BracesWatchDog Terms of Service

Effective Date: March 24, 2026

1. ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS

By accessing, browsing, or using the BracesWatchDog website and services (the "Service"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use the Service.

2. DESCRIPTION OF SERVICE

BracesWatchDog is an educational cost-comparison platform that provides:

AI Educational Analysis ($19): An AI-powered fee comparison tool that benchmarks your orthodontic quoted fee against aggregated regional pricing data, with educational insights and helpful questions to ask your orthodontist.

3. CRITICAL DISCLAIMERS

3.1 NOT A MEDICAL PROVIDER

BracesWatchDog is NOT a healthcare provider, medical practice, dental office, or clinical service of any kind. We do not:

Provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations
Evaluate clinical appropriateness of any treatment plan
Review X-rays, clinical images, medical records, or diagnostic data
Employ or contract with licensed dentists, orthodontists, or healthcare professionals to review your case
Make clinical judgments about your dental or orthodontic needs

3.2 NO DOCTOR-PATIENT RELATIONSHIP

No doctor-patient, dentist-patient, or provider-patient relationship is created through use of the Service. The AI Educational Analysis is a fully automated cost-comparison tool. No healthcare professional reviews your submission or the generated report.

3.3 NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL CARE

Our cost-comparison analysis is for educational and informational purposes only. You must:

Consult a licensed orthodontist for all clinical decisions
Not delay or forgo professional dental care based on our analysis
Not use our reports to self-diagnose or self-treat any condition
Seek immediate professional care for any dental emergency

3.4 AI ANALYSIS LIMITATIONS

Our AI engine compares quoted fees against aggregated regional pricing data. However:

AI analysis may contain errors, inaccuracies, or omissions
Regional fee data is based on historical and aggregated information and may not reflect current market conditions
Fee comparisons cannot account for individual clinical factors, case complexity, or provider qualifications
AI-generated insights are generalized educational information, not personalized clinical advice
The analysis does not evaluate whether a proposed treatment is clinically appropriate for your specific situation

3.5 HIPAA AND REGULATORY STATUS

BracesWatchDog does not operate as a HIPAA-covered entity or business associate. We are an educational technology platform, not a healthcare provider, health plan, or healthcare clearinghouse as defined under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

We do not collect, store, process, or transmit protected health information (PHI) as defined by HIPAA. Our service collects only:

Treatment type (selected from a predefined list)
Quoted fee amount (a dollar figure)
Zip code (for regional comparison)

Do not submit medical records, X-rays, clinical images, diagnosis codes, insurance information, Social Security numbers, or any other protected health information through our Service. Any PHI submitted through our contact forms, chat features, or other channels will be deleted upon discovery.

4. DATA COLLECTION AND PRIVACY

4.1 Minimal Data Collection

For the AI Educational Analysis, we collect only:

Treatment type
Quoted fee amount
Zip code
State (optional, for regional accuracy)

No photos, X-rays, medical records, insurance details, or clinical data are collected.

4.2 Your Consent

By using BracesWatchDog, you:

Confirm that you are 18 years of age or older (or have parental/guardian consent)
Consent to the collection and processing of the limited information described above
Acknowledge that this is an educational service, not a medical service
Agree not to submit protected health information through any channel

4.3 Data Retention & Deletion

Analysis data is retained for 30 days after your last interaction
After 30 days, your data is automatically deleted from our systems
You may request earlier deletion by contacting us

5. USER RESPONSIBILITIES & OBLIGATIONS

5.1 Accuracy of Information

You are responsible for the accuracy of the quoted fee and treatment type you submit. Our analysis quality depends on accurate input.

5.2 Prohibited Uses

You agree not to:

Submit false or misleading information
Submit protected health information, medical records, or clinical images
Use the Service for any illegal or unauthorized purpose
Attempt to access, modify, or delete other users' information
Represent our educational analysis as medical advice to third parties

6. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

6.1 No Warranties

BracesWatchDog provides the Service "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" without warranties of any kind, express or implied, including but not limited to warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement.

6.2 Limitation of Damages

To the fullest extent permitted by law, BracesWatchDog shall not be liable for:

Any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages
Loss of profits, revenue, data, or use
Damages arising from your reliance on the Service or any information provided
Damages arising from errors in AI analysis or fee comparison data
Any clinical, medical, or dental outcomes related to decisions you make
Any financial loss from orthodontic treatment decisions

6.3 Liability Cap

BracesWatchDog's total liability shall not exceed the amount you paid for the Service in the 12 months preceding the claim.

7. PAYMENT & REFUNDS

7.1 Payment Terms

Payment is processed through Stripe (PCI-DSS compliant)
All prices are in USD
You are responsible for all applicable taxes and fees

7.2 Refund Policy

All sales are final once automated processing begins. The $19 AI Educational Analysis fee is non-refundable upon payment confirmation, as the digital product is delivered immediately.

Refunds will be issued only for:

Technical Failure — A verified system error prevented your report from being generated or delivered
Duplicate Charge — You were charged more than once for the same analysis due to a payment processing error
Unauthorized Transaction — You did not authorize the charge

NOT refundable for:

Changing your mind after purchase
Dissatisfaction with the analysis results or conclusions
Deciding not to proceed with orthodontic treatment
Entering incorrect information on the quote form

To Request a Refund:

Email [email protected] within 30 days of purchase
Include your purchase email address and a description of the qualifying issue
We will respond within 3 business days
Approved refunds are returned to your original payment method within 5–10 business days

8. INDEMNIFICATION

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless BracesWatchDog, its officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, or expenses arising from:

Your use of the Service
Your violation of these Terms
Your submission of any prohibited content, including PHI
Any third-party claims related to your use of our educational analysis

9. TERMINATION

9.1 Termination by User

You may discontinue use of the Service at any time.

9.2 Termination by BracesWatchDog

BracesWatchDog may terminate or suspend your access to the Service at any time if:

You violate these Terms
You submit protected health information or prohibited content
You use the Service for illegal purposes

10. GOVERNING LAW

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of California, without regard to its conflict of law principles. Any disputes shall be resolved in the courts of San Francisco County, California.

11. CONTACT INFORMATION

For questions about these Terms, please contact:

BracesWatchDog Legal
Email: [email protected]

BY USING BRACESWATCHDOG, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ AND UNDERSTOOD THESE TERMS OF SERVICE, INCLUDING THE DISCLAIMERS THAT THIS IS AN EDUCATIONAL SERVICE AND NOT A MEDICAL PROVIDER.