Website Privacy Policy

Scope of This Policy

This policy applies to information collected through the Bright Smiles Dental Care website, including our contact and appointment request forms and interactions with website features.

This policy does not replace our HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices and does not apply to all information maintained in our dental records, practice management systems, billing systems, or other patient-care records.

Information We Collect

Information You Provide

Depending on how you use the website, you may provide information such as:

• Your name
• Email address
• Telephone number
• Preferred appointment timing
• Whether you are a new or existing patient
• A brief reason for contacting the office
• Communication preferences and consent choices
• Information included in messages you send to us

Information Collected Automatically

When you visit the website, our website host, security tools, and advertising technology may automatically collect limited technical information, such as:

• Internet Protocol address
• Browser and device type
• Operating system
• Approximate location based on an IP address
• Pages viewed and links selected
• Date, time, and duration of a visit
• Referring website or advertising source
• Cookie, device, or advertising identifiers

Payment Information

Our website does not currently accept online payments, and we do not collect payment-card information through this website.

Google Analytics and Google Tag Manager

We do not currently use Google Analytics or Google Tag Manager on this website.

How We Use Information

We may use information collected through the website to:

• Respond to questions and contact requests
• Review and respond to appointment requests
• Communicate about appointments and office services
• Provide customer service and technical support
• Operate, maintain, protect, and improve the website
• Detect spam, fraud, misuse, or security concerns
• Measure the effectiveness of our advertising
• Provide marketing communications when you have consented
• Comply with legal, regulatory, and professional obligations

Submitting an online appointment request does not confirm an appointment. Our office will contact you regarding availability and next steps.

Cookies and the Meta Pixel

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies. A cookie is a small file stored on your browser or device that may help a website operate, remember preferences, maintain security, or understand website and advertising activity.

We use the Meta Pixel, an advertising and measurement tool provided by Meta Platforms, Inc. The Meta Pixel may collect information about your browser, device, IP address, website visits, page interactions, referring source, and advertising activity. Meta may use this information to provide advertising measurement, reporting, audience services, and personalized advertising in accordance with Meta’s own policies.

We do not intentionally use the Meta Pixel to collect the contents of appointment requests, contact-form messages, patient portal information, or other protected health information.

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Blocking cookies may affect how some website features work. You may also manage advertising preferences through your Meta account settings.

Email, Text, and Phone Communications

If you provide your contact information, Bright Smiles Dental Care may contact you by telephone, text message, or email to respond to your request, discuss an appointment, provide appointment-related information, or address your questions.

When you separately agree to receive promotional communications, we may also send information about office news, services, promotions, or other marketing messages. Consent to receive marketing communications is not a condition of receiving dental care.

Message frequency may vary. Message and data rates may apply. You may opt out of promotional text messages by replying STOP. You may unsubscribe from promotional emails by using the unsubscribe link in the message or by contacting our office.

Opting out of promotional messages does not prevent us from responding to a request you initiated or sending individual, nonmarketing communications about an appointment or your care where permitted by law.

How We Share Information

We may share website information in the following circumstances:

Service Providers

We may use vendors that assist with website hosting, form delivery, cybersecurity, communications, email, text messaging, advertising, and other business functions. These providers may process information only as needed to perform services for us, subject to applicable contractual and legal requirements.

Meta Advertising Services

Limited technical and website-interaction information may be shared with Meta through the Meta Pixel for advertising measurement and audience services. Depending on the law that applies to you, this activity may be considered sharing for targeted or cross-context behavioral advertising.

Legal and Safety Reasons

We may disclose information when reasonably necessary to comply with law, respond to valid legal process, protect the rights or safety of patients and others, investigate fraud or misuse, or enforce our policies.

Business Changes

Information may be transferred as part of a merger, acquisition, financing, reorganization, sale of assets, or similar business transaction, subject to applicable law.

No Sale for Money

We do not sell personal information for money.

Health Information and HIPAA

Certain information Bright Smiles Dental Care creates or receives in connection with your dental care may be protected health information under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and other health privacy laws.

Our HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices, rather than this website policy, explains how protected health information may be used and disclosed and describes your rights regarding that information.

A website privacy statement, cookie banner, or consent to ordinary website cookies does not by itself authorize the disclosure of protected health information to an advertising or tracking provider.

Data Retention

We retain information for as long as reasonably necessary to respond to requests, provide services, maintain business and patient records, meet legal and professional requirements, resolve disputes, enforce agreements, and protect the website and our practice.

Retention periods vary depending on the type of information and the purpose for which it was collected.

Data Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect information from unauthorized access, use, alteration, or disclosure.

No website, electronic transmission, or storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure. Please avoid submitting highly sensitive information through general website forms.

Your Privacy Choices

You may:

• Adjust or block cookies through your browser settings
• Manage advertising preferences through your Meta account
• Reply STOP to opt out of promotional text messages
• Use an unsubscribe link to stop promotional emails
• Ask us to update your contact preferences
• Contact us to request access, correction, or deletion of website information, where applicable

Some information may be retained when required by law, professional recordkeeping obligations, security needs, or other permitted purposes.

Some browsers offer “Do Not Track” or other privacy preference signals. Because there is not one consistent industry standard, our website may not respond to every signal. We will honor legally required opt-out preference signals when applicable.

Children’s Privacy

Our website is intended for adults seeking information or dental care for themselves or their families. Children under 13 should not submit personal information through the website without the involvement of a parent or legal guardian.

If you believe a child has submitted information without appropriate permission, please contact us.

External Links

Our website may link to third-party websites, social media platforms, maps, patient services, or other resources. Bright Smiles Dental Care does not control the privacy or security practices of those third parties.

Review the privacy policies of any external website or service before providing information.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Website Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our website, technology, legal requirements, or privacy practices.

The revised policy will be posted on this page with an updated effective date. Material changes may also be communicated by another reasonable method.