{"question": "best dental practice software for dental practices", "category": "dental-practice-software", "category_name": "dental practice software", "audience": "dental-practices", "audience_name": "dental practices", "engine": "Claude (Anthropic) with web search", "model": "claude-opus-5", "asked_at": "2026-09-06T23:43:39Z", "permalink": "https://bikoosh.com/answers/s/dental-practice-software-dental-practices-2026-09-06", "question_page": "https://bikoosh.com/answers/q/dental-practice-software/dental-practices", "brands_named": [{"position": 1, "brand": "Dentrix", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 2, "brand": "Eaglesoft", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 3, "brand": "Denticon", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 4, "brand": "CareStack", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 5, "brand": "Dentrix Ascend", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 6, "brand": "Ascend", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 7, "brand": "AWS", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 8, "brand": "Ortho2 Edge Cloud", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 9, "brand": "Cloud 9", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 10, "brand": "Dolphin", "label": "mentioned"}], "sources_cited": [{"url": "https://www.opendental.com/site/fees.html", "domain": "opendental.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://www.softwareadvice.com/dental/open-dental-profile/", "domain": "softwareadvice.com", "source_type": "review"}, {"url": "https://digitaldentistry.dev/articles/curve-dental-review-cloud-pms-pros-cons-and-pricing", "domain": "digitaldentistry.dev", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://www.itqlick.com/curve-dental", "domain": "itqlick.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://siotek.net/resources/dental-practice-management-software-comparison", "domain": "siotek.net", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://ekimit.com/dentrix-eaglesoft-open-dental-curve-dental-comparison/", "domain": "ekimit.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://carestack.com/dental-software/compare/carestack-vs-dentrix-ascend", "domain": "carestack.com", "source_type": "vendor"}, {"url": "https://www.planetdds.com/blog/10-best-dental-practice-management-software/", "domain": "planetdds.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://practicesignal.com/dental/best/multi-location", "domain": "practicesignal.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://www.themolarreport.com/learn/orthodontic-software", "domain": "themolarreport.com", "source_type": "other"}], "answer_text": "## Short answer\n\nFor a typical 1-3 dentist practice in the US, I'd shortlist **Open Dental** first, then **Curve Dental**, then **Dentrix** or **Eaglesoft** if you want the incumbent ecosystem. For groups/DSOs, the shortlist changes to **Denticon**, **CareStack**, and **Dentrix Ascend**.\n\n### For a solo or small practice\n\n1. **Open Dental** - my default recommendation. It's the only major dental PMS that's genuinely open source, priced per *location* rather than per provider (~$199/mo for up to 3 providers, dropping to ~$149/mo after the first year; figures vary by source and plan), and you fully own your database. That last point matters more than people expect: it makes switching, reporting, and third-party integrations (AI charting, billing services, analytics) far easier than with closed systems. Downside: you're responsible for more of the IT, and it's Windows-server-based rather than cloud-native. [pricing](https://www.opendental.com/site/fees.html) · [reviews](https://www.softwareadvice.com/dental/open-dental-profile/)\n\n2. **Curve Dental** - the one I'd pick if you want cloud and don't want to run a server. Fully browser-based on AWS, charting/scheduling/billing/imaging/paym", "answer_truncated": true, "measurement": "One answer from one engine on one date. Not a ranking and not a claim about the world; brands the engine did not name are not recorded.", "limitation": "Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included.", "alerts": {"name": "Answer Watch Pro", "price_usd": 79, "period": "month", "gets": "daily change alerts for up to 5 brands in what one AI answer engine says, history, CSV export. Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included", "url": "https://bikoosh.com/answers"}}