Data or information pertaining to the diagnosis, treatment or health of any covered person obtained by the dental plan organization from the covered person or any dentist shall be confidential and shall not be disclosed to any person except to the extent that it may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this act, or upon the express consent of the covered person, or pursuant to statute or court order for the production of evidence or the discovery thereof, or in the event of claim or litigation between the covered person and the dental plan organization wherein the data or information is pertinent. A dental plan organization shall be entitled to claim any statutory privileges against such disclosure which the dentist who furnished the information to the dental organization is entitled to claim.
N.J.S. § 17:48D-21