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SMS terms · Last updated 2026-06-21

How text messaging works at Dunning Family Dental.

Dunning Family Dental sends SMS text messages to patients and prospective patients who have opted in, appointment reminders, new-patient form links, scheduling confirmations, and routine practice notifications. You can stop any time by replying STOP. Standard message and data rates may apply. Full details are below; this page is intentionally complete because text-message providers and mobile carriers require it.

Privacy policyCall the office
Front desk at Dunning Family Dental, where SMS communication is set up at intake.

The short version.

Opt in at the front desk or on a form. Get appointment reminders and intake forms by text. Reply STOP to stop. Reply HELP for help. We never share your number with anyone.

Plainly stated

Program identification.

Program name: Dunning Family Dental. Patient Communication SMS

Brand / Sender: Dunning Family Dental, a dental practice located at 310 Jansen Avenue, Johnstown, NY 12095, owned and operated by Dr. Anthony J. D'Addio, DMD. Telephone (518) 842-3220.

Website: dunningfamilydental.com

Who receives SMS messages.

SMS messages are sent only to:

  • Existing patients of Dunning Family Dental who have provided a mobile phone number and opted into text-message communication, either verbally at the front desk, on a paper intake form, on a digital Dental Intel new-patient form, or through the website contact form; and
  • Prospective patients who have submitted a contact form on dunningfamilydental.com requesting follow-up and have checked the SMS-opt-in checkbox on that form.

SMS messages are never sent to mobile numbers that have not opted in. Numbers obtained from third-party lists, public records, or web scraping are never used for SMS communication.

What we send (program description).

SMS messages from Dunning Family Dental cover only non-clinical practice communications:

  • Appointment reminders, typically 1–3 days before a scheduled appointment.
  • Appointment confirmations and rescheduling, when an appointment is booked, moved, or cancelled.
  • New-patient form links, secure links to the Dental Intel intake forms sent to new patients before their first visit.
  • Hygiene recall reminders, periodic reminders that a routine cleaning is due, typically every six months.
  • Practice notifications, occasional updates such as schedule changes, weather-related office closures, or general office news directly affecting patients.

We do not send treatment details, diagnoses, X-ray results, or any other clinical information by SMS. We do not send promotional or marketing offers by SMS. The program is patient-communication-only.

Sample messages.

Representative examples of messages you may receive:

Dunning Family Dental: Hi Sarah, this is a reminder of your appointment tomorrow at 10:00 AM. Reply C to confirm, R to reschedule, or call (518) 842-3220. Reply STOP to opt out.

Dunning Family Dental: Your new-patient intake forms are ready. Please complete before your visit: [secure link]. Questions? Call (518) 842-3220. Reply STOP to opt out.

Dunning Family Dental: Hi James, it's been six months since your last cleaning. Reply C to schedule a hygiene visit, or call (518) 842-3220. Reply STOP to opt out.

Message frequency.

Message frequency varies by individual usage. A typical opted-in patient receives:

  • 0–4 messages per month under normal circumstances;
  • Additional messages during periods of more frequent treatment (for example, during a multi-visit treatment plan); and
  • Occasional one-off notifications (weather closures, schedule changes).

Frequency is driven by your appointment schedule and is not automated marketing. We do not send promotional blasts.

Message and data rates.

Message and data rates may apply. Your mobile carrier may charge for text messages and data usage based on the terms of your wireless plan. Dunning Family Dental is not responsible for any carrier fees you incur as a result of receiving SMS messages from us.

Contact your mobile carrier with questions about how text messages are billed under your plan.

How to opt out.

To stop receiving SMS messages from Dunning Family Dental, reply STOP to any message you receive from us. You will receive one final confirmation message acknowledging the opt-out, after which no further SMS will be sent to your number.

You can also opt out by calling the office at (518) 842-3220 and asking the front desk to remove your number from SMS communications. Opt-out is processed in real time and applies to all future SMS from the practice.

Opting out of SMS does not opt you out of phone or email contact, which the practice may still use for appointment confirmations, hygiene reminders, and other routine communications. If you want to be contacted only by phone, ask the front desk to update your contact preferences accordingly.

How to get help.

Reply HELP to any message you receive from Dunning Family Dental to receive a brief help reply with the practice phone number and a link back to this page.

For direct support, call (518) 842-3220 during office hours. The front desk can answer questions about specific messages, update SMS preferences, verify the number on file, or troubleshoot delivery issues.

Re-opting in after a stop.

If you have previously opted out of SMS and would like to receive text messages from the practice again, call the office at (518) 842-3220 and ask the front desk to re-enable SMS for your number. Re-opt-in must be requested verbally or in writing, replying "START" to a previous practice message is not sufficient on its own under our policy.

Privacy and information sharing.

Mobile phone numbers and SMS opt-in information are never shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. Your mobile information stays with Dunning Family Dental and the technical service providers required to deliver the message (the SMS gateway and our practice management system), all of whom are bound by confidentiality agreements.

For full details on how we handle patient information, see the Privacy Policy.

Carrier non-responsibility.

Mobile carriers (including but not limited to AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, US Cellular, Sprint, Boost, Cricket, MetroPCS, and others) are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages. SMS delivery depends on carrier network conditions outside the practice's control.

If a critical message (for example, an appointment confirmation) does not arrive, please call the office at (518) 842-3220 to confirm the status of the message or appointment.

Supported carriers.

SMS messaging is generally supported on all major U.S. mobile carriers, including AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, US Cellular, and most regional and MVNO providers. If your carrier blocks or filters messages from short-code or long-code business senders, you may not receive practice messages, in that case, call the office at (518) 842-3220 to confirm preferences and arrange an alternative.

Changes to these terms.

These SMS Terms may be updated from time to time. The "Last updated" date at the top of this page reflects the most recent revision. Material changes will be reflected in a fresh opt-in notice the next time you visit the office or interact with the practice website. Continued participation in SMS communication after a terms update constitutes acceptance of the updated terms.

Common questions

SMS questions, plainly answered.

How do I opt in to text-message communications?
Three ways: (1) tell the front desk verbally at any visit that you'd like to receive text reminders, and they'll enable SMS for the mobile number on file; (2) check the SMS opt-in box on any paper or digital intake form, including the Dental Intel new-patient forms; or (3) check the SMS opt-in checkbox on the contact form at dunningfamilydental.com when submitting an inquiry. Once opted in, you'll start receiving appointment reminders, new-patient form links, and routine practice notifications via text. The opt-in is on a per-number basis, so if you change phones or carriers, let the front desk know so they can update your record. There's no fee from the practice for SMS; standard carrier rates may apply per your plan.
What happens if I reply STOP?
Replying STOP to any SMS from Dunning Family Dental immediately removes your mobile number from our SMS list. You'll receive one final confirmation message acknowledging the opt-out, and no further texts will be sent. The opt-out takes effect right away, typically within seconds. Opting out of SMS does not opt you out of phone calls or emails, which we may still use for appointment reminders and routine communications. If you want to be contacted only by phone, ask the front desk at (518) 842-3220 to update your full contact preferences. To restart SMS later, you'll need to call the office and request re-enrollment, replying START or YES to an older message isn't sufficient on its own to re-opt-in under our policy. The whole flow respects your right to control when and how you hear from us.
What if I get a text I didn't expect from the practice?
First, confirm the sender. Legitimate messages from Dunning Family Dental will identify the practice in the message body and reference your name or a specific appointment. If a message looks suspicious, asks for payment information, asks you to click an unfamiliar link, asks for sensitive medical information, it's likely a phishing attempt impersonating the practice. We never request payment, credit card details, social security numbers, or insurance information by text. If you're unsure whether a text is legitimate, call (518) 842-3220 and the front desk can confirm whether the message came from us. If it was a phishing attempt, reply STOP if you want to opt out of all SMS as a precaution, and consider reporting the message to your carrier by forwarding to 7726 (SPAM).
Can family members opt me into SMS on my behalf?
Opt-in needs to come from the person whose mobile number it is, we don't enroll a number based on someone else's request, because we have no way to verify that you've actually agreed to receive messages. The exception is for minor patients (under 18), where a parent or guardian can opt the minor's number into reminders related to that minor's care. For adult patients, even close family members can't opt-in your number on your behalf. The reason: SMS opt-in is a legal consent under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and similar regulations, and that consent has to come from the actual subscriber to the mobile number. If you want SMS enabled for your account, the easiest path is to mention it at your next visit or call (518) 842-3220 to set it up directly.
Does the practice share my mobile number with anyone?
No. Mobile phone numbers and SMS opt-in information are never shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes, under any circumstance. Your number stays with Dunning Family Dental and the technical service providers required to deliver messages (our SMS gateway and practice management system), all of whom are bound by confidentiality obligations and use the information only to deliver the practice's messages. The full privacy framework is detailed on the privacy policy page, but the short version: we don't sell, rent, lease, or share mobile information, and the SMS opt-in is specifically protected even relative to other types of contact information we hold. If you have specific questions about how your number is handled, call (518) 842-3220 and the front desk can walk through it.

Questions about SMS communications?

Call (518) 842-3220, the front desk can answer SMS questions in about two minutes, update your preferences on the spot, or escalate anything that needs deeper review.

Call to ask
Dunning Family Dental 310 Jansen Avenue Johnstown, NY 12095 (518) 842-3220

A legacy of family dentistry you can trust.

518-842-3220 Call now