Switching your practice management software is one of those decisions that's easy to put off. The current system isn't perfect but it mostly works, your team knows it, and the thought of migrating data, retraining staff, and living through a go-live week is enough to make most dentists just keep renewing the contract.
But when you do finally decide to make a move, figuring out which system to switch to is its own problem. You visit the websites and everything looks great. You book a demo and the sales rep walks you through exactly the features you want to see.
The only way to really judge how a practice management software performs is to find out what dentists who actually use it every day think. That's exactly what we did. We went online and researched what actual dentists experience, what frustrates them, and what they wish they'd known before signing.
Below you'll find a breakdown of the three most common practice management systems. For the full guide covering all ten platforms in detail, head over to our website.
Best Dental Practice Management Software — Full Guide
1. Dentrix
Server-based | ~$400–$1,200/month | Annual contract
Dentrix is the most widely used dental PMS in North America and has been around since 1985. It is server-based, meaning it runs on hardware inside your office rather than through the internet. A server setup typically costs $5,000 to $15,000 upfront and needs replacing every few years. The integration library covers over 400 third-party tools, so almost any imaging system or specialty software your practice uses will connect without much hassle.
What dentists like about it
The insurance and billing workflows are the most praised feature. Alex T., a dentist and practice owner, said:
"My office manager would tell you the eClaims and insurance verification options are important for an efficient day."
Robert R., a dentist, described the day-to-day workflow:
"The program maintains all patient information and files insurance electronically, notifies patients of appointments and of missed appointments. The ledger is connected to all modules so that patient checking out is seamless."
S.L., a dentist with 25 years on the platform, said:
"Intuitive and easy to use. Handles every clinic task I've needed to run my business."
Roger T., a DDS, on scheduling:
"Easy for everyone to use in the office with minimal training due to its intuitive use. The scheduling of patients is very easy to use and manage. The ledger is easy to read and follow."
What dentists complain about
Support frustration is the most consistent complaint. Paul T., a practice owner, described trying to get a simple update installed. After calling four times he found out updates were only handled Monday through Thursday 5am to 2pm, and Fridays until 1pm:
"Do they only have one person installing Dentrix updates? I am really beginning to regret working with Dentrix."
Douglas D., a dentist who eventually switched away, on the total cost of ownership:
"With Dentrix, keeping up with the software — cost, training, maintenance, necessary hardware, upgrades — had become its own primary feature. What little value Dentrix actually provided to our practice was hard to define."
Kristen P., a dentist and practice owner, on the workflow:
"Too many clicking steps, not cloud based and not enough initial training."
Dr. Josh Berd, founder of The Dentist Group in San Francisco, on scaling:
"Dentrix's training model makes scaling nearly impossible. It took too long for staff to get comfortable, and that held us back."
2. Eaglesoft
Server-based | ~$400–$600/month per location | Annual contract
Eaglesoft has been around since 1988 and is developed by Patterson Dental. Like Dentrix it is server-based. Where it differentiates itself is ease of use and tight integration with Patterson imaging hardware. Chairside image capture, X-ray association with patient records, and treatment documentation all work tightly together, which is the primary reason many practices stay on Eaglesoft even when they might otherwise consider switching.
What dentists like about it
Dentists who have tried multiple platforms tend to rank Eaglesoft at the top for usability. An anonymous dentist and practice owner said:
"This software is the most user friendly and easiest to learn of all the dental software that I have tried."
Sean G., a dentist who has been on Eaglesoft since 2002:
"It is extremely user friendly and intuitive. Most functions are graphical so if you have a difficult time doing something you can figure it out just by looking. Well integrated products including their imaging software."
Duc T., a dentist, on hiring:
"Eaglesoft is widely used, so most dental professionals know how to use it. It's also very easy to learn."
What dentists complain about
Navigation is the most common frustration. Kati H., a dentist and practice owner:
"There are so many ways to get to the same point. So complicated."
Duc T. on how little the platform has evolved:
"Eaglesoft today still looks like Eaglesoft back in 2015 when we started. You'd think there would have been improvements in the graphical interface by now."
James K., CIO at a mid-size dental practice:
"Really developing and fixing Eaglesoft stopped 15 years ago. Changes today are mainly cosmetic. Imaging resolution is stuck in the 80s — can't save HD images, can't use HD cameras. Known issues for years and no attempt to fix it."
Jennifer F., a dentist and practice owner:
"Overall Eaglesoft is not a bad option for practice management software but there are other more cost efficient products that deliver equal if not better results."
Worth knowing: per-user pricing means your software bill grows every time you add a provider. Payment processing is locked to Global Payments at above-market rates. And imaging is stored in proprietary formats, making migration to another platform harder and more expensive than most practices expect. Multiple sources have also reported that Patterson is planning to move Eaglesoft to subscription-only pricing. If you're on a perpetual license, ask what happens at your next renewal before committing.
3. Open Dental
Server or cloud | $179–$199/month flat per location | Month-to-month
Open Dental is different from every other platform on this list. It was built by a dentist, charges a flat fee per location with no per-provider fees, and gives practices full ownership of their data. As of early 2026 it is the most consistently endorsed platform across Reddit's r/Dentistry and DentalTown. Dentists who switched from Dentrix or Eaglesoft describe it as one of the best operational decisions they made.
What dentists like about it
A dentist on r/Dentistry who switched from Dentrix:
"I migrated from Dentrix to Open Dental over 10 years ago and it's the best thing I did. It's not that much of a headache and the learning curve is not bad at all. Best thing is, you don't even need to pay for support unless you want to, and all 3rd party peripherals work. Once you switch you will feel so good to have cut that cord with them."
Nathan G., a dentist and practice owner who switched from Dentrix:
"I currently have switched to Open Dental which is far superior. Dentrix would work, but why use it when there is something easier."
Robert H., a dentist on Open Dental since 2009:
"We have been using Open Dental since 2009 and love the program. It is incredibly robust and does everything we need and more. Open Dental enabled us to become a paperless, chartless practice. Customer support is second to none."
He also shared a specific support experience:
"I once called the customer support line. I reached their voicemail and since it was almost closing time I didn't bother to leave a message. Well I'm sitting at my desk and the phone rings. I see it is area code 503. So I pick up and the person says, 'This is Open Dental. How can we help you?' I was blown away."
An IT professional who manages systems for dental offices:
"From the support side it's fantastic in my experience. They'll actually set up a test server for you and move all your data over to it so you can actually try it out with a recognizable schedule and patients. Support is 10/10."
On the savings from switching, a dental professional on r/Dentistry:
"I ended up saving $200 a month switching to cloud based. And I don't have to pay to upgrade a server."
What dentists complain about
The most consistent complaint is the ledger. A dentist on r/Dentistry:
"Only thing that sucks is the allocated/unallocated/hidden payments in the ledger. Whichever programmer thought of that also created the useless tasks feature."
Another reviewer flagged the same issue:
"Balances are difficult to read with regard to when insurance claims are initiated versus reconciled. The payment plan portion is helpful but very rigid when setting up or editing is needed."
Live phone support is not included in the base subscription. If your team needs someone on the phone during a busy day, that requires a paid support plan on top of the base fee. And because Open Dental doesn't have the market dominance of Dentrix or Eaglesoft, finding front desk staff who already know it is harder.
One dentist noted:
"It's not used as widely in offices as some other patient management software programs, so many new hires require training on Open Dental before beginning their positions."
The headline price is $179 to $199 per month. When you add cloud hosting, eServices, and a support plan, the real monthly cost runs closer to $350 to $500. Still significantly less than the legacy platforms at scale, but worth knowing before you build a budget around the headline number.
Before You Decide: Four Questions Worth Answering First
Cloud or server? Cloud means everything runs through the internet, accessible from any device, no hardware to maintain. Server means your data lives on a computer in your office. Neither is wrong. It depends on your setup and how reliable your internet connection is.
One location or multiple? Some platforms are built for a solo practice and become a headache when you open a second location. Be honest about where your practice is headed in the next few years.
How much IT involvement can you handle? Server-based systems need someone managing hardware, backups, and troubleshooting. If you don't have IT support on staff, this matters more than most people realise before they sign.
General dentistry or specialty? Most platforms are built around general dentistry workflows. If you have any specialty component, make sure the software has a real track record with practices like yours, not just a checkbox on their features page.
What Switching Actually Involves
Most dentists who've switched say the disruption lasted two to four weeks and then things settled. Most also say they underestimated the work involved before they did it.
A standard migration moves patient records, appointment history, treatment plans, insurance information, and billing data. What often doesn't transfer cleanly are insurance claims already in progress and clinical imaging, especially from platforms that store images in proprietary formats.
Budget four to six weeks for a migration without imaging, six to eight weeks when imaging is included. Data conversion runs $800 to $2,400 as a one-time cost. Training adds another $500 to $2,000 depending on the platform.
Before signing anything with a new vendor, ask one specific question: if you decide to leave, what does it cost to get your data out and in what format? Get the answer in writing.
The full guide on the RevUp Dental website covers all ten platforms in the same depth, including seven more options: Dentrix Ascend, Denticon, Curve Dental, CareStack, DentiMax, tab32, and Oryx.
Read the full dental practice management software guide here