Notice Of Privacy Practices

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW DENTAL AND MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED, AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY.

Effective Date: February 16, 2026
Last Updated: September 30, 2026

Before You Read

We wrote this in plain, straightforward English – because you deserve to actually understand how your personal health information is handled at our practice, not just receive a document that checks a legal box. If anything here is unclear, please ask us before or after your visit. We are genuinely happy to explain it in person.

Who This Notice Applies To

Riverwood Dental

3350 Riverwood Pkwy, Suite 2120, Atlanta, GA 30339
info@riverwooddental.com
(770) 955-2505
riverwooddental.com

Privacy Officer: Dr. Brady Johnston

This Notice applies to all dental and medical records our practice creates, receives, maintains, or transmits about you. It covers every patient who receives care at our Atlanta office, serving the Cumberland, Smyrna, and Vinings communities.

1. Our Legal Responsibility

Federal law – the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, commonly known as HIPAA – requires us to protect your health information and tell you clearly how we use it. We are legally obligated to:

Keep your health information private and secure at all times
Follow the terms described in this Notice
Notify you promptly if your health information is ever involved in a data breach
Provide you a copy of this Notice when you first become our patient, and any time you request one

We will never sell your health information. We will never use it for advertising or marketing without your specific written permission.

2. How We Use and Share Your Health Information

There are three standard situations where we can use or share your dental health information without asking for written permission first. These apply to every dental practice under HIPAA.

For Your Dental Treatment
We use your records to examine your teeth, make diagnoses, create treatment plans, prescribe medications, and coordinate your care. Dr. Brady Johnston, Dr. Daniela Alvarez, Dr. Faulkner, and our full team rely on complete, accurate records to deliver the right care at every visit. If we refer you to a specialist or coordinate with another provider, we may share relevant records like X-rays or treatment notes so they are fully prepared before your appointment.

For Billing and Payment
We share necessary information with your dental insurance company to submit claims and collect payment. This includes details about what treatment you received, when, and what it cost. We accept most major PPO dental insurance plans. If you use CareCredit or other third-party financing to cover treatment costs, we may share what is needed to process those transactions.

For Running Our Practice
We use your information internally for routine activities – staff training, quality reviews, financial audits, and general administration. We may contact you by phone, text, or email to remind you about upcoming appointments or let you know it is time to schedule a routine visit. If you prefer a different contact method, just tell us and we will use it.

3. Other Situations Where We May Share Without Permission

Beyond treatment, payment, and operations, there are situations where the law permits or requires us to share your information without asking you first. These do not come up often, but you should know they exist:

Reporting to public health authorities for disease control and community safety
Responding to a court order, subpoena, or other legal proceeding
Cooperating with law enforcement when required by law
Complying with government oversight programs such as Medicare or Medicaid audits
Reporting suspected abuse, neglect, or domestic violence to appropriate authorities
Sharing information with a medical examiner, coroner, or funeral director when legally required
Supporting organ and tissue donation organizations when applicable
Disclosures necessary to prevent a serious and imminent threat to health or safety

Unless you tell us otherwise, we may also share relevant information about your care with a family member or close friend who is actively involved in helping you with your dental treatment.

4. Substance Use Disorder Records – 2026 Federal Requirement

As of February 16, 2026, federal law requires all dental practices to address how they handle substance use disorder records in their Notice of Privacy Practices. This follows updated HIPAA regulations under 42 CFR Part 2.

What are substance use disorder records?
These are records related to a patient’s identity, diagnosis, or treatment for a substance use disorder that originate from a federally assisted treatment program – such as an addiction treatment or recovery facility.

What this means for our patients:
Riverwood Dental does not create substance use disorder records. However, we may occasionally receive them as part of coordinating your overall medical care with another provider.

When we do receive such records, here is how they are handled:

We can use them for treatment, payment, and standard healthcare operations – the same as other health records. However, these records carry stronger legal protections in specific situations. We cannot disclose them in legal proceedings against you without your written consent or a valid court order – even if we receive a subpoena. This is a higher level of protection than what standard health records typically receive.

If you have specific questions about how your records are handled, please contact Dr. Brady Johnston directly.

5. Everything Else Requires Your Written Permission

For any use or disclosure of your health information not described above, we will ask you to sign a written authorization form before sharing anything. This includes:

Marketing communications from third-party companies
Sharing your information with your employer
Any disclosures not directly related to your dental care

You can withdraw a written authorization at any time by notifying us in writing. We will honor that request going forward. We cannot undo disclosures already made based on your earlier permission.

6. Your Rights Over Your Health Information

HIPAA gives you real, specific rights over your personal health information. Here is what you can do – and how to exercise each right.

See or Get a Copy of Your Records
You can ask to review your dental and billing records in person, or request a printed or electronic copy. We will respond within 30 days. If we deny access for a legally permitted reason, we will explain why in writing and tell you how to appeal.

Ask Us to Correct Your Records
If you believe something in your records is wrong or incomplete, you can ask us to correct it. We have up to 60 days to respond. If we agree, we update the record and notify relevant parties who received the incorrect version. If we disagree, you have the right to add a written statement of disagreement directly to your file.

Request Restrictions on How We Use Your Information
You can ask us to limit certain uses or disclosures of your health information. We are not always required by law to agree – but if we do, we will honor that restriction without exception.

Ask Us to Contact You Differently
If you prefer we call your cell instead of your home number, use a specific mailing address, or contact you only by email – just tell us. We will make reasonable accommodations. No explanation needed.

Get a Record of Disclosures
You can request a list of times we shared your health information outside our office over the past six years. This will not include routine disclosures for treatment, payment, or operations – but will cover other disclosures we have made. One free list per year – additional requests may carry a small fee.

Get a Paper Copy of This Notice
Even if you received this Notice electronically or signed it digitally at intake, you can request a printed copy at any time. Just ask at the front desk.

Be Notified of a Data Breach
If your health information is ever involved in a security breach, federal law requires us to notify you promptly. We will always follow this requirement without delay.

7. How to Exercise Your Rights

To make any of the requests described above, please contact us in writing. We are happy to walk you through the process in person or over the phone if that is easier.

Riverwood Dental – Privacy Officer: Dr. Brady Johnston

3350 Riverwood Pkwy, Suite 2120, Atlanta, GA 30339
info@riverwooddental.com
(770) 955-2505
riverwooddental.com

We will confirm receipt of your request and respond within the timeframes required by law.

8. How to File a Complaint

If you believe we have not properly protected your health information or respected your privacy rights, you have two options – and you are fully protected either way.

Contact Us Directly
Reach out to Dr. Brady Johnston, our Privacy Officer, using the contact information above. We take every concern seriously and respond promptly. We will not retaliate against you – in any way – for raising a concern or filing a complaint. Your care will never be affected.

Contact the Federal Government
You may also file a complaint directly with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:

Office for Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, D.C. 20201
+1-800-368-1019 (toll-free)
www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints

Filing a complaint will never affect the quality of care you receive at Riverwood Dental.

9. Changes to This Notice

We reserve the right to update this Notice at any time as required or permitted by law. If we make changes, the updated version will be:

Posted visibly in our office waiting area
Available at the front desk upon request
Published on our website at riverwooddental.com

Any updated version applies to all health information we hold – past and future. The effective date at the top always reflects when the current version took effect.

10. Questions?

We want you to feel informed and comfortable about how your health information is handled. If anything in this Notice is unclear, please ask us at your next appointment – or call us anytime during office hours.

Riverwood Dental