Data protection 1 article

Data protection concerns the lawful and secure handling of personal information throughout its collection, use, storage, sharing and deletion. For dental practices, this includes health records, contact details, images, payment information and digital communications, with responsibilities for access control, retention, breach response and appropriate processing. The concept overlaps with confidentiality but is broader in its operational and legal scope, covering how organizations manage data systems and individual rights as well as the clinician's duty of discretion.