Top 7 Dental Practice Management Software Programs

As a dentist, you understand the challenges of running a successful practice. The administrative side alone brings many logistical difficulties, not to mention the hard work required to practice dentistry to a high standard. So, what if there was a way to ease the burden of practice management and administration?

Dental practice management software is a growing industry, with cloud-based software, specifically, expected to reach a worth of 1.5 billion dollars by 2030. This software is aimed at helping dentists manage their practices; therefore, reducing the administration burden. However, many applications are available, so it can be challenging to know which one is suitable for your practice.

Keep reading to learn more about dental practice management software, including the top seven applications to consider.

What Is Dental Practice Management Software

Dental practice management software is an application targeted at easing the running of day-to-day operations. They come with specialist tools and functionality specific to the needs of dentists.

Benefits of Dental Practice Management Software

Saves Money

Dental practice management software can save you money on the cost of using multiple pieces of software. Often, practices require numerous applications to perform different tasks, such as task management and customer communications. Dental practice management software combines all the essential features of these individual applications, meaning you don’t need to pay for multiple systems.

Maintains Accurate Records

When inputting data into spreadsheets and information recording applications, there is always the risk of human error. Though this issue is difficult to circumvent entirely, dental software helps you to maintain accurate records. This is done through intelligent algorithms that help to identify regulatory errors found in data. Additionally, it also reduces the risk of data becoming uncoordinated across multiple applications.

Patient Reminders

In their busy lives, it’s easy for patients to forget they have an appointment coming up. This causes issues for everyone involved, as patients miss out on maintaining their oral health, and dentists lose time that could otherwise be filled with a paying customer. Thanks to dental practice management software's automated email notification capabilities, dentists can utilize management applications to send bulk emails, as well as regular reminders about upcoming appointments.

Types of Office Management Software

Though dental practice management applications are aimed at smoothing the day-to-day operations of your practice, there are several applications with niche functionality you may wish to consider, including patient relationship management, social media scheduling and software for tracking packages.

Customer Relationship Management

As the name suggests, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) primarily focuses on customer communication. These applications come with a comprehensive mix of features to help keep you on top of patient information, appointments and liaison.

Social Media Scheduling

Social media scheduling software is more niche than other types of dental management applications and will not solve your overall administrative issues. However, they can play a solid part in streamlining your social media marketing efforts. These types of applications allow dentists to create and schedule social media posts in advance, so they don’t have to continuously think about their marketing efforts.

Package Tracking Software

As a dentist, you will often have to order expensive hardware and packages that are crucial to the running of your business, while also sending essential letters to patients. Package tracking software helps you monitor the status of the packages you’ve sent and ordered, as well as their location, and estimated time of arrival. This helps you keep on top of you and your patient's inventory.

Server-Based vs. Cloud-Based Management Software

Typically, dental management software is based on two models: server-based and cloud-based. The distinction is primarily concerned with data and access to information.

Server-Based

Server-based dental software allows you to store its data on your own servers. This is beneficial because:

• You get full control over your data
• More processing power (process more patient data)
• Immediate on-site access

Cloud-Based

Cloud-based dental software allows you to store data on externally managed servers. This is beneficial because:

• It’s accessible anywhere
• Automatic data backups
• No on-site hardware
• Automatic updates

Top 7 Dental Practice Management Applications

There are many dental practice management applications available, making it hard to decide which is best for you. Here are seven excellent office management applications as recommended by The Dental SEO Experts.

1. ACE Dental

   Established in 1993, ACE Dental is a longstanding provider of dental practice management software and serves thousands of dentists across America. This application boasts many essential and advanced features, such as appointment scheduling, email appointment reminders and employee time clock monitoring.

   ACE Dental offers both server and cloud-based options, meaning you don’t have to choose between the two and can take advantage of their respective benefits. Additionally, dentists can elect to migrate between the two models as and when they see fit. This, combined with ACE Dental’s extensive features, makes it a powerful option for dental practice management.

2. Tab32

   Tab32 offers cloud-based, enterprise-grade dental practice management software, with considerations for solo and mobile practices. The application’s Unique Selling Point (USP) is its focus on “patient-first” functionality," which includes high database capacity to store and process patient information. This puts Tab32 in the CRM category of office management systems.

   Having said that, Tab32 also has many noteworthy features outside of CRM. For example, reputation management, revenue management, data analytics and employee collaboration. Ultimately, however, Tab32 is best for practices that want to nurture their customer relationships and resulting reputation.

3. ClearDent

   ClearDent is an all-in-one practice management system that’s targeted at growing dental practices. Its features aim to help dentists streamline their day-to-day operations and reduce inefficiencies. ClearDent does this through its array of features and add-ons, such as inventory management, revenue management and billing options.

   As an all-in-one system, its feature list can be overwhelming to new users, but ClearDent is seemingly aware of this issue and offers a learning center. Their education center provides users with access to resources that focus on making the most of the ClearDent system. These take the form of articles, guides, and webinars.

4. Open Dental

   Open Dental is an open-source practice management system that was developed in 2003. Its open-source nature makes it highly customizable and poised for additional third-party development, functionality, and integration. However, its standard version contains essential features like patient reporting and a 3D tooth chart showing patient dentition.

   The primary bundle of add-ons offered by Open Dental are known as eServices. These include features that boost the software's functionality to rival all-in-one platforms, such as patient portals, integrated texting, and appointment reminders. Open Dental is a suitable choice for practices that may need to expand functionality later down the line.

5. Dentrix Ascend

   Dentrix Ascend is a comprehensive and modern dental practice management system that reduces administrative duties. The software is split into four areas of functionality:

   • Multisites: Share data between practice, control user permissions, and view business stats.
   • Practice Management: Track patient data, check-ins and check-outs, track insurance plans, and access software remotely.
   • Front Office: Appointment scheduling, online booking, and insurance management.
   • Clinical: Customizable patient charts, share digital images, and design treatment plans.

   Together, these four areas and their features result in a solid system that covers all aspects of dental management.

6. Denticon

   Denticon is offered by ProjectDDS as a robust cloud-based dental practice software. It provides a comprehensive overview of practice statistics, as well as valuable tools like 3D tooth charts. This, combined with ProjectDDS’ other applications – Apteryx for digital imaging and Legwork for patient acquisition – makes for a powerful suite of dental tools.

   ProjectDDS works within various dental industries, from mobile dentists to private practices and even the military. Their software is trusted by many clients, thanks to its extensive feature list and robust nature. Using Denticon, along with the other ProjectDDS applications, leads to a streamlined workflow and well-managed practice.

7. Curve Dental

   Curve Dental is another longstanding dental practice application, founded in 2004. Their dental software now serves over 50,000 dentists across the US and Canada. Over the years, the platform has been honed to offer the very best of essential features, including charting, scheduling and payment processing.

   Curve Dental can be used across multiple branches for dentists who have multiple offices. This helps to coordinate between practices and centralize data storage, leading to more secure data. Overall, Curve Dental is an excellent piece of dental software.

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