Website Privacy Policy

Scope of This Policy

Old Town Family Dentistry respects your privacy. This Website Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect information when you visit our website, contact us electronically, or submit an appointment request.

This policy applies only to information collected through this public website and related online communications. It does not replace our separate Notice of Privacy Practices, which explains how we use and disclose protected health information in connection with dental treatment, payment, and healthcare operations. You may request a copy of that notice from our office.

Information We Collect

Information You Provide

We may collect information you voluntarily provide through our appointment-request form, by email, or through other direct communications with our office. The form currently asks for:

• Full name
• Telephone number
• Email address
• Preferred appointment days or times
• An optional brief message or general question

Our website does not currently ask you to submit Social Security numbers, dental-insurance identification numbers, payment-card information, medical records, or online payments.

Information Collected Automatically

Our website host and other technical service providers may automatically receive limited information when you visit, such as your Internet Protocol address, browser and device type, operating system, referring page, pages viewed, and date and time of access. This information may be used to operate and secure the website, diagnose technical problems, and understand general website usage.

Appointment Requests and Health Information

The online form is provided for appointment requests and general questions only. Please do not submit personal health information or other sensitive information through the website or ordinary email. This includes detailed descriptions of medical or dental conditions, Social Security numbers, insurance identification numbers, payment-card information, or copies of medical records.

The public website form and ordinary email are not secure patient portals. Submitting a request does not create or confirm an appointment. Our office will contact you to discuss availability and confirm your visit.

The website and form are not monitored continuously and should not be used for urgent or emergency care. For a dental emergency, call (301) 926-6996. For a life-threatening emergency, call 911.

If information received through the website is later incorporated into a patient record, our handling of that information may also be governed by applicable healthcare privacy laws and our Notice of Privacy Practices.

How We Use Information

We may use website information to:

• Respond to questions and appointment requests
• Contact you about scheduling or general office matters
• Provide information you requested
• Operate, maintain, troubleshoot, and improve the website
• Protect the security and integrity of the website
• Prevent fraud, spam, misuse, or unlawful activity
• Maintain appropriate business records
• Comply with legal, regulatory, insurance, or professional obligations
• Protect the rights, property, safety, or interests of our patients, staff, practice, or others

We do not sell or rent personal information collected through this website. We do not use it for targeted or behavioral advertising.

Service Providers and Other Disclosures

We may provide information to vendors that help us operate the website and respond to requests, including website-hosting, form-processing, email, information-technology, security, website-maintenance, and mapping providers. These providers may process information as needed to provide their services and under their own terms and privacy practices.

Our current website uses:

• Netlify to host the static website and process and store appointment-form submissions on our behalf. We may configure Netlify to notify the practice by email when a new website form submission is received.
• Google Analytics to help us understand general website traffic and usage, including pages viewed, traffic sources, device and browser information, and general interactions with public website pages. We do not intentionally send information submitted through the appointment form to Google Analytics.
• Google Maps to provide embedded maps and directions.
• Google/Gmail for the practice's public email account and receipt of website form notifications or other communications.

We may also disclose information when reasonably necessary to comply with applicable law, a subpoena, court order, or other legal process; respond to a lawful government request; investigate suspected fraud or a security incident; protect safety or legal rights; or obtain services from attorneys, accountants, insurers, compliance professionals, or other professional advisors.

Cookies, Embedded Content, and External Links

This website does not use advertising pixels or behavioral-advertising trackers. We use Google Analytics on public website pages to understand general website traffic and usage, including pages viewed, traffic sources, device and browser information, and general site interaction. We do not intentionally send information submitted through the appointment form to Google Analytics.

Google Analytics, Google Maps, and other embedded or linked third-party services may collect technical information or use cookies or similar technologies under their own terms and privacy practices. Our website may also link to third-party resources such as CareCredit or future scheduling tools. We do not control the privacy, security, or content practices of third-party websites, and their terms and policies apply when you use them.

Security and Retention

We and our service providers use measures designed to protect website information. However, no website, email message, Internet transmission, or electronic-storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

We retain website information only as long as reasonably necessary to respond to requests, coordinate appointments, maintain appropriate operational records, protect against fraud or security concerns, comply with legal or professional obligations, resolve disputes, or establish and defend legal rights. Information that becomes part of a patient record may be retained according to healthcare record-retention requirements and our Notice of Privacy Practices.

Your Choices and Requests

You may contact us to ask about website information we maintain about you or to request correction or deletion where appropriate. We may need to verify your identity before responding. We may be unable to delete information that we are required to maintain, that has become part of a patient record, or that is needed for legal or operational purposes.

Depending on applicable law, you may have additional rights regarding personal information. To make a request, use the contact information below.

Children's Privacy

This website is intended for a general audience and is not directed specifically to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information directly from children under 13 through the website without appropriate parental or guardian involvement. A parent or legal guardian may contact us to request an appointment for a minor.

Changes to This Policy

We may revise this Website Privacy Policy when our website, service providers, practices, or legal obligations change. The revised policy will be posted on this page with an updated date.