Privacy Policy
**Effective Date: August 6, 2026**
**Last Updated: August 6, 2026**
A Confident Smile (“A Confident Smile,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting information collected through our website, **aconfidentsmile.com** (the “Website”).
This Website Privacy Policy explains the types of information that may be collected when you visit or interact with our Website, how that information may be used and disclosed, and the choices available to you.
This Website Privacy Policy applies to information collected through the Website. It is separate from our **Notice of Privacy Practices**, which describes how A Confident Smile may use and disclose protected health information (“PHI”) as a healthcare provider subject to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”).
1. Important Notice About Medical and Dental Information
The Website provides general information about A Confident Smile, our dental services, providers, payment options, and patient resources.
**Please do not use the Website’s general contact form to send sensitive medical, dental, insurance, financial, or other confidential information.**
The Website’s general contact form is not intended for emergencies, diagnosis, treatment, transmission of dental records, or communication of sensitive health information.
If you are an existing patient and need to communicate about your dental care, treatment, records, medications, insurance, or other protected health information, please contact our office or use an authorized patient communication system when one is made available to you.
If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or seek appropriate emergency medical care. Do not rely on this Website or its contact form for emergency assistance.
2. Information You Provide to Us
Website Contact Form
When you use the Website’s contact form, we may collect information such as:
* Your name;
* Your email address;
* The subject of your inquiry;
* The contents of your message; and
* Any other information you voluntarily provide.
We use this information primarily to receive and respond to your inquiry.
Please limit information submitted through the general contact form to information reasonably necessary for us to respond to you.
Information Provided Through Other Services
The Website may direct you to separate services for patient account access, patient portals, online payments, financing, forms, or other functions.
Information you provide through those services may be collected directly by the applicable third-party provider or through systems separately maintained for A Confident Smile.
The privacy, security, and data-handling practices applicable to those systems may differ from those applicable to this public Website.
3. Information Collected Automatically
When you visit the Website, certain technical information may be collected automatically by our hosting provider, website software, security tools, and other service providers.
This information may include:
* Internet Protocol (“IP”) address;
* Browser type and version;
* Device type;
* Operating system;
* Referring website or page;
* Pages viewed;
* Date and time of access;
* Approximate geographic region derived from an IP address;
* Website interaction information;
* Cookie or similar identifiers;
* Error and diagnostic information;
* Security-related events; and
* Other standard server-log information.
We may use this information to operate, maintain, secure, troubleshoot, and improve the Website.
4. Cookies and Similar Technologies
The Website may use cookies and similar technologies to support Website functionality, security, preferences, embedded content, and other features.
Cookies are small files or pieces of information stored by or accessed through your browser or device.
Depending on the Website’s configuration, cookies or similar technologies may be used for purposes such as:
* Operating the Website;
* Maintaining security;
* Detecting malicious or fraudulent activity;
* Remembering Website or cookie preferences;
* Supporting accessibility features;
* Loading embedded third-party content;
* Measuring Website performance; and
* Diagnosing technical problems.
Where required by applicable law, we will request appropriate consent before activating nonessential cookies or similar technologies.
You may also control cookies through your browser settings. Blocking certain cookies may affect Website functionality.
5. Third-Party Content and Services
The Website contains links to or integrations with services operated by third parties.
These may include services relating to:
* Patient account access and patient portals;
* Online payments;
* Patient financing;
* Embedded video;
* Dental information and educational resources;
* Social media;
* Maps or location information; and
* Other external websites or services.
When you click a third-party link, load embedded third-party content, or use a third-party service, that provider may collect information directly from you or your device according to its own privacy practices.
Third-party services may collect information such as your IP address, browser or device information, cookie identifiers, account information, payment information, or information you choose to provide to the service.
A Confident Smile does not control the privacy or security practices of independent third-party websites and services. We encourage you to review their applicable privacy notices before providing information.
6. Embedded Video
The Website may contain video content hosted by third-party video providers, including Vimeo.
When embedded video content is loaded, the video provider may receive technical information such as your IP address, device and browser information, cookie identifiers, and information concerning your interaction with the video.
Where legally required, third-party media that uses nonessential cookies or tracking technologies should be activated only after appropriate consent.
7. Patient Portal and Account Access
The Website provides links to external systems that may allow patients to access account or patient-related information.
Those systems are separate from the public Website.
When you follow a patient portal or account-access link, information you submit may be processed by the provider operating that system and may be subject to additional privacy and security protections, agreements, or notices.
You should use authorized patient systems rather than the Website’s general contact form when communicating sensitive information relating to your care.
8. Online Payments and Financing
The Website may link to third-party services that facilitate online payments or healthcare financing.
Payment information submitted directly through an external payment processor or financing provider is subject to that provider’s privacy and security practices.
A Confident Smile does not intend for credit or debit card numbers, banking credentials, Social Security numbers, or other sensitive financial information to be submitted through the Website’s general contact form.
9. How We Use Information
We may use information collected through the Website to:
* Operate and maintain the Website;
* Respond to questions and requests;
* Facilitate appointment-related inquiries;
* Provide information about our practice and services;
* Direct patients to appropriate resources;
* Maintain Website security;
* Detect and prevent malicious activity, fraud, spam, or abuse;
* Diagnose and correct technical problems;
* Improve Website functionality and usability;
* Maintain appropriate business records;
* Comply with applicable laws and legal obligations;
* Respond to lawful governmental or regulatory requests; and
* Establish, exercise, or defend legal rights.
If information submitted through the Website becomes part of a patient’s designated record set or otherwise constitutes PHI maintained by A Confident Smile, our handling of that information may also be governed by HIPAA and our Notice of Privacy Practices.
10. How We May Disclose Information
We may disclose information collected through the Website:
Service Providers
We may provide information to vendors that perform services for us, such as website hosting, maintenance, security, technical support, communications, payment processing, patient technology, and other business services.
Where HIPAA requires a service provider to enter into a Business Associate Agreement with us, we will address that relationship in accordance with applicable HIPAA requirements.
Legal Requirements
We may disclose information when reasonably necessary to:
* Comply with applicable law;
* Respond to a lawful subpoena, court order, warrant, or governmental request;
* Protect our legal rights;
* Investigate fraud, abuse, or security incidents;
* Protect the safety or security of patients, visitors, employees, or others; or
* Establish, exercise, or defend legal claims.
Business Transactions
Information may be transferred as part of a merger, acquisition, sale, restructuring, or other transaction involving all or part of the practice, subject to applicable legal requirements.
With Your Direction or Authorization
We may disclose information when you direct or authorize us to do so.
11. HIPAA and Protected Health Information
As a dental healthcare provider, A Confident Smile may be subject to HIPAA with respect to protected health information maintained by or on behalf of the practice.
**This Website Privacy Policy is not our HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices.**
Our Notice of Privacy Practices explains:
* How we may use and disclose PHI;
* Your rights concerning your PHI;
* Our responsibilities concerning PHI;
* How to request access to or amendments of certain records;
* How to request certain restrictions or confidential communications;
* How to obtain an accounting of certain disclosures; and
* How to make a privacy complaint.
Patients may request a copy of our current Notice of Privacy Practices by contacting the office.
Nothing in this Website Privacy Policy is intended to limit rights provided to patients under HIPAA or other applicable healthcare privacy laws.
12. Email and Electronic Communications
Ordinary email and general Website communications may not provide the same privacy and security protections as a designated secure patient communication system.
Please do not send highly sensitive medical, dental, financial, or identifying information through ordinary email or the Website’s general contact form unless specifically instructed to do so through an approved method.
If you communicate with us electronically, we may respond using the contact information you provide, subject to applicable law and our privacy and security procedures.
13. Sale and Sharing of Personal Information
A Confident Smile does not knowingly sell personal information for monetary consideration.
We do not intend to use information submitted through our general Website contact form for the sale of personal information or for cross-context behavioral advertising.
Healthcare information and PHI may also be subject to additional restrictions under HIPAA and other applicable laws.
If our Website data practices materially change, we will update this Privacy Policy and provide any choices or notices required by applicable law.
14. Sensitive Information
Because we are a dental practice, information concerning a person’s dental or medical condition can be particularly sensitive.
Visitors should not submit the following through the Website’s general contact form:
* Detailed medical or dental histories;
* Diagnoses;
* Prescription or medication information;
* Dental records or radiographs;
* Social Security numbers;
* Insurance identification numbers;
* Credit or debit card information;
* Bank account information;
* Passwords or portal credentials; or
* Other information that is not necessary for a general Website inquiry.
Please contact our office for instructions regarding the appropriate method for transmitting sensitive information.
15. Data Security
We use reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards intended to protect information under our control against unauthorized access, use, alteration, loss, or disclosure.
Where HIPAA applies, A Confident Smile maintains safeguards intended to comply with applicable HIPAA privacy and security requirements.
However, no Internet transmission, email system, website, or electronic storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure. Visitors should use appropriate caution when transmitting information electronically.
16. Data Retention
We retain Website information for as long as reasonably necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, maintain appropriate business and security records, resolve disputes, comply with applicable legal obligations, and protect our legal rights.
Retention requirements applicable to patient records or PHI may differ from retention periods applicable to ordinary Website information.
When information is no longer reasonably necessary, it may be deleted, destroyed, anonymized, or otherwise handled in accordance with applicable law and our record-retention practices.
17. Children’s Privacy
The Website is intended for a general audience and provides information concerning dental services for adults and children.
The Website is not designed to solicit personal information directly from children under 13.
Parents or legal guardians should submit communications concerning minor patients.
If we learn that personal information was submitted directly through the Website by a child under 13 without appropriate parental involvement or authorization, we will take reasonable steps to address the information in accordance with applicable law.
18. Privacy Rights
Depending on your state of residence and the laws applicable to A Confident Smile, you may have certain rights concerning personal information, including rights to request access, correction, deletion, or information concerning our use of personal information.
These rights may be subject to exceptions and may not apply to information governed by HIPAA.
Patients have separate rights concerning PHI under HIPAA. Please refer to our Notice of Privacy Practices or contact our office for information about exercising HIPAA rights.
We may need to verify your identity before fulfilling a privacy request.
19. Global Privacy Control and Browser Signals
Some browsers and extensions transmit privacy preference signals, including Global Privacy Control (“GPC”).
Where applicable law requires us to recognize a qualifying browser-based opt-out signal, we will honor that signal as required.
Because A Confident Smile does not presently intend to sell personal information or use Website information for cross-context behavioral advertising, such a signal may not result in a visible change to your Website experience.
There is currently no universally accepted standard requiring websites to respond to every browser “Do Not Track” signal. We respond to such signals where required by applicable law.
20. Third-Party Links
The Website contains links to websites and services that we do not operate.
A Confident Smile is not responsible for the privacy, security, accessibility, availability, or content of independent third-party websites.
Your use of a third-party website is governed by that provider’s terms and privacy practices.
21. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Website Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes to our Website, technology, services, privacy practices, or legal requirements.
When we update this policy, we will revise the “Last Updated” date above.
We encourage visitors to review this Privacy Policy periodically.
22. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Website Privacy Policy, Website privacy, or the appropriate method for communicating sensitive patient information, contact:
A Confident Smile
Sharon K. Patrick, D.M.D.
303 W. Hansell Street
Thomasville, Georgia 31792
Office:(229) 227-1447
Fax: (229) 227-1486
Email: contactus@aconfidentsmile.com
For questions specifically concerning protected health information or your HIPAA rights, please request a copy of A Confident Smile’s current Notice of Privacy Practices.
