Privacy Policy

Effective Date: April 7, 2026

Introduction

Smile Maker of Texas, the dental practice of Dr. Ritchie Beougher located in Plano, Texas, is committed to protecting the privacy and security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website smilemakertx.com, contact our office, or receive dental services from our practice.

By using our website or providing your personal information to us, you agree to the terms outlined in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with these terms, please discontinue use of our website and services.

Information We Collect

Personal Information You Provide: When you schedule an appointment, complete patient intake forms, submit a contact or inquiry form, or communicate with our office, we may collect your name, email address, phone number, mailing address, date of birth, insurance information, and payment details.

Health Information: As a dental practice, we collect protected health information (PHI) including dental and medical histories, treatment records, diagnostic images (X-rays, intraoral photos), and clinical notes. The use and disclosure of PHI is governed by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and our separate HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices provides additional detail on how we handle your health information.

Information Collected Automatically: When you visit our website, we may automatically collect technical data such as your IP address, browser type, operating system, referring URLs, pages viewed, and the dates and times of your visits. This information is collected through cookies, web beacons, and similar tracking technologies.

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• To provide, manage, and improve our dental services and patient care
• To schedule and confirm appointments
• To process payments and insurance claims
• To respond to your inquiries and communicate with you about your care
• To send appointment reminders, recall notices, and practice updates
• To improve our website functionality and user experience
• To comply with legal and regulatory obligations

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your browsing experience, analyze site traffic, and understand visitor behavior. You may control the use of cookies through your browser settings. Please note that disabling cookies may affect certain features of our website.

We may use third-party analytics services, such as Google Analytics, which collect and process data about website usage. These services have their own privacy policies governing how they handle your information.

How We Share Your Information

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes. We may share your information in the following circumstances:

• Service Providers: With trusted vendors who assist in operating our practice and website, such as payment processors, IT service providers, appointment scheduling platforms, and marketing partners, under appropriate confidentiality agreements.
• Insurance Companies: To process and submit claims on your behalf.
• Legal Requirements: When required by law, regulation, legal process, or governmental request.
• Business Transfers: In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of practice assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction.
• With Your Consent: In any other circumstance where we have obtained your explicit consent.

Data Security

We implement administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. While we take reasonable measures to protect your data, no method of electronic transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Your Rights and Choices

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information, including the right to access, correct, or delete your data. To exercise these rights, please contact our office using the information provided below.

You may opt out of receiving promotional communications from us at any time by following the unsubscribe instructions included in those messages or by contacting us directly.

Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites or services that are not owned or controlled by Smile Maker of Texas. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these external sites and encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any personal information.

Children’s Privacy

Our website is not directed to children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 through our website. If you believe we have inadvertently collected such information, please contact us so we can promptly delete it. This does not apply to health information collected in the course of providing dental treatment to minor patients, which is handled in accordance with HIPAA and applicable state law.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or applicable laws. The updated policy will be posted on this page with a revised effective date. We encourage you to review this page periodically.

Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us: