7 Best Dentrix Alternatives For Dentists and DSOs

While Dentrix has dominated dental practice management software for over 30 years, modern dental practices and DSOs increasingly seek alternatives that deliver cloud accessibility, transparent pricing, and superior patient communication capabilities. Whether you're a single-location practice looking to reduce costs or a multi-location DSO requiring centralized management, these seven alternatives address specific gaps in traditional dental software infrastructure. This comprehensive analysis examines each platform's strengths, pricing models, and ideal use cases to help dental professionals make informed decisions.

Key Takeaways

• Patient communication is the critical gap in traditional PMS: 30% of calls go unanswered, and 78% of patients book with the first practice that responds—making AI-powered patient communication essential regardless of which PMS you choose
• Cloud-based alternatives eliminate IT overhead: Curve Dental, Denticon, and CareStack provide uptime guarantees with automatic backups and updates, while server-based systems like Dentrix require ongoing IT support
• Pricing transparency varies dramatically: Open Dental offers transparent pricing at $199/month per location, while Dentrix requires custom quotes with $5,000-$10,000 upfront plus monthly fees
• DSO-specific solutions now dominate the enterprise market: Denticon provides centralized operations and consolidated reporting for multi-location organizations
• AI receptionist integration maximizes any PMS investment: Practices using virtual receptionists capture significantly more patients from missed calls, achieving documented ROI ranging from 7x to 61x

The dental practice management landscape has transformed as practices demand more from their technology investments. Industry analysis shows that server-based systems represent a different architectural approach compared to cloud-native platforms offering superior accessibility, automatic updates, and reduced IT overhead.

1. Resonate AI: The AI Communication Layer That Maximizes Any PMS

Resonate AI stands apart from traditional practice management alternatives by solving the patient communication problem that every PMS—including Dentrix and its alternatives—fails to address adequately. While PMS platforms manage scheduling and clinical records, Resonate's AI receptionist ensures no patient opportunity slips through the cracks.

Key Features:

• 24/7 AI-powered virtual receptionist that texts missed callers immediately and conducts intelligent conversations
• Three integrated AI agents: Voice Agent, SMS Agent, and Chat Agent sharing patient context across channels
• Real-time calendar integration with Dentrix, Eaglesoft, Open Dental, Curve, and Denticon
• Dental-specific training understanding terminology, insurance questions, and emergency triage
• Multi-language capability with automatic Spanish language switching
• HIPAA-compliant healthcare-grade security

Documented Results:

• Facial & Oral Surgery Associates: 41 new patients in 30 days, $81,000 revenue recovery, 61x ROI
• Family First Dental: 1,479 missed calls eliminated, 175 appointments captured, $131,000 annual revenue
• Fresh Dental NC: 7x ROI, 143 appointments booked in 30-day pilot, $211,000 annualized revenue

Pricing Structure:

• Three tiers available: Small Practice, Growing Practice, and Enterprise DSO
• Free trial available
• No setup fees with month-to-month flexibility
• Contact for custom pricing

The fundamental advantage of Resonate AI lies in addressing what practice management systems cannot: the 78% of patients who book with the first practice that responds.

For dental practices evaluating any PMS alternative, adding Resonate AI to your technology stack ensures you capture every patient opportunity regardless of which management system you choose. Book a demo to see the platform in action.

2. Open Dental

Open Dental has positioned itself as a cost-effective full-featured practice management solution, offering transparent pricing that makes budget planning straightforward for dental practices of all sizes.

Key Features:

• Fixed pricing model: $199/month per location
• Customization capabilities: Highly configurable billing and reporting features
• Accounts receivable management: Detailed financial tracking tools
• Support responsiveness: Excellent customer service ratings
• Integration ready: Compatible with AI receptionist solutions like Resonate

Pricing Structure:

• $199 per month per location or office

Best for: Solo and small practices seeking maximum cost savings, budget-conscious multi-provider locations, practices comfortable with self-hosted infrastructure, and teams valuing customization and flexibility.

3. Curve Dental

Curve Dental represents the cloud-based dental practice management category, serving 80,000+ users with a platform built for cloud from day one rather than adapted from legacy architecture.

Key Features:

• True cloud architecture: Uptime guarantee with automatic redundancy
• Intuitive interface: Minimal learning curve design
• Built-in communication: Patient engagement tools via Curve GRO
• Mobile access: Full functionality from any device
• Automatic maintenance: Updates and backups with no IT involvement
• Integration capabilities: Seamless connection with AI communication platforms

Pricing Structure:

• Pricing upon request

Best for: Practices prioritizing ease of use and modern interface, teams wanting true cloud access from anywhere, offices seeking minimal IT overhead, and practices valuing built-in patient communication tools.

4. Denticon

Denticon from Planet DDS has established itself as a multi-location practice management solution, serving dental service organizations and enterprise dental groups across the United States.

Key Features:

• Multi-location architecture: Purpose-built centralized management capabilities
• Consolidated reporting: Network-wide analytics and insights
• Workflow standardization: Consistent processes with location-specific customization
• Cloud-based access: Browser functionality from any device
• Revenue cycle tools: Built-in financial management
• Enterprise integration: Compatible with AI receptionist solutions for DSO-wide deployment

Pricing Structure:

• Starts at $795/month

Best for: DSOs managing multiple locations, enterprise dental groups requiring centralized oversight, organizations needing consolidated reporting and analytics, and practices planning significant growth and scaling.

5. CareStack

CareStack serves 2,500+ practices with positive user ratings reflecting its comprehensive feature set and exceptional support.

Key Features:

• Comprehensive platform: Scheduling, clinical, billing, and communication in one system
• Advanced analytics: Multi-location practice insights
• Training program: Exceptional onboarding and ongoing support
• Cloud-native design: Full mobile access capabilities
• User base: 2,500+ practices on the platform
• AI compatibility: Integrates with AI-powered patient engagement tools

Pricing Structure:

• Pricing upon request

Best for: Practices prioritizing user experience and support quality, multi-location groups seeking advanced analytics, organizations willing to invest in premium features, and teams valuing comprehensive training programs.

6. Eaglesoft

Eaglesoft from Patterson Dental has built its reputation on digital imaging integration, serving 30,000+ users over more than 30 years.

Key Features:

• Imaging integration: Superior connection with Patterson imaging hardware
• Clinical workflows: Streamlined patient care processes
• Comprehensive functionality: Scheduling and billing capabilities
• Established platform: Extensive user community and resources
• Third-party integration: Compatible with communication tools and add-ons

Pricing Structure:

• Pricing upon request

Best for: Practices heavily invested in Patterson imaging equipment, offices prioritizing imaging workflow efficiency, teams comfortable with server-based infrastructure, and practices with existing Eaglesoft familiarity.

7. Dentrix Ascend

Dentrix Ascend represents Henry Schein's answer to cloud-based competition, offering familiar Dentrix workflows in a cloud-accessible format.

Key Features:

• Cloud-based access: Familiar Dentrix interface with browser accessibility
• Patient portal: Online patient engagement capabilities
• Automatic maintenance: Updates and backups handled automatically
• Multi-location support: Capabilities for growing practices
• Ecosystem integration: Connection with Henry Schein products and services

Pricing Structure:

• Starter, Accelerator, and Pro packages available
• Pricing upon request

Best for: Current Dentrix users seeking cloud capabilities, practices invested in Henry Schein ecosystem, teams wanting familiar workflows with modern access, and offices transitioning from legacy Dentrix.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Resonate AI integrate with practice management systems like Dentrix alternatives?

Resonate AI integrates with major dental PMS platforms including Dentrix, Eaglesoft, Open Dental, Curve, and Denticon through lightweight API connections. The system checks real-time calendar availability and books appointments directly into your existing schedule. Integration typically takes 24-48 hours for single practices through Resonate's white-glove onboarding process, requiring no IT involvement or hardware changes from your team.

What kind of ROI can a dental practice expect from implementing an AI virtual receptionist?

Documented case studies show ROI ranging from 7x to 61x within the first month. Facial & Oral Surgery Associates captured 41 new patients and $81,000 in revenue recovery for 61x ROI. Fresh Dental NC achieved 7x ROI with 143 appointments booked during a 30-day pilot. The return depends on your current missed call volume and new patient value, but practices typically see measurable results within the first 30 days.

Is cloud-based dental software more secure than server-based systems like Dentrix?

Cloud-based platforms like Curve Dental, Denticon, and CareStack maintain healthcare-grade security with automatic backups, encryption, and compliance certifications. These platforms provide security approaches that differ from on-premise servers requiring manual updates and backup management. All platforms serving dental practices must maintain HIPAA compliance regardless of deployment model.

Which Dentrix alternative is best for a multi-location DSO?

Denticon offers purpose-built multi-location management with centralized reporting and standardized workflows. CareStack also provides strong multi-location capabilities with higher user satisfaction ratings. For DSOs, adding Resonate AI across all locations ensures consistent patient communication and enterprise-wide missed call recovery with centralized oversight.

How quickly can a dental practice switch from Dentrix to a cloud alternative?

Cloud-based platforms typically deploy within 3-5 days including data migration and staff training. Server-based alternatives like Open Dental require 1-4 weeks for infrastructure setup. Most vendors provide dedicated implementation support and data migration assistance. Resonate AI can be added to any PMS within 24-48 hours through simple call-forwarding setup requiring no hardware changes.