Last updated: September 21, 2026
About this notice
Regency Dental Group, Office of Dr. Lance C. Carter, DDS ("we" or "our practice") is required by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and California law, including the Confidentiality of Medical Information Act, to maintain the privacy of your protected health information ("PHI"), to give you this notice of our legal duties and privacy practices, and to follow the terms of the notice currently in effect. PHI is information that identifies you and relates to your past, present or future health, the care we provide, or payment for that care. This notice applies to all records of your care generated or maintained by our practice. The official version of this notice is provided to you in our office; this web copy is provided for convenience.
How we may use and disclose your PHI
Treatment. We use your PHI to provide, coordinate and manage your dental care. For example, we may share information with a specialist we refer you to, a dental laboratory making your crown, or your physician when your medical condition affects your dental treatment.
Payment. We use and disclose PHI to obtain payment for services, such as sending claims to your dental insurance carrier, verifying your benefits, and communicating with a financing company you have chosen.
Health care operations. We may use PHI for activities necessary to run our practice, such as quality review, training, licensing, and business planning.
Appointment reminders and treatment alternatives. We may contact you by phone, text, mail or email to remind you of appointments or to tell you about treatment options and health-related services. You may ask us to use a specific method or number.
Family and friends. With your agreement, or when you are unable to object and we judge it in your best interest, we may share information relevant to a family member's or friend's involvement in your care or payment for your care.
As required by law. We will disclose PHI when federal, state or local law requires it, including for public health activities, reports of abuse or neglect, health oversight, judicial and administrative proceedings, law enforcement, coroners and medical examiners, organ donation, research approved by an institutional review board, to avert a serious threat to health or safety, for specialized government functions, and for workers' compensation.
Business associates. We may share PHI with contractors that perform services for us, such as billing services, dental laboratories, secure form and communication vendors, and IT providers. Each business associate signs an agreement requiring it to protect your information.
Uses and disclosures that require your written authorization
We will obtain your written authorization before using or disclosing your PHI for marketing purposes, before selling your PHI, before disclosing psychotherapy notes (which we do not maintain), and for any other purpose not described in this notice. Before-and-after photographs used for any purpose other than your treatment record require your separate written consent. You may revoke an authorization in writing at any time, except to the extent we have already acted on it.
Your rights regarding your PHI
- Right to inspect and copy. You may request to see and receive a copy of your dental records, including in electronic form if we maintain them electronically. We may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee as permitted by California law.
- Right to amend. If you believe information in your record is incorrect or incomplete, you may request an amendment in writing. We may deny the request in certain circumstances and will tell you why.
- Right to an accounting of disclosures. You may request a list of certain disclosures we have made of your PHI in the six years before your request, other than for treatment, payment, health care operations, and certain other exceptions.
- Right to request restrictions. You may ask us to limit how we use or disclose your PHI. We are not required to agree, except that we must agree to a request to restrict disclosure to your health plan for a service you have paid for in full out of pocket.
- Right to confidential communications. You may ask us to communicate with you in a particular way or at a particular location, and we will accommodate reasonable requests.
- Right to a paper copy. You may request a paper copy of this notice at any time, even if you have received it electronically.
- Right to be notified of a breach. We will notify you as required by law if a breach of your unsecured PHI occurs.
To exercise any of these rights, contact our privacy officer using the information below. We may require requests in writing.
Our duties
We are required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your PHI, to provide you with this notice, to follow the terms of the notice currently in effect, and to notify you of a breach of unsecured PHI. We reserve the right to change this notice and to make the new notice effective for all PHI we maintain. A current copy is posted in our office and on this website.
Complaints
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with our practice using the contact information below, or with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights, at 200 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20201, by calling 1-877-696-6775, or online at www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.
Contact and privacy officer
Privacy Officer, Regency Dental Group
1001 Nut Tree Road, Suite 230, Vacaville, CA 95687
Phone: (707) 453-1776
Email: regencydentalvacaville@gmail.com
Effective date: September 21, 2026.