If you’re still tracking dental appointments on a calendar, or keeping medical records in a drawer, we’ve got to ask: Where have you been? It’s 2021 and everything’s digitized!
It’s time to get yourself a dental software! We know how challenging dental practice management is, especially for dentists who already have their hands full on their patients. You need to have the right tools for your dental business to run smoothly while getting the marketing results you want. Choosing the right dental software can make all the difference.
In this post, we’ll discuss what dental software is, its features and benefits, and of course, the top dental software programs out there. Let’s dive right in!
Simply put, software for dental, or dental practice management software, is designed to help dental practitioners and their staff manage day-to-day activities, such as:
Many of these dental software programs include dental imaging software, while others come with marketing tools to help you grow your practice. Certain versions even allow dentists to establish rapport with new patients.
As for features, be sure to look out for these:
One thing to keep in mind is that not all dental software programs offer these features. As much as possible, consider only those that are most important to you. Another feature to consider is whether the software is cloud-based or desktop-based.
Cloud-based software (or cloud computing) allows you to run applications via the internet, whereas desktop-based software should be installed on your on-premises server. If you were to ask us which is the better option, we’d say cloud computing right away.
Why? Well, since they’re normally billed on a month-to-month subscription basis, less investment or commitment is required. Plus, the current trend is moving toward more cloud-based dental software.
Investing in a dental practice management software is a decision you’ll never regret. The best software is one that helps you streamline both administrative processes and patient care, saving you both time and money. Aside from that, here are some other perks you can expect from a dental software:
Creating a treatment plan for each of your patients requires you to know about their medical history and reports, which means that you have to look for these papers in your file cabinets. By installing the right dental software, you won’t be wasting time digging through your cabinets and collecting papers anymore - you can do these seamlessly with just a few clicks on your computer!
Thanks to automated appointment reminders (which are sent either via text or email), your patients will never forget about an appointment ever again. For sure, you’ll be having lesser numbers of no-shows and cancellations.
Most cloud-based dental software allows patients to book their appointments online, making it more convenient for everyone.
Looking at your patient’s chart on a computer or tablet is much more defined than on an x-ray or a piece of paper. With digital charts, you can answer your patients’ questions quickly as they’re on the dental chair.
Dental software solutions with a note-taking feature make it faster for you to create and track your clinical notes. What’s even more impressive is that they keep all of your notes organized and secure in one location.
Dentists who have access to a dental practice management software don’t need to calculate expenses manually after consultation or treatment anymore, nor do they have to create invoices to send to their patients. The software can finish them in seconds! Before deciding to buy a dental software, it’s best that you should request a demo to understand the included features.
Again, not all dental practice management software programs include the exact same features. You might be surprised to discover that the one you purchased ends up not having an automated billing.
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Now that we’ve (probably) convinced you to buy a software to smoothen your dental practice, let’s move on to the top 10 picks. All the dental software programs listed meet the following criteria:
Add these factors to the great features mentioned above, and you just got yourself the perfect dental software program! Let’s get to it!
A fully cloud-based all-in-one dental practice management solution, Curve Dental has everything you’re looking for - from imaging and charting to scheduling and billing. It also comes with a responsive support and a super informative website. And, it can be used on any operating system or browser, giving it all the more reason to be a fan favorite!
Key features:
Ratings: 4.6/5
HIPAA compliant: Yes
Free demo: Yes
Training: They provide internet and phone training, webinars, and online demos.
Support: 24/7 phone support or you can make a support ticket within the software.
Dentrix Ascend is a newer dental software, having its release in 2013. This cloud-based dental solution allows you to schedule and confirm appointments with ease, create and track treatment plans, and gather KPIs like the number of procedures performed.
Key features:
Ratings: 4.2/5
HIPAA compliant: Yes
Free demo: Yes
Training: Introductory overview video, podcasts, documents, step-by-step workflows for common tasks, how-to videos - all these can be found on their website.
Support: Phone and chat support are included in the monthly subscription.
With a full array of practice management and treatment tools for dental practices of all sizes, it’s no wonder why Open Dental is a popular choice for dentists. It’s an open-source, server-based dental software, which means that you can use it offline.
Key features:
Ratings: 4.7/5
HIPAA compliant: Yes
Free demo: Yes
Training: They offer live training both in-person and online, webinars, online documentation, as well as customized training for $50 per hour.
Support: Phone and chat support are included in the monthly subscription.
Denticon prides itself as the first cloud-based software for dental practice management. Developed by Planet DDS, this comprehensive online dental solution has clinical and business functionalities you can fully rely on for your practice.
Key features:
Ratings: 4.7/5
HIPAA compliant: Yes
Free demo: Yes
Training: On-demand training resources on their website, such as webinars, videos, and written materials are available.
Support: Unlimited support is included with the software subscription via email, phone, and web form.
Although it works on any device, Dovetail is a web-based dental practice management solution designed primarily for mobile use. This sleek and easy-to-use software allows your practice to go 100% paperless wherever you are. It even lets you process payments from a tablet or any mobile device!
Key features:
Ratings: 4.9/5
HIPAA compliant: Yes
Free demo: Yes
Training: They’ll give you a “success coach” who will provide your team with one-on-one training. You can also watch training videos on their website.
Support: Aside from your success coach, you can ask for assistance via email, phone, or live chat.
Another great cloud-based dental software that can simplify your dental business is Dentisoft. Because of its intuitive web-based interface, you can use it on just about any device. They also offer multiple support channels and innovative added features such as Facebook integration.
Key features:
Ratings: 4.7/5
HIPAA compliant: Yes
Free demo: Yes
Training: While their website doesn’t provide any training information, they have an extensive help section and live chat capabilities to train you.
Support: They offer unlimited support via phone, live chat, or email.
If you’re looking for a flexible and powerful software for your dental practice management, it looks like the search’s over - DentiMax is your solution! You can install the web-based program on any device, or you can access it from the cloud.
Key features:
Ratings: 4.6/5
HIPAA compliant: Yes
Free demo: Yes
Training: Training is included with each package, and you can purchase additional in-office or online training at any time for $99 per hour. You can also get a five-step training program for $2,999.
Support: All Dentimax subscription plans come with unlimited support, including tech support chat and new client calls. They also provide additional support on their website with their FAQ page, blog posts, and videos.
iDental Soft is another cloud-based dental software that gives you the freedom to take your office completely paperless. It promises dentists many impressive features, including tools that can help them manage their reviews and online reputation.
Key features:
Ratings: 4.4/5
HIPAA compliant: Yes
Free demo: Yes
Training: Unlimited one-on-one training is available anytime.
Support: You can call, text, email, or submit a support ticket anywhere between 9 am to 8 pm EST.
Practice-Web is an extensive dental solution that’s suitable for dental practices of all sizes. It has a wide range of capabilities that can make dental management a hassle-free experience. Key features:
Ratings: 4.8/5
HIPAA compliant: Yes
Free demo: Yes
Training: Two hours of training is included without additional cost.
Support: You can call, text, or email from Monday to Friday between 6:30 am and 5 pm EST.
Widely praised for its stellar customer support, responsiveness, and user-friendly features, Cloud 9 claims the last spot of our list of best dental software.
Key features:
Ratings: 4.7/5
HIPAA compliant: Yes
Free demo: Yes
Training: Options on their website include cloudcasts and webinars.
Support: You can call, text, or email from Monday to Friday between 8 am and 8 pm EST.
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Installing a software for your dental practice is just the first step to growing it. Your next move is to focus on digital advertising. There’s no better way to start than by teaming up with a digital agency that has been helping dental offices across the US boost their online reputation. Yes, we’re talking about Digital Resource! Contact our digital marketing specialists today at 561-429-2585 to get started.