privacy policy

Last updated: 16 October 2025

Smile Dental Care (“we”, “our”, “us”) is committed to protecting your privacy. This policy explains how we collect, use, store and protect your personal information when you use https://smile-dentalcare.co.uk or contact us directly.

who we are

Data controller: Smile Dental Care
Website: smile-dentalcare.co.uk
Email: info@smile-dentalcare.co.uk
Phone: 01234 567890
Address: Smile Dental Care, [Practice Address, Town, Postcode]

the information we collect

• Contact details – name, email, phone number and any information you include in an enquiry or appointment request.
• Patient information – appointment history and clinical information provided for treatment where applicable.
• Administrative data – preferences, consent records and communications with us.
• Technical data – IP address, device and browser type, pages visited and referral sources collected via cookies and analytics.
• Marketing preferences – your choices about receiving reminders or updates.

how we use your information

• To respond to enquiries and manage appointments.
• To provide dental services and maintain patient records.
• To send confirmations, reminders and important service messages.
• To improve our website and services through analytics.
• To comply with legal and regulatory obligations.

our legal bases for processing

• Consent – when you opt in to marketing or provide optional information.
• Contract – to take steps at your request before treatment and to provide dental services.
• Legal obligation – to meet requirements such as clinical record keeping and regulatory reporting.
• Legitimate interests – to operate a secure, effective website and improve patient experience.
• Vital interests – in an emergency where we must share information to protect life.

special category data

Where we process health information for your dental care, we rely on Article 9(2)(h) UK GDPR and Schedule 1 of the Data Protection Act 2018 relating to the provision of health care.

cookies and analytics

We use necessary cookies for site functionality and analytics cookies to understand site usage. You can adjust your browser settings to refuse non-essential cookies. For details, see our cookie policy.

how we share your information

• Healthcare professionals involved in your care.
• Service providers who supply IT, hosting, appointment or communications systems under contract.
• Insurers, regulators and law enforcement where required by law or to defend legal claims.

We do not sell your personal data.

international transfers

If a supplier stores data outside the UK, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, such as UK adequacy regulations or standard contractual clauses.

how long we keep your data

• Patient records – retained in line with NHS and GDC guidance and clinical best practice.
• Enquiries – kept only as long as needed to respond and for a short period afterward for audit and quality purposes.
• Marketing data – kept until you opt out or your consent is withdrawn.

security

We use appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your information, including access controls, encryption where appropriate and staff training. No method of transmission or storage is perfectly secure, but we work to protect your data to a high standard.

your rights

Under UK data protection law, you have the right to request:

• Access to the personal data we hold about you.
• Correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
• Deletion of your data where it is no longer needed or you withdraw consent.
• Restriction or objection to certain processing.
• Portability of data you provided to us.

To exercise your rights, contact us using the details above. We may need to verify your identity before responding.

children’s data

We process children’s data only with appropriate consent and in accordance with professional and legal obligations for dental care.

links to other websites

Our site may contain links to other websites. Those sites have their own privacy policies and we are not responsible for their practices.

complaints

If you have concerns about how we handle your data, please contact us first so we can help. You can also complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office.

ICO: https://ico.org.uk or call 0303 123 1113.

changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. We will post any changes on this page with an updated date.