Privacy Policy

Effective Date: September 14, 2026

East Tennessee Orthodontics (“East Tennessee Orthodontics,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information you provide through our website and related communications.

This Privacy Policy explains how we may collect, use, disclose, and protect information when you visit https://www.easttnorthodontics.com, submit information through our website, communicate with our office, or participate in our text messaging program.

By using our website or providing information to us, you acknowledge the practices described in this Privacy Policy.

1. Information We May Collect

We may collect information you provide directly to us, including:

• Name
• Email address
• Phone number
• Mailing address
• Appointment information
• Information submitted through website forms
• Information provided when requesting an appointment
• Communications you send to our office
• Billing or account-related information
• Insurance-related information when applicable
• Information related to your orthodontic care when submitted through an appropriate patient system
• Communication preferences
• SMS or text messaging consent records

We may also automatically collect certain technical information when you use our website.

2. Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our website, certain information may be collected automatically through cookies, analytics tools, server logs, and similar technologies.

This information may include:

• IP address
• Browser type
• Device type
• Operating system
• Pages visited
• Time spent on the website
• Referral source
• General geographic area
• Website interactions
• Date and time of visits

This information helps us understand how visitors use our website and improve its performance, usability, and content.

3. How We Use Information

We may use information collected through our website and communications to:

• Respond to inquiries
• Schedule and manage appointments
• Provide treatment-related communications
• Send appointment reminders
• Communicate about billing or account matters
• Provide patient support
• Respond to requests for information
• Improve our website and services
• Maintain website security
• Detect or prevent fraud or misuse
• Analyze website performance
• Maintain accurate business and patient records
• Comply with legal and regulatory requirements
• Send practice updates
• Send marketing communications where permitted
• Manage our text messaging program

We will use information only for legitimate business, healthcare, administrative, legal, and communication purposes.

4. Health Information and HIPAA

East Tennessee Orthodontics may receive health-related information in connection with patient care.

Certain health information may be considered Protected Health Information, or PHI, under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, commonly known as HIPAA, and other applicable healthcare privacy laws.

When HIPAA applies, our use and disclosure of Protected Health Information is governed by our applicable Notice of Privacy Practices and applicable law.

This website Privacy Policy does not replace our Notice of Privacy Practices.

Patients should avoid submitting unnecessary sensitive health information through general website contact forms unless specifically instructed to do so.

5. Website Forms

Our website may include contact forms, appointment request forms, patient forms, or other methods of submitting information.

When you submit a form, we may collect the information you provide and use it to respond to your request or provide services.

Please provide only information reasonably necessary for your request.

Submitting a form through the website does not create a healthcare provider-patient relationship unless and until you are formally accepted as a patient by East Tennessee Orthodontics.

6. SMS and Text Messaging Privacy

Mobile Messaging Privacy

We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information.

When you opt in to receive text messages from East Tennessee Orthodontics, we may collect:

• Your mobile phone number
• Your communication preferences
• A record of your consent
• The date and method of your consent
• Message history when needed for business operations, service, or compliance purposes

Text messages may include appointment reminders, scheduling information, treatment-related information, billing notifications, practice updates, follow-up communications, and limited marketing communications.

Mobile Information Sharing

Mobile information will not be shared with third parties for their own marketing or promotional purposes.

We may share end-user data with service providers or vendors only when it is reasonably necessary to support legitimate business operations, including:

• Sending or delivering text messages
• Appointment scheduling
• Patient communications
• Customer support
• Website operations
• Data hosting
• Security
• Regulatory or legal compliance

Service providers that receive information on our behalf are expected to use that information only for the services they provide to East Tennessee Orthodontics and not for their own independent marketing purposes.

SMS opt-in data and consent records will not be sold.

7. Text Messaging Consent

By voluntarily providing your mobile phone number and opting in to text messaging, you consent to receive text messages from East Tennessee Orthodontics.

Consent to receive marketing text messages is not a condition of receiving treatment, purchasing services, or becoming a patient.

Message frequency varies.

Message and data rates may apply depending on your mobile carrier and service plan.

Wireless carriers are not responsible for delayed or undelivered messages.

8. SMS Opt-Out Instructions

You have the right to opt out of our messaging program at any time.

To stop receiving text messages from East Tennessee Orthodontics, reply:

STOP

After submitting a STOP request, you may receive a final confirmation message indicating that your opt-out request has been processed.

You may also contact our office directly if you need assistance managing your communication preferences.

For help with text messaging, reply:

HELP

You may also contact us at:

Email: smile@easttnorthodontics.com
Phone: (865) 312-6264

Opting out of text messaging does not prevent East Tennessee Orthodontics from communicating with you through other lawful and appropriate methods when necessary.

9. Cookies and Similar Technologies

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Remember website preferences
• Measure website traffic
• Understand visitor behavior
• Improve website functionality
• Maintain security
• Measure marketing performance
• Improve user experience

Cookies are small files stored on your device by your browser.

You may be able to control or disable cookies through your browser settings. Disabling certain cookies may affect how some website features function.

10. Analytics

We may use third-party analytics services to understand how visitors use our website.

Analytics tools may collect information such as:

• Pages viewed
• Approximate geographic location
• Device type
• Browser information
• Time spent on pages
• Traffic source
• Website interactions

This information helps us improve website performance and understand how visitors find and use our website.

11. Advertising and Marketing Technologies

We may use online advertising or marketing technologies to measure campaign performance or understand how users interact with our website.

Depending on the tools used, third-party platforms may use cookies, pixels, or similar technologies.

We do not sell personal health information for advertising purposes.

Where required by law, we will obtain consent before using certain tracking technologies.

12. How We May Share Information

We may share information when reasonably necessary with:

• Website hosting providers
• Technology providers
• Communication providers
• Scheduling providers
• Practice management systems
• Payment processors
• IT and security providers
• Professional advisors
• Contractors or vendors supporting our operations
• Government agencies or regulators when legally required
• Law enforcement when required by valid legal process

We may also disclose information when reasonably necessary to:

• Protect our legal rights
• Protect patient or public safety
• Prevent fraud
• Investigate misuse
• Enforce our agreements
• Comply with applicable law

We do not sell personal information collected through our website for monetary compensation.

13. Third-Party Websites

Our website may contain links to third-party websites, social media platforms, maps, scheduling systems, payment services, or other external resources.

East Tennessee Orthodontics does not control the privacy practices of these third parties.

When you leave our website, the privacy policy of the third-party website or service will apply.

We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any external services you use.

14. Data Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards designed to protect personal information from:

• Unauthorized access
• Loss
• Misuse
• Alteration
• Disclosure
• Destruction

However, no internet transmission, website, server, email system, or electronic storage method can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

You should use caution when transmitting sensitive information electronically.

15. Data Retention

We may retain information for as long as reasonably necessary to:

• Provide services
• Maintain patient and business records
• Manage appointments
• Meet legal obligations
• Resolve disputes
• Maintain security
• Enforce agreements
• Document consent and communication preferences

Healthcare records may be retained for periods required by applicable medical, dental, professional, or state record-retention requirements.

16. Your Privacy Choices

Depending on applicable law and the type of information involved, you may be able to:

• Request information about personal information we maintain
• Ask us to correct inaccurate information
• Update your communication preferences
• Opt out of marketing emails
• Opt out of text messages
• Manage cookies through your browser
• Ask questions regarding our privacy practices

Certain records may need to be retained because of healthcare, legal, regulatory, or business requirements.

17. Email Communications

If you receive promotional emails from us, you may use the unsubscribe instructions included in the email when available.

Even if you unsubscribe from promotional emails, we may still send non-marketing communications related to:

• Appointments
• Treatment
• Patient care
• Billing
• Security
• Legal notices
• Other important practice matters

18. Children's Privacy

East Tennessee Orthodontics provides orthodontic care to children and teenagers.

Parents or legal guardians may provide information on behalf of minor patients as part of appointment scheduling, treatment, billing, or other patient services.

We do not knowingly use personal information collected from minors for purposes unrelated to providing healthcare services, supporting patient care, or operating our practice.

Parents or legal guardians with questions about a minor's information should contact our office.

19. Do Not Track Signals

Some web browsers offer a “Do Not Track” setting.

Because there is not currently a universally accepted standard for responding to Do Not Track signals, our website may not respond to all such signals.

You may control certain cookies and tracking technologies through your browser settings and other available privacy controls.

20. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in:

• Our website
• Our services
• Our communication practices
• Technology
• Legal requirements
• Privacy requirements
• Business operations

When changes are made, we may update the Effective Date at the top of this policy.

We encourage users to review this Privacy Policy periodically.

21. Contact Information

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, our privacy practices, or our text messaging program, please contact:

East Tennessee Orthodontics

Email: smile@easttnorthodontics.com
Phone: (865) 312-6264

Oak Ridge Office
1143 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Suite 206
Oak Ridge, TN

Powell Office
2317 W. Emory Rd.
Powell, TN 37849

Karns Office
7652 Oak Ridge Hwy.
Karns, TN