Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect
We collect information you provide directly to us and certain information that may be collected automatically when you use our website.

Information you provide:
When you request an appointment, complete a form, contact our office, or communicate with us online, we may collect information such as your name, email address, phone number, appointment preferences, new-patient status, and any information you choose to include in your message. Bethesda Dental Group’s current appointment forms request information including name, email address, phone number, and message details.
If you voluntarily provide dental or health-related information through an online form or communication, that information may receive additional protections under applicable healthcare privacy laws.

Information collected automatically:
When you visit our website, certain technical information may be collected automatically, including your IP address, browser type, device information, referring pages, pages visited, approximate location, and information about how you interact with the website.

This information may be collected through cookies and similar technologies.

2. How We Use Your Information

We may use the information we collect to:
Respond to appointment requests, questions, and inquiries
Schedule, coordinate, and provide dental care
Communicate with you about appointments and follow-up
Respond to emergency dental inquiries
Provide information about services, insurance, financing, or treatment options
Send service updates or marketing communications where permitted
Improve our website, services, and patient experience
Analyze website performance and usage
Protect the security and integrity of our website and systems
Comply with legal, regulatory, and professional obligations

We do not use protected health information for advertising in ways prohibited by applicable healthcare privacy law.

3. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to support website functionality, understand how visitors use the site, measure performance, and improve our marketing.

These technologies may include analytics, advertising, conversion-measurement, or call-tracking tools. You can control or disable certain cookies through your browser settings or any cookie-preference tools made available on our website.

Because Bethesda Dental Group is a healthcare provider, tracking technologies must be handled carefully when information could constitute protected health information. HIPAA-regulated entities may not use tracking technologies in ways that result in impermissible disclosures of PHI.
Disabling cookies may affect the functionality of certain website features.

4. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information for monetary payment.

We may disclose information where reasonably necessary to:
Service providers that help us operate our website and practice, such as hosting, scheduling, communications, IT, payment, or patient-management providers
Insurance, payment, or financing providers when needed to support services requested by you
Analytics or advertising providers for permitted website measurement and marketing purposes
Professional advisors such as legal, accounting, security, or compliance providers
Healthcare providers or business associates when necessary for treatment, payment, healthcare operations, or other permitted purposes
Government or legal authorities when required by law or when reasonably necessary to protect our rights, patients, staff, safety, or property

Where HIPAA applies to information shared with a business associate, applicable safeguards and contractual requirements also apply.

5. Third-Party Links & Services

Our website may contain links to or integrate services operated by third parties, such as appointment tools, maps, financing providers, payment services, social media platforms, or other external websites.

When you leave our website or interact directly with a third-party service, that provider’s own privacy policy and terms may apply.

We are not responsible for the privacy practices of websites or services we do not control, and we encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing personal information.

6. Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as reasonably necessary to provide our services, respond to inquiries, maintain business and patient records, meet legal or regulatory requirements, resolve disputes, and protect our legitimate interests.

Different retention periods may apply to dental or health records under applicable healthcare and recordkeeping requirements.

When information is no longer required, we take reasonable steps to delete, anonymize, or securely retain it as appropriate.

7. Data Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect personal information against unauthorized access, loss, misuse, alteration, or disclosure.

Health information subject to HIPAA may be subject to additional privacy and security safeguards. The HIPAA Security Rule establishes standards for protecting electronic protected health information.
However, no website, electronic transmission, or storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

For this reason, please avoid sending highly sensitive clinical or financial information through a general website contact form unless the form specifically requests that information and is intended for that purpose.

8. Your Rights & Choices

Depending on the laws that apply to you and to our processing of your information, you may have rights relating to your personal information, which can include the ability to:
Request access to certain personal information
Request correction of inaccurate information
Request deletion of certain information
Obtain information about how your data is used or shared
Opt out of certain marketing communications
Exercise other privacy choices available under applicable law

Maryland law provides certain residents with rights over personal data when the Maryland Online Data Privacy Act applies to the business and processing involved, including rights concerning access, correction, deletion, and certain opt-outs.

Health information:
Separate rights may apply to protected health information under HIPAA and other healthcare privacy laws. Those rights should be explained in Bethesda Dental Group’s Notice of Privacy Practices.

Marketing opt-out:
You may opt out of promotional email communications at any time by using the unsubscribe instructions included in those messages or by contacting us directly.

9. Children’s Privacy

Bethesda Dental Group provides dental care to children as well as adults. Our website, however, is intended to be used primarily by adults, including parents and legal guardians arranging dental care for minors.

We do not knowingly seek to collect personal information online directly from children under 13 without appropriate parental or guardian involvement, except where otherwise permitted by applicable law.

Parents or guardians who believe a child has submitted personal information to us inappropriately may contact us using the information below.

10. Changes to This Policy

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

When we update the policy, we will revise the Effective Date shown at the top of this page.
We encourage you to review this page periodically to stay informed about how we handle personal information.

11. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, our website privacy practices, or a request concerning your personal information, please contact us:

Bethesda Dental Group
📍 5415 W Cedar Ln, Ste 205-B | Bethesda, MD 20814
📞 (301) 951-9500
✉️ Office@bethesdadentalgroup.com
🕐 Mon–Fri: 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
      Sat–Sun: Emergency only