What Is Open Dental?
Open Dental is a dental practice management software built on Microsoft .NET and MySQL/MariaDB. (Note: Open Dental was open-source under GPL until version 24.4, when it transitioned to a proprietary license. The database remains fully accessible.) It launched in 2003 — the same year as Denticon — and has evolved into one of the most widely used dental PMS platforms in the market, with conversions available from 200+ other systems.
Open Dental's open platform approach is what makes it fundamentally different from every other vendor we review. While the license changed from open-source GPL to proprietary in version 24.4, the database remains fully accessible — you can query it directly with SQL. The open API and extensive documentation make it easy to build integrations. That openness has spawned the largest third-party ecosystem in dental software — dozens of companies have built products specifically for Open Dental, covering everything from AI voice charting to insurance verification to practice analytics.
Open Dental's pricing philosophy deserves recognition. After only a handful of modest price increases over 23 years, Open Dental's 2026 prices are still well below 2003 prices adjusted for inflation. They publish every single fee — software, eServices, training, support, per-text-message rates, everything — on their website — all accessible without a demo or sales call.
The company also provides the software free to dental schools, hygiene schools, dental assisting schools, qualifying community health clinics, and practices in developing countries. That's not a marketing gimmick — it's a genuine commitment to making dental software accessible.
Key Features
Scheduling
Graphical appointment scheduling with block scheduling support. Web Sched handles online scheduling for recall, new patients, existing patients, and ASAP appointments (for filling last-minute openings). Appointment Mirroring is a new feature in version 25.3. eConfirmations and eReminders automate appointment communication.
Functional and reliable, with a traditional interface style compared to the more visually modern scheduling in Curve Dental or Archy.
Clinical & Charting
Graphical 3D Tooth Chart showing dentition and treatment history over time. Perio charting with version 25.3 adding exclusions and age limitations by tooth number. Digital forms. Discount plans for managing in-house membership programs. Treatment planning with auto-generation from charting.
Insurance & Claims
Electronic claims submission to 20+ clearinghouses — more clearinghouse options than any competitor. Claim editing and management, pre-authorizations, insurance payment/EOB processing, supplemental claim payments, insurance frequency limitations tracking, eBenefits for electronic verification, insurance overpaid reporting, Medicaid plan support, and DentalXChange attachment service integration.
The insurance and claims workflow is comprehensive and highly configurable. Multiple clearinghouse options mean you can negotiate the best rates rather than being limited to a single provider.
Billing & Payments
Patient billing, Payment Portal (free with support), Message-to-Pay (free with support), and native payment integrations with merchant services. Straightforward and functional.
Imaging
AI Image Analysis via BetterDiagnostics (available as a paid add-on). Bridges to imaging software for connecting to hardware. Open Dental doesn't have its own imaging platform — it relies on bridges to third-party imaging software. This means broad hardware compatibility but no native cloud imaging experience like Apteryx (Planet DDS) or Curve Imaging.
AI Features
BetterDiagnostics provides AI image analysis for X-ray diagnostics. The broader Open Dental ecosystem includes multiple AI integrations: Avora for AI clinical documentation, DentalBee for AI charting and visit analysis, Dentin.ai for voice charting, VELMENI for FDA-cleared imaging with Voice AI, and DentalRobot for AI insurance verification.
Open Dental's AI story isn't about built-in features — it's about ecosystem choice. Rather than bundling one AI partner, the open platform lets you pick from multiple AI providers based on your specific needs.
Patient Engagement
A mix of free and paid eServices:
Free with support subscription: Patient Portal, Payment Portal, Web Forms, Message-to-Pay, eReminders, General Messages, Automated Thank-You.
Paid add-ons: Web Sched, eClipboard, OCR for eClipboard, eConfirmations, Integrated Texting, Secure Email, ODMobile, Mass Email — each priced individually. Visit opendental.com for current pricing on each add-on.
eServices Bundle: Available at a discounted bundle price per location — visit opendental.com for current pricing.
The ecosystem also offers third-party patient engagement integrations from Weave, Solutionreach, Podium, and others — if Open Dental's native eServices don't meet your needs, you have options.
Analytics & Reporting
Built-in standard reports, graphic reports, aging of A/R, and insurance overpaid reporting. User Queries let you write custom SQL against your own database — a powerful feature for data-savvy practices or consultants. For more advanced analytics, third-party integrations include BlueIQ, Clarifi Healthcare, DentFlow Systems, Smile Data, and Analytics Metal (Looker Studio, Power BI, Tableau).
The custom SQL capability is unique to Open Dental. No other dental PMS gives you direct query access to your own data. For DSOs with analytics teams, this is transformative.
Multi-Location Support
12 documented deployment options for multi-location setups, from separate databases per location to shared databases via VPN, Middle Tier architecture, Terminal Server, load balancing, replication chains, Galera Cluster (Linux), and Open Dental Cloud. Central Enterprise Management Tool (CEMT) provides multi-location administration.
The flexibility is both a strength and a complexity factor. Open Dental gives you more deployment architecture choices than anyone — but you'll benefit from the technical knowledge to choose and manage the right one.
Support & Training
Phone, chat, and email support included with the monthly subscription. Training options range from free pre-recorded webinars to paid online training and on-site training options. A reference program lets prospective customers speak with current users before purchasing.
Online manual is versioned, searchable, and accessible from within the software. Active user forums and a Facebook group provide community support. The documentation is among the best in the industry.