Privacy Policy

1. Who We Are

Salud Dental operates two dental practices in Illinois:

• Salud Dental of West Chicago — 334 S Neltnor Blvd., Unit G, West Chicago, IL 60185 | (630) 520-0166
• Salud Dental of Waukegan — 2320 Grand Ave, Waukegan, IL 60086 | (847) 672-9616

Contact us at: info@mysaluddental.com

2. Information We Collect

We collect the following categories of personal information:

A. Personal Identification Information

• Full name, date of birth, gender
• Home address, email address, phone number
• Social Security Number (for insurance billing purposes only)
• Emergency contact information

B. Protected Health Information (PHI) — HIPAA Covered

• Dental and medical history, diagnoses, treatment records
• X-rays, photographs, and clinical notes
• Prescription and medication information
• Insurance information and billing records
• Payment information (processed securely — we do not store full card numbers)

C. Communications Information

• Text messages (SMS) sent to and from your mobile number
• Emails exchanged with our office
• Appointment requests submitted through our website
• Chat messages submitted through our website chatbot
• Reviews and feedback you submit publicly or to us directly

D. Website & Technical Information

• IP address, browser type, device type
• Pages visited, time spent on site, referring URLs
• Cookies and analytics data (via Google Analytics)

E. Photography & Media

• Before and after dental photographs taken during treatment
• Smile photos used for treatment planning or patient records
• Any photos or videos for which you have provided written consent for marketing use

3. How We Use Your Information

A. Treatment & Clinical Care

We use your health information to provide, coordinate, and manage your dental treatment. This includes sharing information with specialists, labs, or other providers involved in your care.

B. Insurance & Billing

We submit claims and communicate with your dental insurance provider(s) using your personal and health information as necessary for payment processing and benefits verification.

C. Appointment Communications

We use your phone number and email to send:

• Appointment reminders and confirmations via text message (SMS) and email
• Follow-up care instructions after procedures
• Recall reminders for routine cleanings and check-ups
• Responses to your inquiries

SMS/Text Messaging: By providing your mobile phone number and checking the consent box at registration or on our website forms, you consent to receive text messages from Salud Dental. Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency varies. Reply STOP to opt out at any time. Reply HELP for assistance.

D. Marketing & Promotional Communications

With your consent, we may use your contact information to send:

• Newsletters and dental health tips
• Special offers, promotions, and seasonal reminders
• Information about new services or treatment options

You may opt out of marketing communications at any time by replying STOP to any text message, clicking "Unsubscribe" in any email, or contacting us at info@mysaluddental.com.

E. Photography & Social Media Marketing

We may use before and after dental photographs, smile transformations, and patient success stories for marketing purposes including:

• Our website (mysaluddental.com)
• Social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest)
• Print and digital advertising materials
• Google Business Profile posts

We will ONLY use your photographs for marketing purposes if you have signed a separate written Photo/Media Release Authorization form. You may withdraw this consent at any time in writing. Withdrawal does not affect materials already published prior to your withdrawal.

F. Reviews & Testimonials

If you leave a review on Google, Yelp, Facebook, Healthgrades, or other platforms, that review is public. We may:

• Respond publicly to your review (we will never disclose your PHI in a public response)
• Share or feature positive reviews on our website and social media (review text only, no PHI)
• Quote your testimonial on marketing materials if you provide separate written consent

Important: Our public responses to reviews will never acknowledge, confirm, or deny that you are a patient, or disclose any health information, in compliance with HIPAA.

G. Legal & Regulatory Compliance

We may use or disclose your information as required by law, including disclosures to public health authorities, law enforcement (when legally required), or in response to court orders or subpoenas.

4. HIPAA — Your Health Information Rights

As a covered healthcare entity under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), we maintain a separate Notice of Privacy Practices (NPP) available at our office. Under HIPAA, you have the right to:

• Access your dental records and health information
• Request corrections to inaccurate or incomplete information
• Request restrictions on how we use or share your information
• Request an accounting of disclosures of your PHI
• Receive a copy of our Notice of Privacy Practices
• File a complaint with us or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) if you believe your rights have been violated — we will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at info@mysaluddental.com or call (630) 520-0166.

5. Illinois State Privacy Laws

In addition to HIPAA, we comply with Illinois state laws including:

• Illinois Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) — We will notify you promptly in the event of a data breach involving your personal information
• Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) — We do not collect biometric identifiers (fingerprints, facial geometry, etc.)
• Illinois Dental Practice Act — Patient records are maintained per Illinois Department of Professional Regulation requirements (minimum 10 years for adults, until age 28 for minors)
• Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act — We do not engage in deceptive data practices

6. Text Messaging (SMS) — Detailed Terms

By consenting to receive text messages from Salud Dental, you agree to the following:

• Program: Appointment reminders, confirmations, recall notices, and health tips from Salud Dental
• Frequency: Message frequency varies based on your appointment schedule, typically 2–6 messages per month
• Rates: Standard message and data rates may apply from your carrier
• Opt-Out: Reply STOP to any message to unsubscribe. You will receive one confirmation message and no further texts
• Help: Reply HELP for assistance or contact us at (630) 520-0166
• Carriers: Supported by all major US carriers. Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages
• No PHI in SMS: We will not send Protected Health Information via unencrypted text message without your explicit consent

7. Insurance Information Sharing

To process your dental insurance claims, we share necessary information with:

• Your dental insurance carrier and benefits administrator
• Clearinghouses used for electronic claims processing
• Secondary insurers when you have dual coverage
• Illinois Medicaid / Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (if applicable)

This sharing is permitted under HIPAA's "payment" exception and is limited to the minimum necessary information.

8. Third-Party Service Providers

We use trusted third-party services to operate our practice and website. These providers only access your information as needed to perform services for us:

• Formspree — Online appointment request form processing
• Sunbit — Patient financing (subject to Sunbit's own privacy policy)
• Google Analytics — Anonymous website traffic analysis
• Google Translate — Website translation functionality
• Netlify — Website hosting
• Dental Practice Management Software — Electronic health records
• Dental Insurance Networks & Clearinghouses — Claims processing

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for their marketing purposes.

9. Cookies & Website Analytics

Our website uses cookies and Google Analytics to understand how visitors use our site. This data is anonymous and does not identify you personally. You can disable cookies in your browser settings. Our website does not respond to "Do Not Track" browser signals at this time.

Information collected includes: pages visited, time on site, geographic region (city-level only), device type, and referring website. This data helps us improve our website and understand which services patients are most interested in.

10. Data Security

We implement appropriate administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your information, including:

• Encrypted website transmission (HTTPS/SSL)
• Secure storage of electronic health records
• Staff training on HIPAA and data privacy
• Limited access to patient records on a need-to-know basis
• Locked and secured physical records

No method of transmission over the Internet is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security. In the event of a data breach involving your personal information, we will notify you as required by HIPAA and Illinois law.

11. Children's Privacy

We provide dental care to patients of all ages, including minors. For patients under 18, a parent or legal guardian must provide consent for treatment and for any use of photographs or communications. We do not knowingly collect information from minors through our website without parental consent. HIPAA provides special protections for minor patients' health records under Illinois law.

12. Social Media

Salud Dental maintains business profiles on social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn, and others. When you interact with our social media pages:

• Your interactions (likes, comments, messages) are visible to us and subject to each platform's own privacy policy
• We will never ask for or share your health information through social media
• We may respond to public comments and reviews — responses will not disclose any PHI
• Do not send sensitive health information via social media messages — contact us by phone or email instead
• Patient photos shared on social media are only posted with explicit written consent

13. Your Rights & Choices

• Opt out of SMS: Reply STOP to any text message
• Opt out of email marketing: Click "Unsubscribe" or email info@mysaluddental.com
• Withdraw photo consent: Submit written request to info@mysaluddental.com
• Access your records: Request in writing at either office location
• Delete your data: Contact us — note that we are required by law to retain health records for minimum periods
• Correct your information: Contact our front desk or email info@mysaluddental.com

14. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal requirements. We will post the updated policy on our website with a new "Last Updated" date. For material changes, we will notify patients via email or notice at our office. Continued use of our services after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

15. Contact Us / Questions & Complaints

For questions about this Privacy Policy or to exercise your rights:

To file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:
hhs.gov/hipaa/filing-a-complaint