Privacy Policy
1. Introduction
Dr. Amy Do Family Dentistry ("we," "us," "our," or "the Practice") respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information you share with us. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect through our website and our patient communication programs, how we use that information, who we share it with, and the choices available to you.
By using amydodentistry.com, submitting a form on this website, or opting in to receive text messages from us, you agree to the practices described in this Privacy Policy.
2. Scope of This Policy and Relationship to HIPAA
This Privacy Policy governs information collected through our website, our online forms, and our patient text messaging and email communication programs.
Protected Health Information ("PHI") that we create, receive, maintain, or transmit in connection with your dental treatment is separately governed by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 ("HIPAA") and its implementing regulations, and by the California Confidentiality of Medical Information Act (Cal. Civ. Code § 56 et seq.). Our handling of PHI is described in our HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices.
Where this Privacy Policy and our HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices address the same information, the HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices controls with respect to PHI.
3. Information We Collect
3.1 Information You Provide Directly
We collect information that you voluntarily provide to us, including:
- First and last name
- Email address
- Mobile and landline telephone numbers
- Mailing address
- Dental services you are interested in
- Appointment preferences and scheduling information
- Dental insurance and benefit plan information
- Health and dental history necessary to provide treatment
- Any other information you choose to include in a message or form submission
3.2 Information Collected Automatically
When you visit our website, certain information is collected automatically, including your IP address, browser type and version, device type, operating system, referring website, the pages you view, and the dates and times of your visits. This information is collected through cookies and similar technologies and is used in aggregate to understand and improve site performance.
3.3 Cookies
Our website uses cookies, which are small text files stored on your device. We use strictly necessary cookies to operate the site and analytics cookies to understand how visitors use the site. You may disable cookies through your browser settings, though some features of the site may not function properly if you do.
4. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect to:
- Schedule, confirm, reschedule, and remind you of dental appointments
- Respond to your questions, requests, and form submissions
- Provide dental care and coordinate your treatment
- Verify dental insurance benefits and process billing and payment
- Send you information about your care, our office, and our services
- Request feedback or a review following a visit
- Maintain and improve our website and patient experience
- Comply with our legal, regulatory, and professional obligations
5. SMS and Text Messaging
5.1 Program Description
Dr. Amy Do Family Dentistry operates a patient text messaging program. If you opt in, we may send you SMS text messages relating to:
- Appointment confirmations, reminders, and scheduling changes
- Requests to confirm, reschedule, or cancel an appointment
- Recall and hygiene visit reminders
- Treatment plan follow-up and post-operative instructions
- Billing, balance, and payment notifications
- Office announcements, such as schedule changes or closures
- Requests for feedback or an online review after your visit
5.2 How We Obtain Your Consent
We obtain your express written consent to send you text messages before any messages are sent. Consent may be provided by:
- Checking the SMS consent box on a form on this website
- Signing or completing a patient intake, registration, or update form that includes text messaging consent
- Texting a keyword or replying to a message from our office number
- Providing verbal consent to a member of our team, which we document in your record
Consent is never pre-checked, never bundled with other agreements, and is always a separate, affirmative action on your part.
5.3 Message Frequency and Cost
Message frequency varies based on your appointment activity and account status. Message and data rates may apply according to your wireless plan. We do not charge you for messages we send; any charges are imposed by your wireless carrier.
5.4 Opting Out
You may cancel text messages at any time by replying STOP to any message from us. You may also reply with QUIT, END, CANCEL, UNSUBSCRIBE, REVOKE, or OPT OUT, or contact our office directly at (831) 685-3300 or dentists@amydodentistry.com. After you opt out, we will send one final message confirming that you have been unsubscribed. We process opt-out requests promptly and in no event more than ten (10) business days after receipt.
5.5 Getting Help
Reply HELP to any message for assistance, or contact our office at (831) 685-3300 or dentists@amydodentistry.com.
5.6 Mobile Information and Consent Are Never Shared
No mobile information will be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. All of the categories described in this Privacy Policy exclude text messaging originator opt-in data and consent; this information will not be shared with any third parties.
We do not sell, rent, lease, trade, or otherwise disclose your mobile telephone number or your SMS consent to any third party for that party's own marketing or promotional use, and we never will. Your mobile number and consent are used solely to operate our own patient messaging program.
We do share your mobile number with the licensed communications vendors that deliver messages on our behalf, such as our patient engagement platform and its underlying messaging carriers. These vendors act as our service providers, are contractually restricted to using the information only to deliver our messages, and are prohibited from using it for their own marketing purposes.
5.7 Consent Is Not a Condition of Treatment
Consent to receive text messages is not a condition of receiving dental care, scheduling an appointment, or purchasing any product or service from us. If you decline or later revoke SMS consent, we will continue to serve you and will contact you by telephone, email, or mail instead.
5.8 Text Messaging Is Not for Emergencies
Text messaging is not monitored continuously and must never be used to report a dental or medical emergency. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. For an urgent dental concern, call our office at (831) 685-3300.
6. How We Share Information
We do not sell your personal information. We do not share your personal information with third parties for those parties' own marketing or promotional purposes.
We share information only in the following limited circumstances:
| Recipient | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Service providers and business associates | To operate our practice and website, including our practice management software, patient communication and messaging platform, website host, payment processor, and IT support. These parties are bound by contract, and where PHI is involved, by HIPAA Business Associate Agreements, to protect your information and to use it only to perform services for us. |
| Dental benefit plans and insurers | To verify benefits, obtain authorizations, and submit claims on your behalf. |
| Other treating providers | To coordinate referrals, specialty care, and continuity of treatment, consistent with HIPAA and California law. |
| Legal and regulatory authorities | Where required by law, subpoena, court order, or valid government request, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of our patients, our staff, or the public. |
| Successor entities | In connection with a sale, merger, or transfer of the practice, in which case the successor remains bound by this Privacy Policy and by HIPAA. |
We do not disclose your information to data brokers, lead generators, advertising networks, or affiliates for their own use.
7. How We Protect Your Information
We maintain administrative, physical, and technical safeguards designed to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of your information. These include access controls, workforce training, encrypted transmission where appropriate, and secured storage of records. No method of transmission over the internet or method of electronic storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
8. How Long We Keep Your Information
We retain your information for as long as necessary to provide dental care, operate our practice, and comply with our legal and professional obligations. Dental records are retained in accordance with California law and Dental Board of California requirements. Website inquiry and marketing records are retained for up to twenty-four (24) months from your last interaction with us unless a longer period is required. SMS consent records are retained for at least four (4) years following the date consent was given or revoked, in order to document compliance with applicable telecommunications regulations.
9. Your Rights and Choices
9.1 Communication Preferences
You may opt out of text messages at any time by replying STOP. You may opt out of marketing email by using the unsubscribe link in any email or by contacting our office. You may ask us to contact you by an alternative method or at an alternative address.
Please note that appointment, billing, and treatment-related communications that are necessary to your care may still be delivered by telephone, email, or mail after you opt out of text messaging.
9.2 Access, Correction, and Deletion
You may request access to the personal information we hold about you, request that we correct inaccurate information, or request deletion of information that we are not required to retain. Requests concerning your dental records and other Protected Health Information are handled under our HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices.
9.3 California Residents
Medical information held by this practice is governed by the California Confidentiality of Medical Information Act (Cal. Civ. Code § 56 et seq.) and by HIPAA, and is exempt from the California Consumer Privacy Act. For personal information collected through our website that is not medical information, California residents may request that we disclose the categories of personal information we have collected, request deletion, and request correction. We do not sell or share personal information as those terms are defined under California law, and we do not use or disclose sensitive personal information for purposes other than those permitted. We will not discriminate against you for exercising any privacy right.
To make a request, contact us at (831) 685-3300 or dentists@amydodentistry.com. We will verify your identity before responding.
9.4 Do Not Track
Our website does not respond to Do Not Track browser signals.
10. Children's Privacy
Our website is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 through this website. We do treat minor patients, and information about minor patients is collected from and shared with a parent or legal guardian consistent with HIPAA and California law. If you believe a child has submitted information through this website without parental consent, contact us and we will remove it.
11. Third-Party Websites
Our website contains links to third-party sites, including social media platforms, our membership plan provider, and online review platforms. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policy of any site you visit.
12. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page and post the revised policy here. Material changes affecting how we use your mobile information or SMS consent will be communicated to you before they take effect. Your continued use of our website or our messaging program after a revision takes effect constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.
13. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or about how we handle your information, contact us:
Dr. Amy Do Family Dentistry
3275 Aptos Rancho Road, Suite D
Aptos, CA 95003
Phone: (831) 685-3300
Email: dentists@amydodentistry.com
See also our Terms and Conditions and our HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices.