Welcome to Dr. Sanaz “Sunny” Fereshteh's Family Dentistry. We are committed to protecting the privacy and security of your personal and health information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our practice, use our website, or communicate with our team.

Please read this policy carefully. If you have questions, contact us at any time using the information at the bottom of this page.

1. Information We Collect

Personal Information

When you schedule an appointment, complete patient forms, or contact us, we may collect:

• Full name, date of birth, and contact information (phone, email, mailing address)

• Insurance information and billing details

• Emergency contact information

• Payment information (credit/debit card, financing details)

Health & Dental Information

As a dental practice, we collect protected health information (PHI) as defined under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), including:

• Medical and dental history

• Current medications, allergies, and health conditions

• Dental X-rays, photographs, and clinical records

• Treatment plans, progress notes, and clinical findings

Website Information

When you visit our website, we may automatically collect:

• Browser type, device type, and IP address

• Pages visited, time spent on the site, and referring URLs

• Cookies and similar tracking technologies (see Section 6 for details)

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• To provide, coordinate, and manage your dental care and treatment

• To process payments, submit insurance claims, and handle billing

• To communicate with you about appointments, treatment reminders, and follow-up care

• To comply with legal and regulatory obligations, including HIPAA requirements

• To improve our website, services, and patient experience

• To send you practice updates or health information (with your consent where required)

3. HIPAA & Your Health Information Rights

As a dental provider, we are required by law to maintain the privacy of your protected health information (PHI) and to provide you with notice of our legal duties and privacy practices. We are required to abide by the terms of this Privacy Policy and our HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices currently in effect.

Under HIPAA, you have the right to:

• Request access to and copies of your health records

• Request corrections to inaccurate or incomplete information

• Request restrictions on how we use or share your health information

• Request an accounting of disclosures of your health information

• Receive a paper copy of our Notice of Privacy Practices upon request

To exercise any of these rights, please contact our office directly.

4. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information in the following circumstances:

With Your Consent

We share your information for purposes beyond treatment, payment, and operations only with your explicit consent..

For Treatment & Care Coordination

We may share relevant health information with specialists, labs, or other providers involved in your care.

For Payment & Insurance

We share necessary information with your dental insurance provider and our billing team to process claims and payments.

As Required by Law

We may disclose your information when required by law, court order, or government regulations, including reporting obligations related to public health and safety.

With Service Providers

We may share limited information with trusted third-party vendors who assist in operating our practice, such as IT providers or service providers that support appointment-related communications. These vendors are required to protect your information and may use it only as needed to provide services on our behalf.

SMS Privacy Statement

No mobile information will be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. Text messaging originator opt-in data and consent will not be shared with any third parties.

5. Data Security

We take the security of your information seriously and implement administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect it, including:

•       Encrypted electronic health records and secure data storage

•       Password-protected systems with role-based access controls

•       Secure disposal of paper and electronic records

•       Staff training on privacy and HIPAA compliance

While we take every reasonable precaution, no data transmission or storage system is 100% secure. If you have concerns about the security of your information, please contact us.

6. Cookies & Website Tracking

Our website may use cookies — small data files stored on your browser — to improve your browsing experience, analyze site traffic, and understand how visitors use our site.

You may adjust your browser settings to refuse cookies or to alert you when cookies are being sent. Please note that some parts of the website may not function properly if cookies are disabled.

We do not use cookies to collect or track any protected health information.

7. Children's Privacy

We provide dental care to patients of all ages, including minors. For patients under 18, a parent or legal guardian is responsible for providing consent and managing healthcare decisions. We collect and handle minors' health information in accordance with HIPAA and applicable state law.

Our website is not directed to children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children through our website without parental consent.

 8. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites (such as insurance portals or patient resources). This Privacy Policy applies only to our website and practice. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any external sites you visit, as we are not responsible for their privacy practices.

9. California Privacy Rights

As a California-based dental practice, we comply with applicable California privacy laws, including the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) where applicable. California residents may have additional rights regarding the collection and use of personal information.

Please note that health and medical information regulated under HIPAA is generally exempt from certain CCPA provisions. For questions specific to your California privacy rights, please contact us.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or services. When we make changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Your continued use of our website or services after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests related to this Privacy Policy or your personal health information, please contact us:

Dr. Sanaz “Sunny” Fereshteh's Family Dentistry

Westchester Area, Los Angeles, CA

Phone: (310) 641 - 9233

Email: dentistry4children205@gmail.com

Website: https://www.familydentistryla.com/

For HIPAA-related concerns, you also have the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights at www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy.