Last updated August 19, 2020
Like most websites, Dental Fear Central collects information on its visitors. This page explains what data is recorded and what it’s used for.
Information we collect and what we use it for
We do not collect any personally identifiable information about you when you visit Dental Fear Central unless you choose to provide that information to us (see below). We never collect information for commercial marketing or any purpose unrelated to Dental Fear Central’s functions. We don’t have any advertising or affiliate links on this website.
Cookies
This site uses cookies – small text files that are placed on your machine to help the site provide a better user experience.
We will ask you to consent to our use of cookies when you first visit our website. By using our website, you are agreeing to this policy, and you consent to our use of cookies in accordance with the terms of this policy.
A cookie is a file containing an identifier (a string of letters and numbers) that is sent by a web server to a web browser and is stored by the browser. The identifier is then sent back to the server each time the browser requests a page from the server.
Cookies are used to retain user preferences, store information to make things like forums usable, and provide anonymised tracking data to third party applications like Google Analytics. As a rule, cookies will make your browsing experience better and easier.
However, if you don’t want to use cookies, you can disable cookies on this site and on others. The most effective way to do this is to disable cookies in your browser. We suggest consulting the Help section of your browser.
If you disable cookies, you won’t be able to use features like logging into our forum and posting on it, because for technical reasons, an authentication cookie is needed. This is the same for all online forums and message boards.
Tracking Codes
This website and forum use tracking code, including that from Google Analytics, to help us better understand how the public uses the site and how to make it more helpful. The tracking code tells us what pages were viewed, how people found those pages, what countries they were from, what sort of devices they used to access our site, and similar data. It doesn’t reveal who you are, nor the search query you used. If you object to tracking codes, you can disable them by disabling JavaScript in your browser.
Information that you provide to us and to search engines
When you join and post on our forum (or if you were to comment on our website, although commenting is currently disabled), you provide us with the following information:
Your name
We never ask you to reveal your real name. We strongly encourage you to use a username that is not your real name, or that gives your identity away. We also recommend that you use a username that’s different from the ones you use on other forums. If you are a dental professional and you’d like to use your real name, that’s fine of course! Please don’t use a real photo of yourself either, unless you are absolutely sure you don’t mind it being discoverable through search engines.
Your username and posts, and any photos you post (but not your user profile or email address) may be indexed by search engines, including Google.
Your email address
Your email address will be known only to the administrators of Dental Fear Central. We will use it only for the purposes you provided it for (see “What we do with the information you provide to us” below).
Your IP addresses
The administrators of this website and forum are able to see the IP addresses you used when posting on the forum, or when browsing the forum. The IP addresses are not visible to anyone else.
What we do with the information you provide to us
We will only use any personal information you provide for the purpose you gave it to Dental Fear Central. For example, if you join our forum, we will only use it for forum-related activities. You can choose yourself how much or how little contact you would like from us. In your user profile, go to “Preferences” to choose what sort of email alerts (if any) you would like to get.
If you wish to unsubscribe from the Dental Fear Central forum or from our newsletter, please click the “unsubscribe” link contained in the email to unsubscribe. Or let us us know by using our contact form which can be found here.
User-generated content
When you post messages on the forum, we generally do not delete them upon request, unless nobody has responded to your message. The reason is that it would be unfair to others who have taken the time to respond, as their messages would be rendered non-sensical.
We are very happy to delete any information from your posts which could identify you, just email us.
Materials and stories posted on the forum may be quoted on the main website, to illustrate common experiences and fears. We always make sure that no details that could identify individual members are quoted. We will also try to contact you and give your permission. You can withdraw your permission at any time.
We will not give or sell your personal information to anyone unless we are required to by law or there is an issue of safety.
We believe your right to confidentiality is very important. This means that only in extremely unusual circumstances would it be necessary for us to contact police or other agencies about any message we have received.
Legal requirements related to confidentiality
Under UK law, Dental Fear Central cannot legally provide confidentiality under the following circumstances:
1. A message sent to or through Dental Fear Central (including discussion forum posts) containing specific information about a terrorist suspect or terrorist activity that will take place or has taken place in the world. This information must immediately be disclosed to the police;
2. Dental Fear Central is forced through legal action to disclose specific confidential information; this can include legal action taken through the Data Protection Act and during criminal investigations.
Our choice to break confidentiality
Under the Data Protection Act, we can choose to break confidentiality if we feel that doing so would be in the public interest or that not doing so would hinder a criminal investigation.
Children’s Privacy
This site is not intended to attract children and young people under the age of 16.
Please also read our our Terms of Use.