6 Best Open Dental Alternatives For Dentists and DSOs

While Open Dental remains a popular practice management software for dental offices, the platform's core strength lies in clinical workflows and record-keeping rather than patient communication and missed call recovery. With 30% of calls going unanswered and 78% of patients booking with the first practice that responds, practices need solutions that extend beyond traditional PMS capabilities. These six alternatives address specific communication gaps, from missed call recovery to 24/7 appointment booking—helping dentists and DSOs capture more patients and revenue.

Key Takeaways

• AI-native patient communication outperforms traditional PMS features: Resonate AI converts missed calls into scheduled appointments through automated text and voice engagement, while standard practice management software focuses on clinical documentation and billing
• Response speed determines patient acquisition: 78% of patients book with the first practice that responds—AI receptionists respond within seconds versus hours for traditional voicemail callback workflows
• Integration depth varies significantly: Resonate AI offers direct calendar sync with Dentrix, Eaglesoft, Open Dental, Curve, and Denticon, enabling real-time booking without double-entry work
• ROI ranges widely across solutions: Documented case studies show returns of up to 61x for AI receptionist implementations, with one practice recovering $81,000 in revenue in a single month
• DSO-specific architecture matters for multi-location groups: Centralized management platforms with location-specific customization enable consistent patient experience across brands while maintaining corporate oversight

The dental practice management landscape has evolved beyond simple scheduling and billing. 40% of calls occur outside business hours, creating a fundamental gap between when patients reach out and when staff can respond. This mismatch drives practices to seek solutions that complement or extend their existing PMS capabilities.

1. Resonate AI: Built Exclusively for Dental Practice Communication

Resonate AI stands as the only AI receptionist platform designed from the ground up specifically for dental workflows, offering 24/7 patient engagement that integrates seamlessly with major practice management systems.

Key Features:

• 24/7 AI Dental Receptionist converting missed calls into scheduled appointments through automated text and voice engagement
• Missed Call Recovery with instant SMS response when calls go to voicemail
• Three integrated AI agents (Voice, SMS, Chat) sharing patient context across channels
• Direct integration with Dentrix, Eaglesoft, Open Dental, Curve, and Denticon
• Dental-specific AI training for insurance questions, procedure types, and emergency triage
• Multi-language capability with automatic Spanish language switching
• 5-minute setup via call-forwarding without phone system changes

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

Resonate AI's core strength lies in understanding dental terminology, insurance objections, and appointment types natively. Multiple client testimonials describe patients complimenting AI receptionists by name without realizing they're automated—with one oral surgeon reportedly having a full conversation with the AI without detecting it wasn't human.

For practices seeking dental AI solutions, Resonate's exclusive focus on dentistry means every feature addresses actual practice workflows rather than generic business scenarios adapted for dental use.

2. CallBird AI

CallBird AI offers a dental-focused AI receptionist with clear tiered pricing and documented case studies showing significant no-show reduction across client practices.

Key Features:

• 24/7 AI call answering with HIPAA compliance
• Integration with Dentrix, Eaglesoft, and Open Dental
• 10-minute setup via call-forwarding
• Emergency call triage capabilities
• Insurance verification workflows

Pricing Structure:

• Basic: $19/seat/month or $190/seat/year
• Standard: $29/seat/month or $290/seat/year
• Custom plans for enterprises available

Best for: Practices prioritizing transparent pricing and rapid deployment with clear tiered options.

3. Smith.ai

Smith.ai offers a combination of AI automation and trained human receptionists, providing escalation paths for complex patient conversations.

Key Features:

• Hybrid AI and human receptionist model
• App integrations via Zapier and native connections
• Bilingual Spanish/English support
• Lead qualification and intake workflows
• Appointment scheduling capabilities
• HIPAA compliance with BAA available

Pricing Structure:

• AI Receptionist Starter tier at $95/month for 50 calls
• AI Receptionist Basic tier at $150/month for 150 calls
• AI Receptionist Pro tier at $800/month for 500 calls
• Enterprise: Custom pricing

Best for: Practices seeking hybrid human-AI support with broad integration capabilities across multiple business tools.

4. Ruby Receptionists

Ruby Receptionists maintains a strong reputation as a human-powered answering service, serving 15,000+ businesses with live receptionist coverage.

Key Features:

• 100% human receptionist interactions
• Bilingual Spanish/English agents
• Professional call handling and message taking
• Mobile app for call management
• Established brand reputation

Pricing Structure:

• Virtual receptionist plans start at $250/month for 50 minutes/month
• 100 minutes per month: $395/month
• 200 minutes per month: $720/month
• 500 minutes per month: $1,725/month

Best for: Practices prioritizing human touch and personal interaction with established brand trust over cost considerations.

5. MyAIFrontDesk

MyAIFrontDesk provides AI receptionist capabilities at accessible price points, serving businesses across multiple industries including dental practices.

Key Features:

• 24/7 AI call answering
• Quick setup process (under 5 minutes)
• HIPAA compliance
• Basic appointment scheduling
• Multi-industry support
• Website chat integration

Pricing Structure:

• Starter: $99/month or $79/month annually
• Growth: $149/month or $119/month annually
• Custom enterprise pricing available

Best for: Practices seeking budget-friendly entry into AI receptionist technology with quick deployment timelines.

6. TrueLark

TrueLark serves multiple industries including dental with AI receptionist and patient engagement capabilities, backed by extensive conversation training data.

Key Features:

• 10M+ conversations used for AI training
• SMS and voice AI capabilities
• Appointment booking automation
• Integration with major dental PMS platforms
• Multi-location support

Pricing Structure:

• Book demo for pricing

Best for: Multi-industry practices and organizations seeking extensive AI training data with established patient engagement workflows.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the primary reasons dental practices seek alternatives to Open Dental?

Practices typically seek complementary solutions rather than full replacements. Open Dental excels at clinical documentation, scheduling, and billing, but most PMS platforms provide limited AI-powered patient communication. With 78% of patients booking with the first practice that responds, practices need 24/7 engagement capabilities that extend beyond standard PMS features. AI receptionists like Resonate address this gap by converting missed calls into appointments through automated text and voice engagement.

How can AI-powered solutions like Resonate AI improve patient acquisition and retention?

AI receptionists capture opportunities that traditional workflows miss. 40% of calls occur outside business hours when no one answers. Resonate AI responds within seconds via text, conducts intelligent conversations about patient needs, and books appointments directly by checking real-time calendar availability. Case studies show practices capturing 41 new patients in 30 days and achieving returns of up to 61x on their investment.

Is Resonate AI compatible with current dental practice management software and phone systems?

Yes, Resonate integrates directly with major dental PMS platforms including Dentrix, Eaglesoft, Open Dental, Curve, and Denticon. Phone integration works with all VoIP and traditional providers through simple call-forwarding, requiring no hardware changes. The 5-minute setup process enables same-day deployment without IT involvement.

How does an AI receptionist handle complex patient inquiries or emergencies?

Dental-specific AI platforms like Resonate train on procedure types, insurance questions, and emergency protocols. When patients present urgent symptoms, the AI triages appropriately and escalates based on severity. For insurance objections—such as when patient coverage isn't accepted—Resonate's AI empathizes and offers alternatives like membership plans. Client testimonials describe patients having full conversations without realizing they're speaking with AI.

What is the typical implementation timeline for a solution like Resonate AI?

Resonate deploys within 5 minutes for single practices and 5 business days for DSO customers. The white-glove onboarding process handles all technical setup, including phone vendor coordination and PMS integration. Custom AI training covers accepted insurances, FAQs, office hours, provider schedules, and brand voice—all managed by Resonate's team without requiring practice IT resources.