Privacy Policy

Linden Dental Associates LDA, LLC

Effective Date: April 18, 2026 Last Updated: April 18, 2026

1. Introduction

Linden Dental Associates LDA, LLC (“Linden Dental,” “we,” “us,” or “our“) respects your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, share, and protect information when you visit www.lindendentalassociates.com (the “Website“), contact us, schedule an appointment, enroll in our text messaging program, or otherwise interact with us online.

This Privacy Policy covers information collected through the Website and our related online services. Information we collect about our patients in the course of providing dental care is separately governed by our Notice of Privacy Practices (NPP), which we maintain in compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA“). A current copy of our Notice of Privacy Practices is available at our office and at www.lindendentalassociates.com/about-us/notice-of-privacy-practices. Where a conflict exists between this Privacy Policy and the Notice of Privacy Practices with respect to Protected Health Information (“PHI“), the Notice of Privacy Practices controls.

By using the Website or providing information to us through the Website, you acknowledge that you have read and understand this Privacy Policy.

2. Information We Collect

We collect the following categories of information:

Information you provide to us directly. When you complete a Contact Us form, request an appointment, register for a patient portal, enroll in our SMS program, or correspond with us, we may collect your name, address, email address, telephone number(s), date of birth, dental and medical history information you choose to provide, dental insurance plan information, scheduling preferences, the dental services you are interested in, emergency contact information, and any other information you voluntarily provide.

Information collected automatically. When you visit the Website, we and our service providers may automatically collect information about your device and browsing activity, including IP address, browser type and version, operating system, device identifiers, referring URLs, pages viewed, time and date of access, time spent on pages, and clickstream data. This information is collected through cookies, pixels, log files, and similar technologies described in Section 8.

Information from third parties. We may receive information about you from dental insurance carriers, referring dentists or physicians, laboratories, other healthcare providers involved in your care, business partners, and publicly available sources. Information received in connection with your treatment is PHI and is handled pursuant to our Notice of Privacy Practices.

Sensitive information. Some of the information we collect — including health, medical, and dental information, insurance information, and precise geolocation data if you enable it — is considered “sensitive personal information” or “sensitive data” under certain state privacy laws. We collect and use sensitive information only as necessary to provide the services you request, comply with law, or with your consent as required.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

  • Respond to your inquiries and communications;
  • Schedule, confirm, reschedule, and remind you of appointments;
  • Provide, coordinate, and improve dental care and related services;
  • Verify dental insurance coverage and process claims;
  • Process payments for services rendered;
  • Maintain your patient records as required by law;
  • Operate, maintain, secure, and improve the Website;
  • Send administrative communications, including service announcements, policy updates, and security alerts;
  • Send, with your consent, appointment reminders and recall notices by email or text message;
  • Send, with your consent, informational and promotional communications about our services;
  • Comply with applicable laws, regulations, court orders, and lawful requests from government authorities;
  • Detect, prevent, investigate, and respond to fraud, abuse, security incidents, and other harmful activity;
  • Establish, exercise, or defend legal claims; and
  • Fulfill any other purpose disclosed to you at the time of collection or with your consent.

We do not use your information for automated decision-making or profiling that produces legal or similarly significant effects concerning you.

4. How We Share Your Information

We share information in the following circumstances:

With service providers and business associates. We share information with third parties that perform services on our behalf, including practice management and electronic health record providers, appointment scheduling and patient communication platforms, payment processors (including Authorize.net), dental laboratories, insurance clearinghouses, IT and cloud hosting providers, website analytics providers, email and SMS delivery providers, professional advisors (such as accountants and attorneys), and collections agents. These parties are contractually obligated to protect your information and to use it only for the purposes for which we engage them. Where they handle PHI, they sign Business Associate Agreements as required by HIPAA.

With other healthcare providers and for treatment purposes. We share PHI with other healthcare providers, dental specialists, laboratories, and institutions involved in your treatment, consistent with HIPAA and our Notice of Privacy Practices.

For legal and safety reasons. We may disclose information when required by law, subpoena, court order, or other legal process; to comply with regulatory requirements; to respond to lawful requests from government authorities, including public health and law enforcement; to enforce our agreements; to protect our rights, property, safety, or that of our patients, staff, or the public; and in connection with the investigation of suspected or actual illegal activity.

In connection with a business transaction. If we are involved in a merger, acquisition, financing, reorganization, bankruptcy, sale of assets, or similar transaction, information may be transferred as part of that transaction, subject to standard confidentiality obligations and applicable law.

With your direction or consent. We share information with other parties when you direct or authorize us to do so.

We do not sell your personal information. We do not sell personal information for monetary consideration. Depending on how certain state laws define “sale” and “share,” our use of online advertising technologies may be considered “sharing” for cross-context behavioral advertising. You can opt out of such sharing as described in Section 13.

5. SMS / Text Messaging

If you enroll in our text messaging program, we collect your mobile telephone number, your opt-in status, the date and method of your consent, the content of messages we exchange with you, and any replies you send (including STOP, HELP, and similar commands).

We use this information solely to deliver the messaging program you opted in to, including appointment reminders, confirmations, recall notices, treatment-related follow-up, and occasional informational or promotional communications about our services; to honor opt-in and opt-out requests; to respond to HELP requests; to maintain records of consent as required by law; and to monitor the reliability and security of the program.

No mobile information will be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. All the above categories exclude text messaging originator opt-in data and consent; this information will not be shared with any third parties.

We share mobile information only with subcontractors acting on our behalf to operate the messaging program — specifically our SMS service provider, Twilio Inc., and, where applicable, our patient communication platform — and only to the extent necessary to deliver messages to you. These subcontractors are contractually prohibited from using your mobile information for their own marketing or promotional purposes.

Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply. You may opt out of SMS communications at any time by replying STOP to any message. You may request assistance by replying HELP or by contacting us at privacy@lindendentalassociates.com or 908-486-5252. Our full SMS Terms & Conditions govern your participation in the program.

6. HIPAA and Protected Health Information

Linden Dental is a HIPAA Covered Entity. Information that identifies you and relates to your past, present, or future physical or mental health, the provision of healthcare to you, or payment for that care is Protected Health Information (“PHI“) under HIPAA.

Our use and disclosure of PHI is governed by our Notice of Privacy Practices, which describes: how we may use and disclose PHI for treatment, payment, and healthcare operations (“TPO“); uses and disclosures that require your written authorization; uses and disclosures permitted by law without your authorization (including public health activities, required reports of abuse or neglect, health oversight, judicial and administrative proceedings, law enforcement purposes, and research, in each case subject to the limits set by 45 CFR § 164.512); your rights with respect to your PHI, including the right to access, amend, request restrictions on, and obtain an accounting of certain disclosures; how to file a complaint with us or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights; and our obligations, including breach notification pursuant to 45 CFR §§ 164.400–414.

Our Notice of Privacy Practices is available at our office, on request, and at www.lindendentalassociates.com/about-us/notice-of-privacy-practices.

Nothing in this Privacy Policy limits or modifies any right you have, or any obligation we have, under HIPAA or other applicable healthcare privacy law.

7. Marketing Communications

We send marketing communications only to individuals who have affirmatively consented to receive them. If at any time you no longer wish to receive marketing emails or text messages from us, you can opt out by using the unsubscribe link in any marketing email we send, replying STOP to any marketing text message, or contacting us using the information in Section 19. Even if you opt out of marketing communications, we may continue to send you transactional, administrative, or relationship messages relating to your care, appointments, billing, or this Privacy Policy.

We do not use or disclose PHI for marketing purposes except with your prior written authorization as required by 45 CFR § 164.508(a)(3).

8. Cookies, Analytics, and Online Tracking

We use cookies and similar technologies on the Website. Cookies are small data files stored on your device that allow us to recognize returning visitors, remember preferences, analyze how the Website is used, secure the Website, and, where permitted, support advertising.

The cookies and tracking technologies we use fall into the following categories:

  • Strictly necessary technologies enable core functions of the Website, such as page navigation, session management, and security. The Website cannot function properly without these, and they do not require consent.
  • Functional technologies allow us to remember choices you make (such as language or region) to provide a more personalized experience.
  • Analytics technologies, including Google Analytics, help us understand how visitors interact with the Website so that we can improve it.
  • Advertising technologies, where used, allow us and our advertising partners to deliver relevant advertisements about our services on other websites and to measure the effectiveness of those campaigns.

Where required by law, we obtain your consent before placing non-essential cookies and similar technologies, and you can withdraw consent at any time through the cookie preference center available on the Website. You can also control cookies through your browser settings. Blocking certain cookies may affect the functionality of the Website.

Global Privacy Control. We recognize and honor the Global Privacy Control (“GPC“) signal as a valid request to opt out of the sale or sharing of your personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising, where applicable.

Do Not Track. Because no industry standard has been adopted for responding to “Do Not Track” browser signals, we do not respond to them at this time other than through the GPC mechanism described above.

9. Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as necessary to provide our services, comply with our legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. Specifically:

  • Patient and PHI records: retained in accordance with New Jersey recordkeeping requirements for dental practices (generally at least seven years from the date of last treatment for adult patients, and for minors until the patient reaches majority plus the applicable limitations period) and applicable HIPAA requirements.
  • Website inquiry and contact form submissions: retained for up to three years after last contact unless a longer retention period is required by law or to defend legal claims.
  • SMS opt-in and consent records: retained for at least four years after opt-out, consistent with TCPA recordkeeping guidance.
  • Website analytics data: retained for up to 26 months.
  • Marketing lists: retained until you unsubscribe, plus a reasonable period to process the opt-out.

When we no longer need your personal information, we securely delete, destroy, or de-identify it.

10. Security

We maintain administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of your information, consistent with the HIPAA Security Rule (45 CFR §§ 164.302–318) and applicable state law. These safeguards include access controls, workforce training, audit controls, encryption of sensitive information in transit and at rest, secure disposal of records, incident response procedures, and business associate oversight.

Payments made on the Website are processed by a third-party payment processor (Authorize.net) over an encrypted Secure Sockets Layer / Transport Layer Security (“SSL/TLS“) connection. We do not store full credit card numbers on our systems.

No method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is completely secure. In the event of a breach of unsecured PHI or other personal information, we will provide notice as required by HIPAA (45 CFR §§ 164.400–414), the New Jersey Identity Theft Prevention Act (N.J.S.A. 56:8-161 et seq.), and other applicable laws.

11. Children’s Privacy

The Website is intended for a general audience and is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 through the Website without verifiable parental consent as required by the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (“COPPA“). Information collected in the course of providing dental care to minor patients is collected from a parent or legal guardian and is handled in accordance with our Notice of Privacy Practices and applicable law. If you believe we have collected personal information from a child under 13 through the Website without appropriate consent, please contact us using the information in Section 19, and we will take prompt steps to delete it.

12. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on where you live, you may have some or all of the following rights with respect to personal information we hold about you:

  • Right to know / access: to confirm whether we process personal information about you and to obtain a copy of that information in a portable format.
  • Right to correct: to request correction of inaccurate personal information.
  • Right to delete: to request deletion of your personal information, subject to legal exceptions (including legal recordkeeping requirements applicable to healthcare providers).
  • Right to opt out of “sales” and “sharing”: to opt out of the sale of personal information or its use for cross-context behavioral advertising.
  • Right to opt out of profiling: to opt out of profiling that produces legal or similarly significant effects.
  • Right to limit use of sensitive information: to limit our use of certain sensitive personal information to what is necessary to provide the requested services.
  • Right to withdraw consent: to withdraw previously given consent at any time.
  • Right against retaliation: to exercise any of these rights without receiving discriminatory treatment.

These rights are subject to exceptions and limitations under applicable law, including the right of a HIPAA Covered Entity to retain PHI as required by law.

New Jersey Residents (NJDPA)

If you are a New Jersey resident, you have the rights described above under the New Jersey Data Privacy Act (P.L.2023, c.266). Because dental and health information is “sensitive data” under the NJDPA, we will obtain your consent before processing it for purposes beyond providing the services you request. You have the right to opt out of (a) targeted advertising, (b) the sale of your personal data, and (c) profiling in furtherance of decisions that produce legal or similarly significant effects.

California Residents (CCPA/CPRA)

If you are a California resident, you have the rights described above under the California Consumer Privacy Act, as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act. In the preceding twelve months, we have collected the following categories of personal information: identifiers; customer records (Cal. Civ. Code § 1798.80(e)); protected classifications; commercial information; internet or network activity; geolocation data; audio or visual information (from office-related communications); professional or employment-related information where applicable; inferences; and sensitive personal information (including health and medical information). We collect this information from the sources, and use it for the purposes, described in Sections 2 and 3, and disclose it to the categories of recipients described in Section 4. We do not knowingly sell or share the personal information of consumers under 16. California residents may also request information under California’s “Shine the Light” law by contacting us as described in Section 19.

Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Montana, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Other State Residents

If you reside in a state with a comprehensive consumer privacy law, you generally have the rights described above to the extent provided by your state’s law. Health information regulated under HIPAA is typically exempted from these state laws, but information that is not PHI and that we collect through the Website is covered.

Other U.S. Residents

Even if your state does not have a specific privacy law, we will consider and respond to reasonable requests to access, correct, or delete personal information we hold about you, consistent with applicable law.

13. How to Exercise Your Rights

You or an authorized agent acting on your behalf may submit a rights request by:

  • Email: privacy@lindendentalassociates.com
  • Phone: 908-486-5252
  • Mail: Privacy Officer, Linden Dental Associates, 909 N Wood Ave, Linden, NJ 07036
  • Opt out of sale/sharing and targeted advertising: use the “Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information” link on our homepage or send a Global Privacy Control signal from your browser.

We will need to verify your identity before fulfilling a request. For patient information, we may require verification consistent with HIPAA and our Notice of Privacy Practices. We will respond to verifiable requests within 45 days (or within the shorter period required by your state’s law), and may extend that period by an additional 45 days with notice where reasonably necessary.

Authorized agents must provide proof of authorization. We will not charge a fee to respond to a verifiable request unless it is excessive, repetitive, or manifestly unfounded.

14. Right to Appeal

If we decline to take action on your privacy request, we will tell you why. You may appeal that decision within a reasonable time by writing to Privacy Officer, Linden Dental Associates, 909 N Wood Ave, Linden, NJ 07036 or by emailing privacy@lindendentalassociates.com with “Privacy Appeal” in the subject line. We will respond to your appeal within 45 days of receipt. If your appeal is denied, you may contact the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs or, if applicable, the attorney general of your state.

15. Third-Party Websites and Services

The Website may contain links to third-party websites and services, including educational resources, insurance portals, and social media platforms. This Privacy Policy does not apply to those third parties. We are not responsible for their privacy practices, and we encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing information to them.

16. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

We do not sell personal information for monetary consideration. To the extent certain online advertising technologies we use constitute “sharing” or “sale” under applicable state law, you can opt out by clicking the “Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information” link on our homepage, by enabling the Global Privacy Control signal in your browser, or by contacting us using the information in Section 19.

17. International Visitors

The Website is operated in the United States and is intended for users in the United States. If you access the Website from outside the United States, your information will be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States, where data protection laws may differ from those in your jurisdiction. By using the Website, you consent to such transfer.

18. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the “Last Updated” date at the top of this page. If we make material changes, we will provide additional notice by posting a prominent notice on the Website, and, where required by law, by email or other direct communication. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about our practices.

19. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us:

Linden Dental Associates LDA, LLC Attn: Privacy Officer 909 N Wood Ave, Linden, NJ 07036

Phone: 908-486-5252 Email: privacy@lindendentalassociates.com

To file a complaint regarding our handling of PHI, you may also contact the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights, at www.hhs.gov/ocr or 1-877-696-6775. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.