Privacy Policy and Notice of Information Practices
North Shores Dental and Cliffside Dental
Effective date: September 25, 2026
1250 east 200 south Suite #3C
(416) 694-8177 for North Shores Dental or (416) 265–3368 for Cliffside Dental
At North Shores Dental and Cliffside Dental, we respect your privacy and are committed to protecting the personal information you share with us. This notice explains how we collect, use, disclose, safeguard, and provide access to personal health information in connection with your dental care. It also explains how we handle other personal information you may provide through our website or communications with our practice.
Privacy Laws That Apply
As an Ontario dental practice, we handle personal health information in accordance with Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA). The federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) may apply to other personal information collected, used, or disclosed in the course of commercial activities and to certain information handled across provincial or national borders. Other laws may also require or permit particular uses or disclosures.
Information We Collect
To provide dental care and operate our practice, we may collect information such as your name, contact details, date of birth, health history, medications, dental records, images, treatment plans, appointment details, insurance information, and billing or payment information. We generally collect information directly from you or your authorized representative. Where permitted, we may also receive relevant information from other health care providers, insurers, or people involved in your care.
If you contact us through our website, we may receive the information you enter in a form or send by email. Our website may also collect technical information, such as your IP address, browser information, and information about how the site is used, depending on the website tools in place.
How We Use and Disclose Information
We collect, use, and disclose personal health information as permitted or required by law and as reasonably necessary to:
- Assess your oral health, provide treatment, and coordinate your care with other health care providers;
- Schedule appointments and communicate with you about your care;
- Process payments, submit insurance claims, and manage accounts;
- Maintain records and support the administration, quality, and safety of our practice;
- Meet professional, regulatory, and legal obligations; and
- Respond to lawful requests or disclose information in other circumstances permitted or required by law.
We limit the information we collect, use, and disclose to what is reasonably necessary for the purpose, unless the law permits or requires otherwise. Members of our team and service providers who need information to perform their duties may access it only as authorized.
Your Consent and Choices
PHIPA permits consent to be express or implied in certain circumstances. For example, when you seek treatment, we may rely on implied consent to share relevant personal health information with other health information custodians involved in providing your care, where the legal requirements for doing so are met.
You may ask us to withhold or withdraw your consent to certain collections, uses, or disclosures of your personal health information. Please contact our Privacy Officer so we can discuss your request, any effect it may have on your care, and any disclosure that remains permitted or required by law. If a person is legally authorized to make decisions about your information on your behalf, we will deal with that person in accordance with applicable law.
Appointment Communications and Marketing
We may use the contact information you provide to communicate with you about appointments, treatment, and practice administration. Please tell us if you have a preferred way to be contacted. Email and text messages may carry privacy risks, so avoid sending sensitive health details through an unsecured message when a more secure option is available.
If we send promotional emails or text messages, we will do so in accordance with applicable consent and unsubscribe requirements. You can withdraw consent to receive promotional messages using the unsubscribe method provided or by contacting us. Opting out of promotional messages will not prevent us from sending communications needed for your care or practice administration.
Website Forms, Cookies, and Third-Party Services
Information you submit through a website form is used to respond to your inquiry or request. Please do not include detailed health information in a general contact form unless the form specifically asks for it. Our website may use cookies or third-party services to support its operation and understand website use. Your browser settings may allow you to control some cookies.
Our website may contain links to websites operated by others. Their privacy practices are governed by their own policies.
Safeguarding and Retaining Information
We use administrative, technical, and physical safeguards appropriate to the sensitivity of the information we hold. We retain records for the periods required by applicable laws and professional obligations, and dispose of information securely when it is no longer required.
Service providers may assist us with functions such as practice software, website hosting, communications, payment processing, or secure record storage. We remain responsible for information under our custody or control and take steps appropriate to protect it when service providers handle it on our behalf.
Accessing or Correcting Your Health Information
You may request access to your personal health information or ask us to correct information you believe is inaccurate or incomplete. Contact our Privacy Officer using the details below. We may ask you to put your request in writing and verify your identity before releasing or changing a record.
We will respond within the time required by PHIPA. Access or correction may be limited or refused in circumstances allowed by law, and a permitted fee may apply to an access request. If we refuse a request, we will explain our decision and the available options for review or complaint.
Privacy Breaches
If personal health information is lost, stolen, or used or disclosed without authorization, we will investigate, take steps to contain the incident, and provide notice to affected individuals and the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario when required by law.
Your Rights Under Canadian Law
Our handling of personal health information is governed primarily by Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA). Canada’s Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) applies to certain other personal information and activities where relevant. Promotional emails and text messages are subject to Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL).
We do not sell or rent your personal information. We use information to provide the care and services you request, operate our practice and website, and for other purposes described in this policy. You may request access to personal information we hold about you and ask us to correct information that is inaccurate or incomplete, subject to applicable law. You may also withdraw consent to receive promotional electronic messages at any time. To make a request, please contact our Privacy Officer using the details below.
Questions and Complaints
For questions about this notice, a request concerning your information, or a privacy complaint, please contact:
Privacy Officer
North Shores Dental and Cliffside Dental
1250 east 200 south Suite #3C
(416) 694-8177 for North Shores Dental or (416) 265–3368 for Cliffside Dental
You may also make a complaint about a personal health information matter to the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario. For a matter governed by PIPEDA, you may contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada. We will not penalize you for raising a privacy concern.
Changes to This Notice
We may update this notice as our practices or legal obligations change. The current version will be available through our practice and on our website, with its effective date shown above.