Is Open Dental Free? Exposing The Truth Of Open Dental

Managing a clinic or hospital requires a lot of effort and time. Thus, doctors do it the conventional way, often juggling managerial tasks and patients inefficiently. However, in today’s modern age, healthcare professionals rely on automated programs for clinic management. Studies show numerous benefits of using automated clinical management systems.

Luckily, numerous dental software programs are available that can ease your operations. One such popular program is Open Dental software. Many dentists are misguided by the name “Open” and think it is open-source or free software for dental clinics. However, this is not the case, and Open Dental is a paid software that offers scores of services. Today, we look closely at this software and see whether it is worth the money!

Open Dental Software: An Overall Performer

The Open Dental software is designed as a comprehensive tool covering diverse aspects of a running operatory. This practice management app offers robust features, including patient scheduling (appointment management) and data storage. Developers have tried to keep the working smooth, quick, and stable. The system looks after all the needs of a common practitioner (and staff), allowing additional services like telehealth/eServices. The eSuite offers cool perks like automated messages, payment portals (for patients), integrated messaging, secure emailing, etc.

Users also get a graphical tooth chart to explain the patient better. The chart serves as an attractive visual representation of the patient’s dentition. This feature is liked by dentists and patients alike. Moreover, you get billing and insurance management within the provided package. You get all these goodies and more (60 features) for $179/month. However, there is a catch to that. The management app is not as good as it may seem, and we will discuss why!

Why Open Dental Isn’t The Best Choice For All?

Despite offering many services, Open Dental isn’t the best choice as clinical management software.

No Free Version

With only a paid version, access to the software is limited only to premium customers. The company can relegate the number of services but provide the users with a basic offering free of cost. While it offers a free trial version, paying upfront is the only way to get this software.

Significant Charges

The Open Dental software costs you $179/month for the first 12 months, after which the support service charges are reduced to $129/month. However, this amount is valid only for 3 providers per office/location. For more than 3 providers in the same location, you will need to pay $20 per month per provider. Open Dental provides services in exchange for the money it takes. But, this much spending on software is challenging for small general clinics. Thus, software like Open Dental is not feasible for most dentists.

Hidden/Additional Charges

Several users have exclaimed their disgust over the uninformed changes in charges. One user wrote in the review:

A word of caution: the vendor may modify prices without prior notice and subsequently disavow any such discussions!

Though the basic services provided in the $179 are good, you need to pay extra for some essential services. The following table shows how much you need to spend from your pocket for some of the important services(additionally):

App Needs Refinement

Some clients have complained of weak areas in the radiograph management. There are occasional hiccups and technical faults that impede workflow efficiency. Many users have reported “occasional issues while opening radiographs”.

Moreover, the configuration is tiresome and the “software needs some extra time to fully grasp complete functionalities and features”. A pop-up window (after the new update) is irritating users. The company’s claim of smooth interoperability is also far from the truth.

Designed For Small Clinics

Some users were unhappy with the app’s falling speeds when more patient data was fed. Clients report that the processing speeds nosedive as the patient number exceeds 500. Thus, many call it “an app for small clinics.”

Conclusion

The Open Dental software is a modern dental practice management software. Many dentists across the globe use it to enhance their clinical efficacy. Even though Open Dental offers a multitude of services, certain weak points make it a weaker candidate. The high price tag is a concern for some, but the real issue for numerous users is hidden, with additional charges for necessities. A few clients are furious over an uninformed change of services charges while others dislike the lack of app smoothness.

Moreover, the app lags when more data is input (beyond 500 patients). The app is a good idea, but the high price tags and poor performance hinder us from recommending it to you. While many think it is free software, the paid services are not feasible for most dentists!