Effective Date: June 19, 2026
The Loft Dental Studio ("we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and the steps we take to keep it safe. By visiting our website or receiving care at our practice, you agree to the practices described in this policy.
1. Information We Collect
Personal Information
When you become a patient or contact our office, we may collect the following personal information:
- Full name, date of birth, and gender
- Home address, phone number, and email address
- Insurance provider details and policy numbers
- Emergency contact information
- Government-issued identification (for insurance verification purposes)
Health and Dental Records
To provide you with quality dental care, we collect and maintain health-related information including:
- Medical and dental history
- Clinical examination notes, diagnoses, and treatment plans
- X-rays, photographs, and other diagnostic images
- Medications and known allergies
- Lab results and referral correspondence
Website Usage Data
When you visit our website, we may automatically collect limited technical data such as:
- Browser type and operating system
- Pages visited and time spent on each page
- Referring website or search terms
- IP address and general geographic location
2. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect for the following purposes:
- Treatment: Providing, coordinating, and managing your dental care, including consultations, procedures, and follow-up appointments
- Billing and Payment: Processing insurance claims, generating invoices, and managing your account
- Appointment Reminders: Contacting you by phone, text, or email to confirm or remind you of upcoming appointments
- Communication: Responding to your inquiries, sending post-treatment care instructions, and providing relevant health information
- Practice Operations: Improving our services, training staff, and conducting internal quality reviews
- Legal Compliance: Meeting our obligations under federal and state laws, including HIPAA and California privacy regulations
3. How We Protect Your Information
We take the security of your personal and health information seriously. Our safeguards include:
- HIPAA Compliance: We follow all requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), including maintaining a Notice of Privacy Practices available at our office
- Secure Systems: Patient records are stored in encrypted, access-controlled electronic health record systems
- Staff Training: All team members receive regular training on privacy practices, data handling, and HIPAA requirements
- Physical Security: Paper records, where applicable, are stored in locked cabinets within secure areas of our office
- Data Encryption: Electronic data transmitted between our systems and third-party partners (such as insurance companies) is encrypted in transit
4. Information Sharing
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties. We may share your information only in the following limited circumstances:
- Insurance Companies: We share necessary treatment and billing information with your dental or medical insurance provider to process claims on your behalf
- Referring Providers: If you are referred to or from another healthcare provider, we may share relevant clinical information to coordinate your care
- Legal Requirements: We may disclose information when required by law, such as in response to a court order, subpoena, or public health reporting obligation
- Business Associates: We may share information with trusted service providers who assist with our operations (such as billing or IT services), all of whom are bound by HIPAA-compliant agreements
We never sell patient data. Your trust is essential to us, and your information will never be used for marketing by third parties.
5. Your Rights
As a patient, you have the following rights regarding your personal and health information:
- Access Your Records: You may request a copy of your dental and medical records at any time. We will provide them within a reasonable timeframe as required by law
- Request Corrections: If you believe any information in your records is inaccurate or incomplete, you may request a correction. We will review your request and respond accordingly
- Opt Out of Marketing: You may opt out of receiving promotional communications from our practice at any time by contacting our office or using the unsubscribe option in any marketing email
- Request Restrictions: You may request that we limit how we use or share your information in certain situations, though we may not be able to accommodate all requests
- Receive Confidential Communications: You may ask us to communicate with you through a specific method or at a specific location (for example, contacting you only at your work phone number)
To exercise any of these rights, please contact our office directly.
6. Website Privacy
Cookies
Our website may use cookies, which are small text files stored on your device, to improve your browsing experience. These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our site. We do not currently use tracking cookies or serve targeted advertisements.
Analytics
We may use analytics tools (such as Google Analytics) to collect anonymized data about website traffic and usage patterns. If installed, these tools help us understand which pages are most visited and how we can improve our site. Analytics data is aggregated and does not personally identify individual visitors.
Third-Party Fonts
Our website uses Google Fonts to display text. When you visit our site, your browser may connect to Google's servers to load these fonts. Google may collect limited technical data (such as your IP address) as part of this process. For more information, refer to Google's privacy policy.
External Links
Our website may contain links to external websites or services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those third-party sites. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any personal information.
7. Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, your personal information, or your rights, please reach out to us:
You are also welcome to visit our office during business hours (Monday through Friday, 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM) to speak with a team member about any privacy-related concerns.