Privacy Policy

Northcote Dentist is committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal and health information in accordance with the Privacy Act 2020 and the Health Information Privacy Code 2020 (HIPC).

We understand that your health information is highly sensitive. We take all reasonable steps to ensure your information is collected, used, stored, and disclosed in a secure and responsible manner.

By using our website or engaging with our services, you agree to the terms outlined in this Privacy Policy.

We may collect the following types of information:

Personal Information:

• Full name
• Date of birth
• Contact details, including phone number, email address, and home address
• Emergency contact details

Health Information:

• Medical and dental history
• Current medications and allergies
• Treatment plans, clinical notes, and diagnostic records
• X-rays, scans, and other imaging
• Health conditions relevant to your dental care

Administrative and Financial Information:

• Appointment history
• Billing and payment details
• Insurance or ACC details (if applicable)

We collect your information through various channels, including:

• Online forms on our website
• Appointment booking systems
• In-person consultations
• Phone or email communication
• Medical history forms completed at the clinic
• Referrals from other healthcare providers

Where possible, we collect information directly from you. In some cases, we may collect information from third parties with your consent.

We collect and use your information for the following purposes:

• Providing safe and effective dental care
• Diagnosing and planning treatment
• Communicating with you about appointments, reminders, and follow-ups
• Processing payments and managing billing
• Liaising with other healthcare providers, specialists, and laboratories
• Meeting legal and regulatory obligations
• Improving our services and patient experience

We will only use your information for purposes that are directly related to your care or as permitted by law.

We take reasonable steps to protect your information from loss, unauthorised access, use, modification, or disclosure.

This includes:

• Secure electronic practice management systems
• Password-protected databases and access controls
• Encrypted data storage where appropriate
• Secure storage of physical records
• Staff training on privacy and confidentiality obligations

While we take strong precautions, no system can guarantee absolute security.