Dentrix Review

The Industry Standard — But Is It Worth the Price?

Dentrix has been the dominant force in dental practice management for over three decades. Developed by Henry Schein, it commands the largest market share among US dental practices. But market dominance doesn't automatically mean it's the best fit for every practice.

We researched Dentrix G7 extensively, reviewing user feedback from practices that use it daily, and digging into the real costs beyond the sticker price. Here's what we found.

What Dentrix Does Well

Dentrix's core strength is comprehensiveness. It covers virtually every workflow a dental practice needs — from scheduling and charting to insurance claims processing and patient communication. The depth of features in areas like treatment planning and clinical charting is genuinely impressive.

The integration ecosystem is another major advantage. Because Dentrix is so widely used, almost every dental technology vendor (imaging systems, patient communication tools, labs) builds a Dentrix integration first. This means you'll rarely run into compatibility issues.

If your practice relies on a specific imaging system or third-party tool, check Dentrix's integration directory first — the odds are good it's supported.

Where Dentrix Falls Short

The most common complaint from practices is the interface. Dentrix G7 still feels like software designed in a different era. Workflows that should take two clicks often take five. The learning curve for new staff is steeper than cloud competitors like Curve Dental or Dentrix Ascend.

Pricing opacity is another frustration. Henry Schein doesn't publish Dentrix pricing, and costs vary significantly based on your dealer, practice size, and negotiation skills. User reports suggest quotes ranging from $400/month to $800+/month for a single-location practice, and that's before add-on modules.

The Cloud Question

Dentrix is an on-premise system — it runs on a server in your office. Henry Schein does offer a cloud product (Dentrix Ascend), but it's a completely separate product with a different feature set. If you want true cloud/anywhere access with Dentrix Classic, you'll need a third-party hosting solution, which adds cost and complexity.

Who Should Choose Dentrix?

Dentrix makes the most sense for:

• Established practices that need deep clinical features and don't mind the learning curve
• Practices with complex insurance workflows — Dentrix's claims processing is battle-tested
• Offices that rely on specific integrations that only support Dentrix

Who Should Look Elsewhere?

Consider alternatives if you:

• Want a modern, intuitive interface that new staff can learn quickly
• Need true cloud access without third-party hosting
• Are a startup practice watching every dollar — the total cost of ownership is high
• Want transparent, predictable pricing

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This review was first published February 2026. If you've had a different experience with Dentrix, let us know.