Our take: Dovetail is a cloud-based dental practice management system owned by Planet DDS that checks the fundamental boxes — scheduling, charting, billing, claims, and digital forms — in a browser-based package that lets you access your practice from anywhere. It's a reasonable option for practices that want to go cloud-native without the learning curve of a more complex platform. But it sits in a tough competitive spot: it's not as polished as Curve (Planet DDS's flagship), not as customizable as Open Dental, and not as feature-rich as Dentrix. Dovetail is adequate, but in a market where PMS choices have long-term consequences, "adequate" is a hard sell.
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, 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.
What Users Actually Say
What people love
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True cloud access. Being able to access patient records, schedules, and practice data from any device with internet is the feature that draws practices to Dovetail.
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User-friendly interface. Most reviews note that the interface is straightforward and easy to learn compared to legacy PMS platforms.
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Seamless patient communication. Built-in communication features and Dovetail Connect for inter-office messaging reduce the need for separate tools.
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No server maintenance. Eliminating on-premise servers and the associated IT costs is a genuine benefit for small practices.
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Multi-location dashboard. Group practices appreciate managing multiple offices from one login.
What people note
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Performance issues during peak usage. Some users report slowdowns during busy periods — a common complaint with cloud-based dental software that relies on internet connectivity.
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Limited integrations. Dovetail's integration options with third-party dental software are narrower than competitors like Open Dental or Dentrix.
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Interface aesthetics lag behind. While functional, the interface design has been described as dated, and uploaded photos/videos can lose resolution quality.
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Feature set isn't strong. Compared to Planet DDS's own Curve Dental or competitors like Dentrix, Dovetail's features feel less comprehensive.
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Learning curve for complex workflows. Despite the generally user-friendly design, some dental-specific workflows require significant time to master.
Who Is Dovetail Best For?
Great fit:
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Small practices migrating from paper or legacy on-premise systems to their first cloud PMS
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Multi-location groups that need centralized management without enterprise-level complexity
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Practices that value anywhere access and want to eliminate server infrastructure
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Offices that want a simple, straightforward PMS without feature bloat
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Startups and new practices building their tech stack from scratch
Better-tailored options exist for:
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Practices that want the most polished cloud PMS experience — Curve Dental (Planet DDS's flagship) is the upgrade path
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Offices needing deep third-party integrations — Open Dental's open architecture is more flexible
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Large DSOs needing enterprise features — Denticon or Dentrix Enterprise are built for that scale
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Practices that want cutting-edge features (AI, advanced analytics, embedded payments) — newer platforms like Archy or tab32 are pushing harder on innovation