01What is dental practice management software?
Dental practice management software is a vital part of any successful dental practice. Combined with some third-party add-ons, it covers charting and notes, scheduling, patient communication, patient and insurance billing, employee time cards, claims and payment processing, management tools, patient engagement, imaging tie-ins, data management, and HIPAA-compliant data sharing with authorized providers. The right option saves your practice and your patients time and money.
02How we curated the list
As a dental-specific IT company (MSP), we work with clients every day on issues with their practice management software. We know every option well, and we know what clients love and loathe about each one. We also see the back end, from ease of use, troubleshooting, and integration to the customer support teams we work with to take care of our mutual clients. This list is based on client feedback and our experience working directly with the developers.
Side note: we don’t separate cloud from server-based software. Cloud is becoming more prominent, the software is improving, and the industry’s concerns about cloud are fading. To learn more, see our post on Open Dental’s cloud software.
03The five best dental practice management software for 2022
Whether you’re an existing practice unhappy with your software or a startup trying to make the best decision, finding software that’s intuitive, fast, reliable, versatile, and affordable can feel like hunting unicorns (to pet, not for trophies). But unicorns are real, and so is this list.
1. Open Dental / Open Dental Cloud
Open Dental offers both server and cloud-based HIPAA-compliant practice management, and we wholeheartedly endorse both. Whichever you choose (a conversation to have with your IT provider), Open Dental is user-friendly for the practice and its MSP. The interface is simple but offers plenty of options, it’s flexible, runs on minimal server specs, support is great, and there are tons of third-party integrations.
Highlights
- Free demo
- Free training: pre-recorded webinars
- Support 7 days a week (hours vary) by phone and chat
- Low cost, strong support, training, features, and integrations
Features
- Appointment management and reminders
- Hands-free charting
- Patient records management
- Billing and claims management
- Treatment planning
- Patient portal
- Substantial eServices
2. CareStack
Proving that cloud is where practice management is heading, CareStack offers HIPAA-compliant “all-in-one dental software” for small, medium, and large practices and DSOs. Aimed at reducing the number of third-party subscriptions a practice needs, it offers a truly user-friendly experience, plus a well-regarded patient engagement system for building targeted marketing campaigns.
Highlights
- Free demo
- Training online to in-person
- Customer-focused improvements
- 24/7 support
Features
- Scheduling and treatment planning
- Billing and collections
- Appointment reminders and online appointments
- Online forms and curbside check-in
- Reputation management
- Contactless payments
- Insurance verification and business analytics
3. Oryx
Our last cloud-based recommendation, Oryx is designed by and for dentists. This HIPAA-compliant platform focuses on the patient experience, from engagement and risk assessment to patient communication. Oryx highlights its evidence-based clinical modules and user-friendly setup, and users love the generated reminders that keep each stage of the appointment running smoothly.
Highlights
- Free demo
- Patient focus
Features
- Scheduling, billing, and collections
- Online scheduling and patient communication
- Guided clinical charting
- Native imaging
- Personalized risk assessment
- AR management
- Data analytics, dashboards, and task management
4. Dentrix
Dentrix has been around for over three decades and is part of the Henry Schein umbrella, making it one of the largest practice management options in the industry. Known for one of the more versatile feature sets, Dentrix is as robust as it is reliable. It’s considered user-friendly, though new users should take time to learn it thoroughly to get the most from it. Because it’s been around so long, your team may already know it.
Highlights
- Free demo
- Longevity
- HIPAA compliant
Features
- Appointment and calendar management
- Claims validation
- 3D clinical charting
- Patient communication and engagement
- Billing and collections
- Financial planning
5. Eaglesoft
Patterson-owned Eaglesoft has been around for over 25 years with a stellar history across front desk workflow, clinical process, patient experience, and business performance. Viewed through an MSP’s lens, Eaglesoft is easy to navigate and straightforward to troubleshoot. It’s as strong clinically as it is at the front office, and like Dentrix, many employees may already be familiar with it.
Highlights
- HIPAA compliant
- Great FAQ and tutorials
- User-friendly
- Strong third-party integration
Features
- Appointment management and scheduling
- Patient communication
- Billing, invoicing, and collections
- Charting and records management
- Live chat and client portal
- Third-party integrations
- Custom reports, document management, and templates
About Darkhorse Tech
Whether you’re just starting out or a well-established organization, Darkhorse Tech has the experience and technology to help get you moving, cut costs, and streamline your operations with unlimited IT support. We help you do what you do best: provide top-notch care and service for patients, not deal with IT problems, time spent on hold with technical support, or complicated technical mishaps. Our additional security services include:
- Unlimited remote and/or on-site IT support of all your hardware and software
- Improved network performance and security
- HIPAA-compliant off-site and local backup service (Darkhorse Secure Backup)
- Managed antivirus, anti-malware, and anti-ransomware (Darkhorse Security Products)
- Compliance and security law standards
- Microsoft security patch management
- Vendor management: we will be on the phone, not your employees
- Secure, remote access to your office
- Firewall management
- Network management
- Long-term planning and budgeting
Contact us anytime to learn more about our dental-specific solutions and unlimited support packages. Read our reviews or call us today at 800.868.4504.
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