Totem Lake Dentistry Breach Exposes PHI and PII

Totem Lake Family Dentistry, a general and family dental practice located in Kirkland, Washington, disclosed a data breach that affected 3,464 individuals in the United States.

The practice reported the breach to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and posted a notice on its website. Totem Lake Family Dentistry began notifying consumers on April 30, 2026, nearly 11 months after the initial discovery.

Between May 28, 2025, and June 2, 2025, an unauthorized individual gained access to one employee email account at Totem Lake Family Dentistry. Upon detecting the unauthorized activity, the practice launched an investigation.

On March 31, 2026, the practice concluded that the affected files may have contained personally identifiable information and protected health information such as full names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, medical records, treatment plans, patient numbers, prescriptions and health insurance information.

Totem Lake Family Dentistry's response to the breach

The company's notification letter included guidance on protective measures individuals can take to safeguard their information. These include placing fraud alerts or security freezes on credit files and obtaining free credit reports from the three major credit reporting agencies.

Totem Lake Family Dentistry has set up a dedicated, confidential toll-free response line at 1-833-877-4013 for individuals who have questions about the incident. It is available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding holidays.

Steps to take if your information was exposed

• Place a fraud alert or credit freeze on credit files by contacting Equifax (1-800-525-6285), Experian (1-888-397-3742) or TransUnion (1-800-680-7289) to help prevent unauthorized accounts from being opened.
• Request free credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and review them for any accounts, inquiries or activity that looks unfamiliar.
• Review Explanation of Benefits statements from health insurance providers and follow up with the insurer or care provider about any services or charges that are not recognized.
• Be cautious of phishing attempts that reference Totem Lake Family Dentistry or this data breach by name, as scammers may try to use the situation to trick people into sharing more personal information.
• Share health insurance cards only with trusted providers and family members covered under the plan to reduce the risk of medical identity theft.
• File a complaint with the FTC at ftc.gov/idtheft or by calling 1-877-438-4338 if suspicious activity is found on credit reports, insurance statements or tax filings.