Ransomware Attacks: A Heightened Threat to Dental Practices

In recent years, the healthcare sector, particularly dental practices, has increasingly become a target for cybercriminals, with ransomware attacks raising serious concerns industry-wide. With a rise in incidents, there's a growing call for improved cybersecurity measures.

Recent Cyber Incidents

Change Healthcare Cyberattack (February 2025)

An extensive cyberattack on Change Healthcare significantly affected dental practices across the U.S., disrupting electronic claims processing and insurance verifications.

Risas Dental & Braces Breach (Reported March 2025)

Arizona's Risas Dental & Braces experienced a breach affecting 618,189 individuals, marking one of 2025's largest dental sector data incidents.

Park Dental and Affiliates (Reported 2025)

Three specialty practices in Minnesota, including Park Dental, reported breaches impacting nearly 279,000 patients due to compromised email accounts.

New Jersey Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (Reported July 2025)

A hack affected over 74,000 patients at this specialty practice, with unauthorized access to their computer systems reported.

FBI Warning

In a May 2025 warning, the FBI highlighted a cybersecurity threat targeting oral and maxillofacial surgeons, also cautioning that general dentists and specialists could be future targets.

Why Are Dental Practices Vulnerable?

Limited Security Resources: Many practices, especially smaller ones, lack robust security measures and dedicated IT staff.
Reliance on Third-Party Technology: External vendors often manage dental office tech solutions, which can weaken oversight.
Valuable Data: Sensitive patient data, financial information, and medical records are appealing to cybercriminals.
Insufficient Staff Training: A lack of comprehensive security training can leave employees vulnerable to attacks like phishing.
Resistance to Additional Controls: Some view security measures such as multi-factor authentication as barriers to care, increasing risk exposure.

Common Attack Vectors

Phishing Emails: Emails designed to trick staff into revealing information or clicking malicious links.
Compromised Email Accounts: Many breaches involve unauthorized employee email access.
Social Engineering: Attackers might pose as new patients to gain trust and access systems.
Outdated Software: Failure to update systems allows vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit.

Preventive Measures for Dental Practices

Staff Education: Regular training on identifying phishing and other cyber threats.
Strong Password Policies: Enforce strong, unique passwords for all accounts.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Enable MFA wherever possible as an added security layer.
Regular Software Updates: Stay current with software and security patch updates.
Backup Systems: Maintain secure, regular data backups to mitigate ransomware impacts.
Incident Response Plan: Develop and regularly test comprehensive incident response strategies.
Third-Party Risk Assessment: Vet and monitor the security practices of tech vendors.

Resources for Cybersecurity

ADA Cybersecurity Resources: Guidance and resources are available at ADA.org/riskmanagement.
CISA Toolkit: The Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency offers a toolkit for building cybersecurity foundations.
HHS Training: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provides free, relevant cybersecurity training.
ONC Security Risk Assessment Tool: This tool supports HIPAA-compliant security risk assessments.

Conclusion

As ransomware threats continue to grow, dental practices must prioritize cybersecurity. By embracing robust security strategies, conducting comprehensive staff training, and monitoring emerging threats, practices can protect patient data and ensure continuity of care. The proactive safeguarding of digital assets is imperative in this evolving cyber landscape.