Best Practice Management Softwares for Dental Offices

Running a dental practice is part patient care and part logistics. If your practice software is clunky or outdated, your team wastes time. If it’s too limited, you’re paying for workarounds. 

So, what’s really worth investing in, and what do actual users really say? We pulled comments from Reddit, Facebook Groups, Review Sites and more to cut through the noise and zero in on what matters.

This is the complete list of top dental practice softwares according to real users. 

Before we dive into the specific platforms, let’s look at some key features to consider in dental practice software. 

• Scheduling and Calendar Usability (Color-coding, multi-provider, etc.) 
• Charting & Note Workflow 
• Billing/Insurance Claim Integration 
• Patient Communication (reminders, texting, etc.) 
• Reporting & Analytics
• Usability 
• Support 
• Flexibility 
• Integration ability 

Now for the part you really care about, here’s the most popular dental practice softwares based on real reviews!

1. Open Dental

Best for practices that want flexibility and full control without getting roped into pricey monthly add-ons.

Open Dental is kind of the “do-it-your-way” option. It’s a powerful PMS that you can run on a server or in the cloud, and it’s known for being affordable, customizable, and super transparent with data. You basically get access to everything: charting, scheduling, e-services, texting, forms, the whole deal.

What stands out:

• Open source, so you control your data

• Much more affordable than most

• Tons of customization for how your practice works

Things to keep in mind:

• If you host it yourself, you’ll likely need some IT support

• The interface isn’t as sleek as some of the newer cloud-only platforms

What users say:

• “I have used open dental in several different dental offices and no matter what the flow of the office is open dental can accommodate anything”

• “This platform is overall extremely easy to use and user-friendly, but by far the best thing about Open Dental is the customer service.””

• “I’ve used Dentrix and Eaglesoft before using Open Dental, and have to say that Open Dental is by far the best. Everything is straightforward, it’s simple to learn, and very customizable.”

• Some users do call out performance issues with the cloud version, like needing to restart during the day when it freezes.

 

2. Dentrix

Best for established practices that want something reliable with every feature under the sun.

Dentrix is basically the household name in dental software. It’s been around forever, tons of offices use it, and it integrates with almost everything. You get full charting, treatment planning, scheduling, billing, reporting, and a giant ecosystem of add-ons.

What stands out:

• Industry staple with deep features

• Huge integration library

• Strong analytics and reporting

Things to keep in mind:

• Can get expensive once you start adding modules

• Takes time to learn

• The interface feels a bit old school

What users say:

• “The Dental Practice management because it is a great system for scheduling patients, keeping patient records organized and billing.”

• “We have been using Dentrix for over 15 years now and Overall we have been very happy with Dentrix.”

• “Dentrix is a workhorse. It’s a solid software that does everything you could need it to do.”

• On the flip side, people do say it feels dated, and customer support hold times can be long.

3. Eaglesoft

Best for mid-to-large practices that want strong clinical tools and business management in one place.

Eaglesoft is Patterson Dental’s PMS, so it ties in nicely with their ecosystem. It’s known for great charting, treatment planning, imaging, and patient communication tools.

What stands out:

• Intuitive clinical charting

• Strong patient communication features

• Excellent imaging integration

Things to keep in mind:

• Being tied to Patterson can limit flexibility

• Their cloud version (Fuse) still has some growing to do

• Higher price point

What users say:

• “I have used Eaglesoft at several dental offices in 13 years and it’s easy to navigate appointment scheduling.”

• “Lots of features on how to accurately treatment plan for patients and it is very user-friendly for staff members.”

• “It has enabled us to integrate digital imaging and enjoy seamless workflows across our entire practice.”

• Some users do mention the interface feels dated and that downtime happens occasionally.

4. Curve Dental

Best for practices that want a clean, modern, true-cloud system.

Curve is built for practices that want simplicity, mobility, and a pretty interface. Everything lives in the cloud, updates automatically, and you can access it anywhere.

What stands out:

• 100 percent cloud, fully mobile

• Clean, modern UI

• Automatic updates and backups

• Solid patient engagement tools

Things to keep in mind:

• You need reliable internet

• Not as customizable as legacy platforms

• Smaller integration library

What users say:

• “The cloud-based system is fast, intuitive, and keeps everything from scheduling to billing perfectly streamlined.”

• “Curve is constantly doing updates, which is nice. Love that it a cloud base system”

• “Curve is extremely user friendly, with tech support that blows everyone else out of the water.”

• “The software is very modern and sleek. It is much better than serve based programs, and the stability is much better.”

• Some users think analytics could be stronger and say parts of the interface can feel confusing.

5. Denticon

Best for DSOs and multi-location practices that need centralized reporting and easy scalability.

Denticon is cloud-native and built with DSOs in mind. It shines when you have multiple offices and need everything centralized including scheduling, reporting, analytics, and patient engagement.

What stands out:

• Excellent for multi-location management

• Strong analytics and BI tools

• Built-in marketing and engagement features

• Zero servers to manage

Things to keep in mind:

• Can feel like “too much” for a single-location office

• Takes time to learn

• Fully dependent on internet connectivity

What users say:

• “I talk about denticon to every single dentist I meet. Unsolicited advice for sure but I cannot praise it enough. It makes the clinical aspect but more importantly the business aspect so darn easy!”

• “We’d been longtime Dentrix users before this leaving that behind and switching to Denticon was by far one of the most significantly beneficial changes we’ve ever made to our office operations.”

• “Denticon is a cloud based Practice Management Software which has improved every aspect of our work flow, reporting and staffing as a DSO with 9 locations.”

• But some users find it clunky, saying everything takes an extra click and feels slower than other software.

6. Carestack

Best for practices that want everything in one place: PMS, marketing, engagement, and revenue cycle management.

Carestack positions itself as an all-in-one practice growth platform. It’s cloud-based, modern, and packed with features for front office, clinical, and business operations.

What stands out:

• Reduces your need for third-party tools

• Great marketing and patient communication features

• Strong analytics

• Clean, mobile-friendly interface

Things to keep in mind:

• Tons of features can feel overwhelming

• Higher price point

• Still newer compared to long-standing legacy systems

What users say:

• “My experience with Carestack has been fantastic. The software is incredibly user-friendly..”

• “I have had a great experience with CareStack. Even when we run into any hiccups they are quick to help and the streamlined interface is easy to use.”

• “I love how user-friendly it is. I have had multiple staff members with no dental background, learn the software program quite easily! Also, the customer service is truly top-notch!”

• “Much better reporting was the main reason plus esthetically we like it better.”

• The main complaint is that it tries to pack too much into one screen, and clinical providers feel the front office gets most of the attention. Setup can also be a lot.

Choosing dental practice software isn’t just about features; it’s about what fits your workflow, budget, and growth plans. Here’s what to keep in mind:

Start with your priorities. Are you a single-location practice focused on simplicity, or a multi-location group that needs centralized reporting? Do you want cloud flexibility or prefer on-premises control?

Factor in the transition. Switching systems takes time and training. Make sure you have support during implementation and that your team is bought into the change.

Test before you commit. Most platforms offer demos or trials. Take advantage of them. Have your front desk, hygienists, and billing team test the software in real scenarios.

Don’t underestimate support. When something breaks or you need help, responsive customer service makes all the difference. Read recent reviews about support quality, not just feature lists.

The right software should make your practice run smoother, not add friction. Take the time to evaluate what matters most to your team and patients, and you’ll make a decision that pays off for years to come.