Protecting Your Personal Information

At The Avenue Dental Practice, we are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal information responsibly. We process all personal data in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018, ensuring your information is collected, stored, and used securely and lawfully.

Your trust is important to us, and safeguarding your personal information is an essential part of the care we provide.

Why We Collect Your Information

To provide safe, effective, and personalised dental care, we need to collect and maintain accurate information about you.

This allows us to:

• Deliver appropriate dental treatment.
• Understand your medical and dental history.
• Plan and monitor your ongoing care.
• Communicate with you about appointments and treatment.
• Meet our professional and legal responsibilities.

The Information We May Collect

Depending on the care you receive, we may collect:

• Personal details, including your name, address, telephone number, email address, and date of birth.
• Your medical and dental history.
• Clinical notes relating to your treatment.
• X-rays, photographs, and diagnostic records.
• Treatment plans, estimates, and payment information.
• Consent forms and treatment records.
• Correspondence with other healthcare professionals involved in your care.
• Appointment history and communication records.

We only collect information that is necessary to provide you with high-quality dental care.

How We Keep Your Information Safe

Your personal information is stored securely using protected electronic systems and, where necessary, secure paper records.

We protect your data by:

• Restricting access to authorised members of our team.
• Using secure computer systems with audit trails.
• Regularly backing up patient records.
• Following strict confidentiality procedures.
• Continuously reviewing our data security practices.

Your information is never accessible to the public.

Who We May Share Your Information With

To provide the best possible care, we may need to share relevant information with other healthcare professionals or organisations involved in your treatment.

This may include:

• Your GP (where appropriate)
• Hospitals or community dental services
• Dental specialists
• Dental insurance providers
• Private dental plan providers
• Other healthcare professionals directly involved in your care

Information is shared only when necessary and only with those who require it to provide treatment or fulfil legal and professional obligations.

When We May Share Information Without Consent

In exceptional circumstances, we may be legally required to disclose information to authorised organisations, such as when required by law or a court order.

Outside of these situations, we will only share your personal information with your knowledge or where your consent has been obtained, where required.

How Long We Keep Your Records

Dental records are retained in accordance with current professional guidance and legal requirements.

If you leave our practice, we will normally retain your records for:

• At least 11 years after your last course of treatment.
• For children, until they reach the age of 25, or longer where legally required.

Your Rights

Under UK data protection legislation, you have the right to:

• Request access to the personal information we hold about you.
• Request a copy of your dental records.
• Ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Request information about how your data is processed.
• Object to certain types of data processing where applicable.

Requests should be made in writing, and we aim to respond within one month, in accordance with UK GDPR requirements.

Data Breaches

If a data breach occurs that could significantly affect your privacy or personal information, we will investigate the matter promptly.

Where required by law, we will notify the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) and inform you if the breach is likely to present a high risk to your rights or freedoms.

Your Privacy Matters

Your personal information will only be used for the purposes for which it was collected.

If you have any questions about how we use your information or wish to discuss your privacy preferences, please contact our team. We'll be happy to explain how your information is handled and answer any concerns you may have.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Data Protection Policy or would like to request access to your personal information, please contact The Avenue Dental Practice.

📞 Telephone: +44 116 284 1977

✉️ Email: info@theavenuedentalpractice.uk

Our team will be happy to assist you with any data protection or privacy enquiries.