Bridle Trails Family Dentistry Breach Affects 20,976 Patients

Bridle Trails Family Dentistry, a practice based in Kirkland, Washington, disclosed a data breach that affected approximately 20,976 individuals in the United States. The breach involved unauthorized access to an employee email account over a one-week period in November 2024.

The breach was disclosed to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on May 14, 2026. Bridle Trails Family Dentistry began notifying affected individuals on April 10, 2026, through notification letters. The company also posted a notice on its website providing information about the incident and guidance on protective steps.

According to the company's notification, an unauthorized actor gained access to one employee email account at Bridle Trails Family Dentistry. The unauthorized access took place between Nov. 19, 2024, and Nov. 25, 2024, a period of approximately one week.

The compromised email account contained a limited amount of personal and health information. A subsequent investigation determined on March 12, 2026, approximately 15 months after the breach, that this information may have been accessed by the unauthorized actor during the period of unauthorized access.

The breach exposed both personally identifiable information and protected health information. Personally identifiable information involved in the breach included full name in combination with one or more of the following: date of birth, Social Security number, driver's license number and taxpayer ID number.

Protected health information included reason for visit, medical provider name, clinical or treatment information, health insurance information and medical record number. The specific types of information affected vary by individual, according to the company's notification. Not every affected person had all of these data types exposed.

Bridle Trails Family Dentistry's response

An investigation focused on determining the nature and scope of the incident, including whether any sensitive data had been accessed or acquired by the unauthorized party. The company said that "the privacy and security of the personal information entrusted to us is of the utmost importance" and that it "continues to take significant measures to protect personal and protected health information."

After completing its review, the company reported that it has "no evidence that any information has been misused as a direct result of this incident." Nevertheless, it said it chose to notify affected individuals "out of an abundance of caution." The company also urged people to "always remain vigilant in reviewing their credit reports on a regular basis and report any irregular activity immediately."

Bridle Trails Family Dentistry has set up a dedicated, confidential toll-free response line at 833-289-6183. The company said that individuals who believe they may have been affected and did not receive a notification letter, or who have questions about the incident, should call this number. The line is staffed with professionals familiar with this breach and is available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding holidays.