Open Dental vs Dentrix (2025)
Free open-source dental software vs the market leader charging $500+/month. Here's the honest total cost of ownership breakdown and who should choose each.
Bottom Line Up Front
- Choose Open Dental if: You have a tech-comfortable dentist or office manager, care about data ownership, are price-sensitive, or work in an academic or community health setting.
- Choose Dentrix if: You're acquiring a practice with Dentrix-trained staff, participate in complex government dental programs, or need an extensive third-party integration library out of the box.
- Also consider: If your server is aging, cloud alternatives like Curve Dental or tab32 may cost less than Open Dental + server hardware combined.
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| Feature | Open Dental | Dentrix |
|---|---|---|
| Deployment | Server (self-hosted) | Server (Windows) |
| Software License | Free (open-source) | $500+/mo |
| Support Cost | ~$200/mo (optional) | Included in license |
| Database | MySQL (open access) | Proprietary |
| Data Export | Full access | Requires Henry Schein tools |
| Customization | High (source available) | Limited |
| Third-party Integrations | Growing ecosystem | 400+ |
| UI Modernity | Functional (dated) | Functional (dated) |
| User Base | ~6,000 practices + dental schools | ~35,000 practices |
| Overall Rating | 4.3/5 | 4.1/5 |
The Real Cost of Open Dental
Open Dental software is free. But you'll pay for server hardware ($5,000–$10,000), IT setup and maintenance, and Open Dental's monthly support subscription (~$200/mo) if you want access to eServices (electronic claims, ERA, patient communications). Total ownership for a small practice: $300–$500/month, significantly less than Dentrix.
Dentrix's all-in cost runs $700–$1,100/month for a typical 3-chair practice once you factor in per-operatory licensing, annual support contract, and server amortization. That's $400–$800/month more than Open Dental for comparable functionality.
The Open-Source Advantage
Open Dental's database is standard MySQL. You can connect any reporting tool, write custom queries, or hire a developer to build custom workflows. Your data is never held hostage by a vendor. Dentrix's proprietary database means data exports require Henry Schein tools and cooperation.
For dental schools and community health centers with IT departments, this transparency is invaluable. For a solo dentist who just wants the software to work, it's less relevant.
When to Skip Both
If you're choosing between Open Dental and Dentrix because your server contract is expiring, this is the moment to consider cloud. Curve Dental at $350/month requires zero server infrastructure — eliminating $150–$300/month in hardware/IT costs. The cloud premium often evaporates when you run the full numbers.
Considering the Switch to Cloud?
See how Curve Dental and tab32 compare on total cost before you commit to another server refresh.