# Privacy Policy
**Last updated: 16 July 2026**
At **Clinique Dentaire Cartier**, protecting your personal information is a priority. This policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, retain, and protect your personal information in accordance with Quebec’s *Act respecting the protection of personal information in the private sector* (as amended by Law 25), Canada’s *Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act* (PIPEDA), and the professional obligations applicable to dental clinics in Quebec.
This policy applies to information collected through our website, by phone, in person at any of our clinic locations, and through any other interaction with us.
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## 1. Person in Charge of the Protection of Personal Information
In accordance with Quebec law, we have designated a person responsible for the protection of personal information:
**Operations Manager**
Clinique Dentaire Cartier
Email: **info@cliniquedentairecartier.com**
You may contact this person for any question, request, or complaint concerning your personal information.
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## 2. Personal Information We Collect
Depending on your interactions with us, we may collect:
– **Identification and contact information:** first and last name, mailing address, email address, telephone number, date of birth
– **Health information:** relevant medical history, dental records, radiographs, treatment plans, and clinical notes
– **Insurance and payment information:** insurer name, policy or group numbers, and information required to process claims and payments
– **Information about a minor or dependent**, provided by a parent, tutor, or legal guardian
– **Technical information collected online:** IP address, browser type, pages visited, and data collected through cookies and similar technologies (see Section 7)
We collect this information when you:
– Fill out a form on our website or request an appointment online
– Book, confirm, or modify an appointment by phone or in person
– Communicate with us with a question or request
– Receive care or services at one of our clinics
– Browse our website (technical data only)
We collect only the information necessary for the purposes described in this policy.
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## 3. How We Use Your Information
Your personal information is used to:
– Open, manage, and maintain your dental file and appointments
– Provide dental care and follow-up on your treatment
– Communicate with you about your care, including appointment reminders
– Process insurance claims and payments, including claims under public programs such as the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP), where applicable
– Respond to your questions and requests
– Comply with our legal, regulatory, and professional obligations, including those of the Ordre des dentistes du Québec
– Improve our website and services (using de-identified or aggregated data where possible)
We do not use your personal information for any other purpose without your consent, unless permitted or required by law.
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## 4. Consent
We collect, use, and disclose your personal information with your consent, except where the law allows or requires otherwise. Consent for the collection of sensitive information, such as health information, is requested expressly.
You may withdraw your consent at any time, subject to legal or contractual restrictions and reasonable notice. Please note that withdrawing consent may limit our ability to provide you with certain services, and that we may be legally required to retain certain records (such as your dental file) even after consent is withdrawn.
For minors under 14, consent is provided by the parent or legal guardian.
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## 5. Disclosure of Your Information
We disclose your personal information only to:
– **Authorized members of our team** (dentists, denturologists, hygienists, and administrative staff) who need it to perform their duties
– **Your insurer or public programs** (e.g., RAMQ, CDCP), only as necessary to process claims
– **Other health professionals** involved in your care (e.g., specialists to whom you are referred), with your consent
– **Service providers** who process information on our behalf (e.g., practice-management software, appointment reminder services, secure hosting), under contractual obligations of confidentiality and security
– **Medical, legal, or regulatory authorities**, when required or permitted by law
We **never sell** your personal information.
**Communication of information outside Quebec:** Some of our service providers may store or process information outside Quebec (for example, on servers located elsewhere in Canada or in the United States). Before communicating personal information outside Quebec, we conduct the assessments required by law and ensure the information receives adequate protection through contractual and security measures.
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## 6. Retention and Destruction
We retain your personal information only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected and to meet our legal and professional obligations. Dental records are retained for the minimum periods required by the regulations of the Ordre des dentistes du Québec and applicable law.
When your information is no longer required, it is securely destroyed or anonymized in accordance with the law.
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## 7. Cookies and Online Tracking Technologies
Our website uses cookies and similar technologies, including analytics and advertising tools (such as Google tools and the Meta/Facebook Pixel), to:
– Ensure the website functions properly
– Measure website traffic and performance
– Measure the effectiveness of our advertising
These technologies may collect technical information such as your IP address, device and browser information, and the pages you visit. **No information from your dental or medical file is ever shared with these tools.**
Technologies that are not strictly necessary for the website to function are activated only with your consent, which you can provide or withdraw through our cookie banner or your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect certain website features.
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## 8. Security Measures
We implement physical, technological, and administrative safeguards proportional to the sensitivity of the information we hold, including:
– Restricted access to patient files on a need-to-know basis
– Secure storage of paper and electronic records
– Confidentiality obligations for all staff and service providers
– Security incident monitoring and response procedures
**Confidentiality incidents:** In the event of a confidentiality incident involving your personal information that presents a risk of serious injury, we will notify the Commission d’accès à l’information du Québec and the affected individuals, as required by law, and take reasonable measures to reduce the risk of harm.
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## 9. Your Rights
Subject to applicable law, you have the right to:
– **Access** the personal information we hold about you
– **Rectification** — request the correction of inaccurate, incomplete, or ambiguous information
– **Withdraw consent** to the use or disclosure of your information, where possible
– **Data portability** — obtain computerized personal information you provided to us in a structured, commonly used technological format
– **Cessation of dissemination / de-indexing**, in the circumstances provided by law
– **File a complaint** regarding our handling of your personal information
To exercise any of these rights, contact our Person in Charge of the Protection of Personal Information (Section 1). We will respond within 30 days, as required by law. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the **Commission d’accès à l’information du Québec** (www.cai.gouv.qc.ca) or, for matters under federal jurisdiction, the **Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada** (www.priv.gc.ca).
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## 10. Third-Party Links
Our website may contain links to third-party websites (e.g., Google Maps, social media). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these sites and encourage you to review their policies.
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## 11. Changes to This Policy
We may update this policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or in the law. The most recent version, with its update date, will always be posted on this page. Material changes may also be communicated by other means where appropriate.
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## 12. Contact Us
For any question, request, or complaint concerning this policy or your personal information:
**Person in Charge of the Protection of Personal Information**
Clinique Dentaire Cartier
[info@cliniquedentairecartier.com]**