What a cookie is and why your consent is needed
This Cookie Policy explains what cookies are, which types of cookies and similar technologies are used on the website published by Dr. Ana-Maria Spiridon, dentist, why they are used and for how long. It also tells you how to make, change or withdraw your choices. The policy applies together with the Privacy Policy, of which it forms an integral part.
A cookie is a small text file that a website saves in your browser or on your device (computer, phone, tablet) when you visit it. On later visits, the website can read the cookie. This allows it, for example, to remember your preferences, to keep its pages working properly or, with your consent, to measure how it is used.
Besides cookies, the website also uses similar technologies that store or access information on your terminal device, such as browser storage (localStorage and sessionStorage). For simplicity, the term “cookies” in this policy covers all of these similar technologies.
Cookies can be “session” cookies (deleted automatically when you close the browser) or “persistent” cookies (stored for a fixed period or until you delete them manually). Depending on who sets them, they can be “first-party” cookies (set by this website) or “third-party” cookies (set by other providers whose services are integrated into the website, such as Google).
Cookies and similar technologies that are not strictly necessary are installed only with your prior consent, under Art. 4(5) of Legea nr. 506/2004, read together with Art. 6(1)(a) and Art. 7 of the GDPR. Strictly necessary cookies are exempt from the consent requirement, in accordance with Art. 4(6) of Legea nr. 506/2004.
What cookies are used
The table below lists the cookies and similar technologies used on the website, grouped by category.
• Strictly necessary: they enable the basic operation and security of the website. Without them, the website cannot function properly. They are exempt from the consent requirement.
• Analytics: they help me understand, in statistical and aggregate form, how the website is used, so that I can improve it. They are provided through Google Analytics 4 and are activated only with your consent.
• Functional: they enable additional features. As a rule, when they involve third parties that are not essential, they are activated only with your consent.
• Marketing: this category appears in the cookie settings panel and is off by default. The Google Ads tag is configured on the website. It sends to Google the clicks on the Call and AI Assistant buttons, as well as the submission of the call-back request, to measure the effectiveness of the ads. It is not used for personalised advertising. The advertising cookies in the table below are placed only if you turn this category on. Until then, Consent Mode signals the refusal to Google, and the tag neither places nor reads advertising cookies.
| Name | Provider | Purpose | Duration | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| cookie-consent (localStorage) | Dr. Ana-Maria Spiridon's website (own) | Stores your cookie options and the policy version, so as not to request your consent again at each visit | Persistent, until deleted or until a major change to the policy | Strictly necessary |
| Local storage of the virtual assistant conversation (sessionStorage) and of the chat window size (localStorage) | Dr. Ana-Maria Spiridon's website (own) | Keeps, only in your browser, the messages exchanged with the virtual assistant, so that the conversation is not lost when you change page, together with the size you chose for the chat window; not transmitted via cookies. The data entered in the message composer is not saved | Session (the conversation); persistent, until deleted (the window size) | Strictly necessary / Functional |
| ams-contact-draft (sessionStorage) | Dr. Ana-Maria Spiridon's website (own) | Keeps, only in your browser, the draft of the name, e-mail address and telephone number entered in the contact form, so that they are not lost when you change page; the reason and the message are not saved | Session; also deleted after the form is sent | Functional |
| _ga | Google (Google Analytics 4) | Distinguishes unique users and measures how the website is used, for statistical purposes | 2 years | Analytics |
| _ga_<Property ID> | Google (Google Analytics 4) | Maintains the session state for the GA4 property | 2 years | Analytics |
| _gcl_au | Google (Google Ads) | Links presses on Call and on AI Assistant, as well as the sending of a call-back request, to visits that came from ads, to measure how well the ads work; placed only if you turn on the Marketing category | 90 days | Marketing |
| _gcl_aw | Google (Google Ads) | Stores the identifier of the ad click that brought you to the site, for the same measurement; placed only if you turn on the Marketing category | 90 days | Marketing |
Third-party cookies and prior consent
Google Analytics 4 and the Google Ads tag (described above, under the Marketing category) are services provided by a third party (Google) and are not strictly necessary for the website to work. Their cookies are therefore placed only on the basis of your prior consent. The analytics cookies are placed if you turn on the Analytics category, and the advertising cookies if you turn on the Marketing category.
Before you give your consent, the Google tags do not write cookies and do not place identifiers on your terminal device. The website uses the Google Consent Mode v2 mechanism, set by default to “denied” for both analytics storage and advertising storage. This means that, until you give your consent, the analytics and advertising cookies are not set. Personalised advertising remains denied in every case, including when you accept all categories.
When the website uses Google's services, data may be transferred outside the European Economic Area, and such transfers are governed by Google's policies and safeguards. You will find further details in the Privacy Policy.
The consent banner and managing your options
On your first visit (and whenever the policy changes materially), you are shown a consent banner in which you can choose which categories of cookies you accept. The banner follows these principles:
• The first level of the banner offers the “Accept all” and “Settings” buttons. The X button in the corner of the banner (“Close without choosing”) closes it without recording any choice and without giving consent. The optional cookies stay disabled, and you will be asked again on a later visit.
• The “Reject all” option is in “Settings”, where it has the same shape and size as “Accept all”.
• No pre-ticked boxes are used. The non-essential categories (analytics and marketing) are disabled by default.
• Access to the website does not depend on accepting cookies (there is no “cookie wall”), and no dark patterns are used.
• You can give your consent separately for each category, in “Settings”.
• You can withdraw or change your consent at any time through the “Cookie settings” link in the website footer [Art. 7(3) GDPR].
Managing cookies from the browser
Independently of the banner displayed on the website, you can control and delete cookies directly from your browser settings. Blocking strictly necessary cookies may affect the proper functioning of the website.
Official instructions for common browsers:
• Google Chrome: Settings -> Privacy and security -> Cookies and other site data.
• Mozilla Firefox: Settings -> Privacy & Security -> Cookies and Site Data.
• Safari (macOS/iOS): Preferences/Settings -> Privacy -> Manage website data.
• Microsoft Edge: Settings -> Cookies and site permissions -> Manage and delete cookies.
For behavioural advertising cookies you can also use the dedicated European tool: www.youronlinechoices.com.
The controller, your rights and proof of consent
The controller of the processing described in this policy is Dr. Ana-Maria Spiridon, dentist, as the publisher of this website. Contact details: office@dranamariaspiridon.com.
To the extent that cookies process personal data, the GDPR gives you the rights of access, rectification, erasure, restriction of processing, objection and data portability, as well as the right to withdraw your consent. You will find full details in the Privacy Policy.
The consent management mechanism used on the website records and keeps proof of your cookie choices (when you made them and which categories you accepted or refused), as evidence of consent within the meaning of Art. 7(1) GDPR.