processes on a case by case basis. Emergent services, primarily additions to partials/dentures, will be prioritized at this time.  These will be on a first come/first served basis. Please note relines are not considered emergent. However based on case load these may be returned same day as well.
2. SANTA FE pickups and drop offs will continue on Mondays and will be available on Wednesdays as well with adequate notice. If you have cases that will be ready for Wednesdays please let us know on Tuesday so we may plan accordingly.  You will continue as before to receive repairs/relines same day. We greatly appreciate your cooperation with this while we continue to return to a full staff level.
3. All services have been and continue to be returned on our normal schedule. Cast metal frames are within a day or so of our normal turnaround as well.

Please contact us with any questions you may have.  Stay strong!
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*UPDATE 5/13/20*
Phase 1 reopening has begun! Thank you to all of our doctors and their staff who prioritized emergency patient care during this time and helped "flatten the curve".  As a result of this starting MONDAY 5/18  we will begin accepting cases once again. Please be patient during this time. We will not be at full staff immediately and some things may take a little longer than normal. There are a few temporary operational changes to take note of:

1.  REPAIRS/RELINES will temporarily be a NEXT DAY DELIVERY.  We will evaluate that as we move forward and once we are at full staff levels we will return to our normal same-day delivery schedule.
2.  SANTA FE pickups and drop offs will temporarily occur ONLY ON MONDAYS. Any repairs picked up that day will be delivered back that afternoon (assuming they are something we would normally do in one day).  All other pickups will be delivered the following Monday or later.
3. Cast metal frameworks will be on a slightly longer schedule as well (TBD). Our frame lab is out of state, and understandably all states are at different phases during this recovery.

You may reach us through VM or email throughout the rest of this week with any other questions or concerns you may have.  Let's all continue to work together keeping our patients safe and healthy.  See you soon!

*UPDATE 4/29/20*
We hope all of you are safe and well during this crisis. We are extending our temporary closure until May 18 at which time we will coordinate with federal, state and local officials to determine if that is the appropriate time to resume operations. All of us are looking forward to helping your patients once again. See you soon!

*UPDATE 3/31/20*​
We are extending our closure date to April 30.  This date will be reevaluated based on state and local policies and risk factors at that time.  Please see details below and check in here for updates.  We hope you are safe and healthy.
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3/19/20
​Due to the circumstances surrounding the Covid-19 virus, Highland Dental Lab has made the difficult decision to cease operations until at least April 15 when we will reevaluate based on the risk factors at that time.  Our goal is always to provide the highest quality products and services to our clients and their patients while doing our part to keep our staff and community safe

What does this mean for you?
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1. No pickups will be made during this closure. 
2. Cases currently in production will be finished and delivered no later than March 26th to all offices that remain open. This means we will finish whatever step we are currently at (bite block, set-up, finish, etc.) on cases that are physically in our lab at this time. No further steps will be completed until business resumes as normal.
3. For those offices that are currently closed and reopen before we do, please contact the lab via voicemail or email (email is preferred) to let us know you are back. We will be checking communications daily and will deliver those cases to you the next business day after hearing from you.
4. Any questions may be submitted via voicemail or email and will be answered within one business day.
                                                 (505) 881-1760        or       ​info@highlanddentalnm.com
   
   

Most of you know me. Those that do, please know I consider you as much a part of my family as I do my staff and my own family. I truly love the work we do together for your patients. I also want all of us, your patients included, to be safe and healthy. I want to do my part in minimizing this outbreak and look forward to the day we can resume normal life. Our drivers have multiple contacts with different offices and the general public daily. This decision is meant to eliminate those contacts and protect us all. I look forward to coming together again at a safe time and hearing that you all are healthy, safe, and ready to get back to work helping each other change people’s lives. Let’s all work together and get through this. If at any time you have any questions or need anything please reach out to me. I will see you all on the other side of this. Stay safe!

Matthew Neighbors
Owner, Highland Dental Lab