What Is Dovetail?
Dovetail is a cloud-based electronic dental record (EDR) and practice management solution that helps dental practices manage clinical workflows, billing, scheduling, and patient communication from a web browser. The software was acquired by Planet DDS — the same company behind Curve Dental (Archy vs Curve Dental), Apteryx cloud imaging, and Denticon — and now operates as part of Planet DDS's broader DentalOS platform.
As a cloud-native application, Dovetail requires no local server infrastructure. Your data lives in the cloud, accessible from any device with an internet connection. This is its core value proposition: modern cloud architecture that eliminates the IT overhead of on-premise systems like Dentrix or Eaglesoft.
The target market is small to mid-size dental practices looking to migrate from legacy on-premise software or practices starting fresh and wanting a cloud-first approach. Multi-location groups can manage multiple offices from a single dashboard.
Key Features
Cloud-Based Scheduling
Dovetail's scheduling tools manage bookings, reduce calendar gaps, and handle multi-provider schedules from a single view. Being cloud-based means scheduling changes sync instantly across devices — front desk staff and providers see the same real-time information whether they're at the office computer or checking from a phone.
Clinical Charting & EDR
Digital charting with treatment planning, clinical notes, and perio charting. The paperless workflow eliminates physical records and enables faster clinical documentation. E-prescription capabilities are built in for practices that need them.
Claims Management & Billing
Insurance claims submission, tracking, and management are handled within the platform. The billing module covers patient billing, payment processing, and standard dental billing workflows.
Multi-Location Management
For practices with multiple offices, Dovetail offers centralized management from a single dashboard. Employee portals, inter-office communication via Dovetail Connect, and consolidated reporting help groups operate more efficiently.
Reporting & Analytics
Standard practice management reports for production, collections, scheduling, and financial performance. The reporting is functional but not as deep as analytics-focused platforms like Dental Intelligence or Practice by Numbers.