Dentrix Ascend vs Open Dental

Which one is cloud-based?

Dentrix Ascend: Cloud. Vendor describes it as “the cloud-based, all-in-one dental practice management system” and “100% cloud-based, giving you secure, anytime access from any device.”

Open Dental: Self-hosted / on-premise by default; a vendor-managed hosted option, Open Dental Cloud, is also offered.

Where the software runs and data lives, as the vendor describes it. Dentrix Ascend read 2026-07-26 (source); Open Dental read 2026-07-22 (source).

How does day-to-day access differ?

Dentrix Ascend: Browser-based, no installed client described: “100% cloud-based, giving you secure, anytime access from any device.”

Open Dental: Installed client (client–server): a server runs the MySQL database; workstations install the app. Open Dental Cloud is accessed remotely and 'looks and feels just like our local version.'

How staff reach it day to day (browser vs installed client). Dentrix Ascend read 2026-07-26 (source); Open Dental read 2026-07-22 (source).

Do they run on the same operating systems?

Dentrix Ascend: The product site states only that Ascend gives “anytime access from any device” and does not list operating systems. Specific browser/OS requirements are published in the vendor's separate support knowledge base, which did not serve a readable response at the read date — confirm with the vendor.

Open Dental: Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025/2022/2019/2016. Vendor notes the server can alternatively run Linux or macOS.

OS support the vendor documents. Dentrix Ascend read 2026-07-26 (source); Open Dental read 2026-07-22 (source).

Which one includes imaging?

Dentrix Ascend: Built-in. Vendor lists “cloud imaging … and real-time x-ray quality checks”, and describes “Dentrix Ascend Chart: Clinical charting and imaging together in one consolidated view.”

Open Dental: Built-in. Vendor states practices 'should not need any separate imaging software'; radiographs can be taken directly in Open Dental.

Whether the vendor states built-in or integrated imaging. Dentrix Ascend read 2026-07-26 (source); Open Dental read 2026-07-22 (source).

Do both submit e-claims?

Dentrix Ascend: Yes. Vendor states the product can “Automate eligibility checks, claims, ERAs and payment posting.”

Open Dental: Yes. 'A number of Clearinghouses [are] integrated with Open Dental to send Claims electronically.'

Insurance claim submission the vendor documents. Dentrix Ascend read 2026-07-26 (source); Open Dental read 2026-07-22 (source).

Which one has a public API?

Dentrix Ascend: Yes — the Henry Schein One API Exchange, which the vendor says “is open to all and is simple to join” and which explicitly covers “Dentrix and Dentrix Ascend practice management software.”

Open Dental: Yes — formal developer program with a Developer Portal and dual-key auth (Developer API Key + Customer API Key).

Whether the vendor publishes an API or partner/developer program. Dentrix Ascend read 2026-07-26 (source); Open Dental read 2026-07-22 (source).

Which one documents a way to get your data out?

Dentrix Ascend: Vendor lists “Full data ownership and access” as an API Exchange benefit, but documents no self-serve full-data export path on the public site. Ask the vendor directly what a full extract looks like on exit.

Open Dental: Strongest of the group: customers hold their own MySQL/MariaDB database and get direct SQL read access; the vendor documents running your own SELECT queries (writes are cautioned against, reads are supported).

What the vendor states about getting YOUR data out — the interoperability question that matters most on a switch. Dentrix Ascend read 2026-07-26 (source); Open Dental read 2026-07-22 (source).

Is either one open source?

Dentrix Ascend: No public source-code licence page identified as of the read date; this is a commercially licensed product whose terms sit in the customer agreement rather than a published licence. Not open source.

Open Dental: Proprietary since v24.4. The vendor states: “In version 24.4, the Open Dental license changed from open source GPL to proprietary.” Releases before 24.4 were GPL. The vendor adds that the change did not alter customer pricing, support, or database access — it affects developers who compiled the source.

Whether the vendor publishes a software licence for the source code — the 'is it open source?' question, answered from the vendor's own licence page. Dentrix Ascend read 2026-07-26 (source); Open Dental read 2026-07-26 (source).

Which one publishes pricing?

Dentrix Ascend: No dollar figures published. The vendor's own “how to purchase” page lists package contents but no price, directing buyers to “Contact Us” and “Request a Demo” for a quote.

Open Dental: Publicly listed (unusual for the industry): e.g. software + support around $199/month/location for the first 12-month term, then ~$149/month/location, with additional per-provider fees and a published eServices rate card. Open Dental Cloud starts around $430/month/location.

What the vendor PUBLICLY lists on its own site, if anything. Unlisted pricing is covered by the community layer. Dentrix Ascend read 2026-07-26 (source); Open Dental read 2026-07-22 (source).

Turning this into a decision

A feature table cannot tell you which system fits your practice — your requirements do. Build those first with the PMS Evaluation Pack, then use this page to check which vendor’s published facts actually satisfy them. If migration is the real question, start at migration planning; if you run more than one site, multi-location changes the answer.

Full profiles: Dentrix Ascend · Open Dental · all five systems in one grid in the Dental Software Comparison.