Open Dental

Is Open Dental cloud-based or server-based?

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. Vendor states on the vendor’s page, read 2026-07-22.

How do staff access Open Dental day to day?

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). Vendor states on the vendor’s page, read 2026-07-22.

Which operating systems does Open Dental run on?

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

OS support the vendor documents. Vendor states on the vendor’s page, read 2026-07-22.

Does Open Dental include imaging, or do you need separate software?

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. Vendor states on the vendor’s page, read 2026-07-22.

Can Open Dental submit insurance claims electronically?

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

Insurance claim submission the vendor documents. Vendor states on the vendor’s page, read 2026-07-22.

Does Open Dental have a public API?

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. Vendor states on the vendor’s page, read 2026-07-22.

How do you get your data out of 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. Vendor states on the vendor’s page, read 2026-07-22.

Is Open Dental open source?

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. Vendor states on the vendor’s page, read 2026-07-26.

Does Open Dental publish its pricing?

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. Vendor states on the vendor’s page, read 2026-07-22.

Compare Open Dental against another system

Each comparison below puts the two vendors’ own published facts in one table, so you can see where they genuinely differ rather than which one markets harder.

• Open Dental vs Curve Dental
• Open Dental vs Dentally
• Open Dental vs Dentrix
• Open Dental vs Dentrix Ascend
• Open Dental vs Eaglesoft

To turn this into a decision, run your own requirements first with the PMS Evaluation Pack, or put all five systems in one grid with the Dental Software Comparison.

How this page is built

Every fact here is something Open Dental Software, Inc. states about its own product on its own site or documentation. Nothing is a rating, ranking, or score, and no third-party pricing appears — naming a system is not judging it. Facts can change without notice, so each row carries the date it was read; confirm anything that will inform a purchase directly with the vendor. See our methodology.