Buffalo, N.Y.-based UPD Dental Associates was recently hit by a data breach affecting 6,843 patients.
The pediatric dental practice said it began notifying patients who may have been affected by the breach on June 24, according to a notice on its website.
The practice launched an investigation after experiencing unusual activity in its email system. It learned that between Jan. 13 to 19, an unauthorized party accessed two accounts within its email system that contained patient information and may have accessed emails and attachments in those accounts.
Information contained in the emails and attachments include identifying information such as patient names and Social Security numbers, contact information, treatment and diagnostic information, provider names, medical record numbers, patient account numbers, prescription information and financial account information.
UPD said it has implemented additional safeguards and technical security measures since the incident to further protect and monitor its email system.