Privacy Policy

Who we are

OrthodontistNearMe (“we,” “us,” “our”) operates an independent orthodontic provider directory at theorthodontistnearme.com. The directory helps patients in the United States find orthodontists and learn about ownership type, board certification, and other practice information. We are based in the United States, and this Privacy Policy is governed by United States law.

What we collect

Information you provide directly

When you fill out a form, claim a listing, create an account, or contact us, you may give us:

• Name, email address, and contact information
• Practice name, address, phone, website, and other listing details (if you are a provider)
• Professional credentials such as board certification status (if you submit them)
• Payment information when you upgrade to a premium listing (processed by Stripe — we do not store full payment card numbers)
• The content of any messages you send us

Information collected automatically

When you visit the site, we and our service providers may automatically collect:

• IP address and approximate location (city or region only)
• Browser type, device type, operating system, and screen resolution
• Pages you view, links you click, and time spent on each page
• The website that referred you to us, if any
• Search terms used within the directory

Information from third parties

Some practice information in the directory is gathered from publicly available sources, including state dental board records, practice websites, and public business listings. Practices can claim their listing at any time to correct or update this information.

How we use it

We use the information we collect to:

• Operate the directory, including showing search results, filters, and practice listings
• Verify and update practice information when providers claim or edit their listings
• Process payments for premium listings through our payment processor
• Respond to messages, support requests, and listing corrections
• Understand how the site is used so we can improve it
• Detect and prevent fraud, abuse, and security incidents
• Comply with our legal obligations

Who we share it with

We do not sell your personal information. We share information only with the following:

Service providers

We share limited information with vendors who help us operate the site. Each is contractually required to protect the information and use it only for the purposes we specify. Current providers include:

• Google Analytics (Google LLC) — measures site usage and helps us understand visitor behavior in aggregate
• Stripe — processes premium listing payments; their privacy policy is at stripe.com/privacy
• Hostinger — hosts the website and stores data on our behalf
• Email delivery providers — handle transactional emails such as form responses and payment receipts

Public listings

If you are a provider with a listing on OrthodontistNearMe, the information you submit (practice name, address, phone, website, photos, etc.) is displayed publicly in the directory. That is the entire point of a listing. Do not submit any information you do not want publicly visible.

Legal compliance

We may disclose information if required by law, subpoena, court order, or other legal process, or if we believe in good faith that disclosure is necessary to protect rights, safety, or property.

Business transfers

If OrthodontistNearMe is acquired, merged with another company, or sells substantially all of its assets, information may transfer to the new owner. We will notify users in advance of any such change.

Cookies and tracking

We use cookies and similar technologies to operate the site, remember your preferences, and understand site usage. For full details, see our Cookie Policy. You can control cookies through your browser settings or by adjusting Google Analytics opt-out preferences.

Your rights and choices

You have the following choices regarding your information:

• Access and correction. You can ask what personal information we have about you and request corrections. Providers can also update their own listing information at any time through their account.
• Deletion. You can request that we delete personal information we hold about you. We will comply unless we are legally required to keep it (for example, payment records for tax purposes).
• Opt out of analytics. You can opt out of Google Analytics tracking by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
• Unsubscribe from emails. If we ever send marketing emails (we don’t currently), every email will include an unsubscribe link.

To make any of these requests, contact us. We will respond within 30 days.

California residents

If you live in California, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) give you additional rights:

• The right to know what personal information we collect, use, and share about you
• The right to delete personal information we have collected from you
• The right to correct inaccurate personal information
• The right to opt out of the sale or sharing of your personal information (note: we do not sell personal information)
• The right to limit the use of sensitive personal information (note: we do not collect sensitive personal information as defined by the CPRA)
• The right not to be discriminated against for exercising these rights

To exercise any of these rights, contact us. You can also designate an authorized agent to make a request on your behalf. We will verify your identity before responding, typically by asking for information that matches what we already have on file.

Data security

We take reasonable steps to protect the information we collect, including SSL encryption for the entire site, secure password storage, and limited employee access to data. No method of online transmission or storage is 100% secure, however, and we cannot guarantee absolute security. If we ever experience a security incident that compromises your personal information, we will notify you as required by applicable law.

How long we keep data

We keep personal information only as long as needed for the purposes described in this policy:

• Account information is kept while the account is active and for a reasonable period after closure to handle disputes or legal requirements
• Contact form messages are typically kept for up to two years
• Payment records are kept for at least seven years as required by tax law
• Analytics data is automatically deleted by Google Analytics on a rolling schedule we configure
• Listing information remains in the directory unless the provider removes their claim or asks us to delete it

Children’s privacy

OrthodontistNearMe is intended for users 18 years of age and older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13, in compliance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will delete the information promptly.

Parents are welcome to use OrthodontistNearMe on behalf of their minor children, including searching for and contacting orthodontists for pediatric care. In that case, the parent is the user, and any personal information submitted should be the parent’s own.

Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will update the “Last updated” date at the top of the page. If the changes are significant, we will provide additional notice such as an email to registered users or a notice on the homepage. Your continued use of the site after a change means you accept the updated policy.

Contact us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, want to exercise any of the rights described above, or need to report a privacy concern, please reach out: