Privacy Policy

Last updated: July 2026

Who we are

The Local Dentist (thelocaldentist.co.uk) is a trading name of Elite Digital AI Solutions Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales (company no. 17250017), registered office 71–75 Shelton Street, London, England, WC2H 9JQ. Elite Digital AI Solutions Ltd is the data controller for personal data collected through this site. Contact: hello@thelocaldentist.co.uk.

Data we collect

When you use our comparison tool or send an enquiry to a dental practice, we may collect: name, email address, phone number, what you need from a dentist (for example a check-up, emergency appointment, whitening, or implant consultation), how soon you need it, postcode, service preferences, and consent records. When you browse, we collect limited technical data (device type, pages viewed) for site operation and security.

Health information

Some enquiries may reveal information about your health — for example, asking about an emergency dentist, orthodontics, or free NHS dental eligibility. We handle any health information entered in our forms with particular care: we collect only what is needed to route your enquiry to the practices you select, we never use it for marketing, and we never disclose it beyond those practices and the service providers who process data on our behalf (listed below). We only process health-related enquiry information with your explicit consent, given via the tick-box when you submit the form, and you can withdraw that consent at any time. Calculator inputs are processed in your browser and are not sent to our servers.

How and why we use your data

We use your data to match you with dentists and pass your enquiry to practices you select (lawful basis: consent — and for any health-related information your enquiry contains, your explicit consent), to operate and improve the service and prevent abuse (legitimate interests), and to meet legal obligations. We do not sell your personal data, and we do not share your enquiry with any practice you did not select.

Who processes your data and where it is stored

We use a small number of service providers as data processors: Cloudflare, Inc. hosts the site and stores enquiry records and newsletter sign-ups (Cloudflare Workers and KV storage) and routes our notification email; Stripe processes payments from practices that buy listings (Stripe acts as an independent controller for payment data — we never see full card details). Enquiry notifications are also delivered to our operations inbox so we can route and follow up your enquiry. Where a provider processes data outside the UK, transfers are protected by UK-approved safeguards such as the UK International Data Transfer Agreement or adequacy regulations.

Enquiry sharing

When you send an enquiry, we share your contact details only with the practices you explicitly select. We may receive a fee from those practices for the introduction. Each practice is an independent data controller for its own communications with you — their use of your data is governed by their privacy policies, and you can withdraw from contact with them directly.

Practice listing data

Practice profiles may include information from public sources, including the Care Quality Commission care directory (England), NHS ODS dental practice data, and links to the General Dental Council register for named clinicians. This is public register data reproduced as of the stated snapshot date. Practitioners and practice owners whose professional details appear in listing data can exercise the rights below over it.

Retention

Enquiry data is retained for up to 24 months from your last activity so we can evidence consent and handle follow-ups, then deleted or anonymised. We keep this period under review and hold only the minimum fields needed for those purposes — enquiries are limited to your contact details, the service category, and any message you choose to add, and we ask you not to include detailed medical information. Analytics and log data is kept no longer than 13 months. Newsletter email addresses are kept until you unsubscribe.

Cookies

We use essential cookies and local storage for site functionality (for example, comparison wizard state). We minimise non-essential tracking; where any is introduced, we will ask for consent first.

Your rights

Under UK GDPR you have the right to access, rectify, erase, restrict, object to, and port your data, and to withdraw consent at any time. Email hello@thelocaldentist.co.uk — we respond within one month. You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ico.org.uk).

Contact

Data protection enquiries: hello@thelocaldentist.co.uk, or write to Elite Digital AI Solutions Ltd, 71–75 Shelton Street, London, WC2H 9JQ.