Privacy Policy
Effective Date: August 7, 2026
Summerfield Pediatric Dentistry & Oral Surgery (“SPD,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) respects your privacy.
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect information when you visit www.summerfieldpediatricdentistry.com, submit information through our website, request an appointment, or otherwise communicate with us through website-related services.
This Privacy Policy applies to information collected through our public-facing website. Certain health information maintained by our dental practice may be subject to additional protections under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”) and other applicable healthcare privacy laws, as described below.
1. Information We May Collect
Depending on how you use the website, we may collect several types of information.
Information You Provide to Us
When you complete a form, request an appointment, contact our office, or otherwise interact with us, you may provide information such as:
your name;
your child’s or patient’s name;
telephone number;
email address;
preferred appointment information;
information included in a message or inquiry;
information concerning the type of dental or orthodontic service you are interested in;
communication preferences;
other information you choose to provide.
Please provide only the information reasonably necessary for your inquiry or appointment request.
Information Collected Automatically
When you visit our website, our website platform and service providers may automatically collect certain technical information, including:
IP address;
browser type;
device type;
operating system;
pages visited;
referring website or source;
approximate geographic information derived from an IP address;
date and time of website visits;
interactions with website pages and features;
cookie and similar technology identifiers.
We may use this information to operate, secure, maintain, and improve the website and understand how visitors use it.
2. How We Use Information
We may use information collected through the website to:
respond to questions and inquiries;
process appointment requests;
contact patients, parents, or guardians regarding requested services;
provide information about our dental and orthodontic services;
administer and operate the website;
improve website functionality and user experience;
understand website usage and performance;
maintain website security;
prevent fraud, misuse, or unauthorized activity;
comply with applicable laws and legal obligations;
protect the rights, safety, and property of our patients, staff, practice, and others.
We may also use information for other purposes with your permission or as otherwise permitted by law.
3. Appointment and Contact Forms
Information submitted through an appointment request or contact form is used to respond to your request and, where appropriate, assist with scheduling.
Submitting an online appointment request does not create or confirm an appointment. Our office will contact you to confirm availability and scheduling.
Because standard website forms, email, and text messaging may not always provide the same protections as a dedicated healthcare communication system, please avoid submitting unnecessary sensitive medical information unless specifically requested.
4. Health Information and HIPAA
Certain information we maintain in connection with providing dental or orthodontic treatment may constitute Protected Health Information (“PHI”) under HIPAA.
Where HIPAA applies, our collection, use, disclosure, and protection of PHI is governed by our HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices and applicable law.
Our Notice of Privacy Practices describes, among other things:
how protected health information may be used and disclosed;
patients’ rights regarding their health information;
our legal responsibilities concerning protected health information; and
how to contact us regarding privacy concerns.
This Website Privacy Policy is separate from and does not replace our HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices.
If there is a conflict between this Privacy Policy and our HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices concerning PHI, the HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices and applicable healthcare privacy laws will control.
You may contact our office to request a copy of our Notice of Privacy Practices.
5. Cookies and Similar Technologies
Our website and service providers may use cookies, pixels, local storage, and similar technologies.
These technologies may be used to:
enable essential website functionality;
remember website preferences;
maintain website security;
understand website traffic;
measure website performance;
identify technical problems;
improve website functionality and usability.
Some cookies may be provided by third-party services used on the website.
You may be able to control certain cookies through your browser settings or any cookie preference tools made available on the website. Disabling certain cookies may affect website functionality.
6. Analytics and Website Performance
We may use website analytics or similar services to understand how visitors interact with our website.
These services may collect information such as device information, IP address, pages visited, navigation patterns, and general website interaction data.
Analytics information may be aggregated or otherwise used to understand website performance, improve content, and identify technical issues.
The specific data collected may depend on the analytics and website tools enabled on our site.
7. How We May Share Information
We may disclose information collected through the website when reasonably necessary to operate our practice and website, including to:
Service Providers
We may provide information to companies that perform services on our behalf, such as:
website hosting and website platform providers;
appointment or scheduling providers;
form-processing providers;
email or communication providers;
SMS or telephone service providers;
analytics providers;
IT and cybersecurity providers;
professional advisers and other vendors supporting our operations.
These providers may access information only as necessary to perform services for us and subject to applicable contractual and legal requirements.
Legal and Safety Requirements
We may disclose information when we reasonably believe disclosure is necessary to:
comply with applicable law;
respond to a subpoena, court order, government request, or other lawful process;
enforce our rights or policies;
investigate fraud, security incidents, or misuse;
protect the safety, rights, or property of our patients, staff, practice, or others.
Business Transactions
If our practice undergoes a merger, reorganization, sale, transfer, or similar business transaction, information may be transferred as part of that transaction, subject to applicable legal requirements.
With Your Direction or Consent
We may also disclose information when you request, authorize, or consent to the disclosure.
8. Children’s Privacy
Summerfield Pediatric Dentistry provides healthcare services to children and adolescents, but this public website is intended primarily for parents, legal guardians, and other adults.
We do not intend for children under 13 to independently submit personal information through this website.
If you are under 13, please do not submit personal information through the website without your parent or legal guardian.
Parents and guardians should supervise their children’s use of the website and should submit appointment and patient information on their behalf.
If we learn that personal information has been submitted directly by a child under 13 in circumstances where parental consent is required, we will take appropriate steps consistent with applicable law.
Parents or legal guardians who believe that a child has submitted personal information through the website may contact us using the information below.
9. Third-Party Links and Services
Our website may contain links to third-party websites and services, including mapping services, social media platforms, scheduling services, and other external resources.
We are not responsible for the privacy practices of third parties.
When you leave our website or interact directly with a third-party service, the collection and use of your information will be governed by that third party’s privacy policy and terms.
We encourage you to review those policies before providing personal information.
10. Data Security
We use reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational measures designed to protect personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, misuse, or loss.
However, no website, electronic transmission, email system, or electronic storage method can be guaranteed to be completely secure.
For this reason, please use care when deciding what information to transmit electronically.
Where information constitutes PHI subject to HIPAA, additional privacy and security requirements may apply.
11. Data Retention
We retain personal information for as long as reasonably necessary to:
respond to inquiries;
provide requested services;
maintain appropriate business and patient records;
comply with legal and regulatory obligations;
resolve disputes;
enforce agreements;
maintain security.
Retention periods may vary depending on the type of information and applicable legal requirements.
Medical and dental records may be subject to separate retention requirements and are handled according to applicable healthcare laws and practice policies.
12. Your Choices and Privacy Rights
Depending on applicable law and the type of information involved, you may have the ability to request that we:
provide information about personal information we maintain about you;
correct inaccurate information;
update your contact information;
stop certain non-essential communications;
delete certain information where legally permitted.
Some information may need to be retained for treatment, patient records, billing, legal compliance, security, or other legitimate purposes.
Rights concerning Protected Health Information are governed separately by HIPAA and our Notice of Privacy Practices.
To make a privacy request, please contact us at [email protected].
We may need to verify your identity or authority before processing certain requests.
13. Email and SMS Communications
If you contact us by email or text message, we may retain and use those communications to respond to your request and maintain appropriate records.
Standard email and SMS communications may not be encrypted.
Please do not send sensitive health information through ordinary email or SMS unless specifically instructed by our office.
Message and data rates may apply to text messages depending on your mobile carrier and service plan.
14. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes to our website, services, technologies, privacy practices, or legal requirements.
When the policy is updated, we will revise the Effective Date displayed at the top of this page.
We encourage visitors to review this page periodically.
15. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, our privacy practices, or information submitted through this website, please contact:
Summerfield Pediatric Dentistry & Oral Surgery
188 Summerfield Street
Scarsdale, NY 10583
Phone: (914) 472-2929
Email:[email protected]
For questions specifically concerning protected health information or patient privacy rights, please contact our office and request information regarding our HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices.