6 Tab32 Alternatives For Dentists and DSOs

Tab32 offers a cloud-based dental practice management system with AI-powered radiology and all-in-one functionality. However, dental practices evaluating their software options face a critical reality: even the most feature-rich PMS cannot answer your phone when staff are busy with patients. With 30% of dental practice calls going unanswered and 78% of patients booking with the first practice that responds, choosing the right combination of tools determines whether you capture or lose revenue. This guide examines six alternatives that address different practice needs—from comprehensive practice management to AI-powered patient communication that works 24/7 to capture missed calls.

Key Takeaways

• Patient communication gaps cost more than software: Dental practices miss 30% of incoming calls, and most patients won't leave voicemail—they call the next practice instead. An AI dental receptionist captures these opportunities while any PMS handles clinical workflows.
• Cloud-native architecture varies significantly: Tab32, Curve Dental, and CareStack offer true cloud-native platforms, while Open Dental requires additional setup for cloud access. Choose based on your remote access requirements and IT capabilities.
• Price structures differ dramatically: Open Dental starts at $179/month per location, while Dentrix Ascend ranges from $500-800 per provider. Multi-location practices should calculate total cost of ownership across all providers.
• User satisfaction ratings reveal operational realities: Review patterns indicate support responsiveness and system reliability matter as much as features when evaluating practice management systems.
• DSO-specific needs require specialized platforms: Denticon and CareStack provide centralized management across multiple locations, while single-practice solutions may struggle to scale with acquisition growth.

1. Resonate AI: The Communication Layer Every Dental PMS Needs

While traditional practice management systems handle scheduling, billing, and clinical documentation, Resonate AI solves the problem they all share—ensuring patients actually reach your practice. The platform works alongside Tab32, Dentrix, Open Dental, or any PMS through simple call-forwarding integration that takes minutes to deploy.

Key Features:

• Instant missed call recovery: Automatically texts callers who reach voicemail within seconds, then conducts natural conversations to book appointments
• 24/7 intelligent response: Operates around the clock, capturing the 40% of new patient calls that occur outside business hours
• Dental-specific AI training: Understands dental terminology, insurance questions, procedure types, and emergency triage protocols
• Three integrated agents: Voice Agent handles calls, SMS Agent manages text communications, and Chat Agent responds to website inquiries
• Multi-language capability: Automatic Spanish language detection and switching for bilingual patient populations
• Real-time analytics dashboard: Tracks missed call recovery rates, conversion percentages, and ROI

Integration Capabilities:

Resonate AI connects with major dental practice management systems including:

• Denticon (Planet DDS)
• Open Dental
• Dentrix and Eaglesoft
• Curve Dental
• All VoIP and traditional phone providers

Documented Results:

• Allied OMS: 41 new patients captured in 30 days, $81,000 revenue recovery, 61x ROI
• Family First Dental: 1,479 missed calls eliminated, 175 appointments captured, $131,000 annual revenue
• Zen Dentistry: 17x ROI after testing multiple AI vendors
• Garden Springs Dental: 338 missed calls converted to 19 new patients in 30 days

Pricing:

• 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

Best For:

Practices experiencing high missed call volumes, those wanting after-hours appointment capture without hiring additional staff, and DSOs seeking standardized patient communication across locations. Resonate complements rather than replaces your PMS, addressing revenue leakage that practice management software cannot solve.

2. Dentrix Ascend

Dentrix Ascend represents Henry Schein's cloud-based evolution of the industry-standard Dentrix platform, serving practices seeking comprehensive features backed by established vendor support.

Key Features:

• Comprehensive clinical workflows: Scheduling, billing, and clinical documentation
• Online patient scheduling: Automated appointment reminders and booking
• Imaging system integration: Compatible with major systems including Carestream
• Business intelligence tools: Reporting and analytics capabilities
• Multi-location support: Designed for growing practices

Pricing Structure:

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

Best for: Practices already invested in the Dentrix ecosystem seeking cloud migration, those requiring comprehensive features with established vendor support, and multi-provider practices with budget for premium software.

3. Curve Dental

Curve Dental is a platform built specifically for cloud deployment, emphasizing user-friendly design and reliable performance.

Key Features:

• True cloud-native architecture: No server requirements
• Strong patient portal: Engagement tools and patient communication
• Integrated imaging support: Multiple sensor types
• Insurance verification: Claims management capabilities
• Consistent system reliability: Uptime monitoring

Pricing Structure:

• Pricing upon request

Best for: Practices prioritizing ease of use and system reliability, teams seeking modern interfaces with minimal learning curves, and those wanting strong patient engagement tools without extensive customization needs.

4. Open Dental

Open Dental offers an affordable entry among comprehensive practice management systems, with an open-source foundation providing extensive customization capabilities for technically capable practices.

Key Features:

• $199 per location: Significantly lower than competitors
• Open-source customization: Extensive modification capabilities
• Robust billing: Claims management
• Wide integration ecosystem: Third-party tool compatibility

Pricing Structure:

• $199 per month per location or office

Best for: Budget-conscious practices seeking maximum value, those with technical staff capable of managing customizations, and practices wanting data portability without vendor dependencies.

5. CareStack

CareStack serves both single practices and growing DSOs with integrated functionality that reduces third-party tool requirements, emphasizing comprehensive features within a unified platform.

Key Features:

• 29+ integrated features: Reduces third-party software needs
• Built-in payment processing: Auto-debit and membership plans
• Advanced multi-location management: Centralized oversight
• WhatsApp integration: Multi-channel patient communication
• Comprehensive analytics: Reporting tools

Pricing Structure:

• Pricing upon request

Best for: Multi-location practices seeking unified management, DSOs requiring consolidated reporting, and practices wanting comprehensive integrated features over best-of-breed point solutions.

6. Denticon

Denticon, part of the Planet DDS ecosystem, focuses specifically on enterprise dental organizations requiring centralized management across multiple locations.

Key Features:

• Centralized billing: Claims management across all locations
• Real-time verification: Insurance eligibility checking
• Enterprise-grade reporting: Analytics capabilities
• Standardized workflows: Operational consistency
• Planet DDS integration: Ecosystem tool compatibility

Pricing Structure:

• Starts at $795/month

Best for: Established DSOs with multiple locations, organizations prioritizing centralized financial management, and groups seeking enterprise-grade compliance and reporting capabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does AI conversational technology differ from standard answering services in a dental setting?

Traditional answering services employ human operators who take messages for later callback. AI dental receptionists like Resonate respond instantly—within seconds of a missed call—and conduct intelligent conversations that book appointments in real-time. The AI understands dental terminology, insurance questions, and emergency protocols, operating 24/7 without staffing limitations. Practices using Resonate report 5-7 hours weekly saved on follow-up tasks.

Can AI solutions integrate with my existing dental practice management system?

Resonate AI integrates with all major PMS platforms including Denticon, Open Dental, Dentrix, Eaglesoft, and Curve through simple call-forwarding setup requiring no hardware changes. Integration takes approximately five minutes for phone systems and involves a small code snippet for website chat functionality. The platform syncs conversations and booking data to your existing practice management system.

Are AI virtual receptionists HIPAA compliant?

Resonate AI operates with healthcare-grade security and HIPAA compliance. The platform avoids collecting sensitive health information during initial patient contact, focusing instead on scheduling and general inquiries. All communications use encrypted channels, and the North American development team ensures data governance compliance. The AI transparency practices detail how patient data is handled throughout the communication process.