“Which dental software is best?”
— the question haunts every dentist in transition. You see flashy demos, slick UIs, feature checklists, and your head spins. But here’s the truth nobody tells you: the “best” software isn’t the one with the prettiest interface — it’s the one that helps you earn more.
Yes — best means monetization potential, automation, scalability, analytics, membership support — not just scheduling and charting. So let me walk you through how to pick the best dental software for your growth, not just your management.
Story
Dr. Bryce Sullivan was stuck. He’d tried two different software systems over 7 years. Each time, migration was painful, staff hated it, and nothing changed in the revenue equation. He kept thinking: “If I just got the best software, I’d be free.”
Then he met a clinic using his same software — but layered with a membership engine that was pulling solid MRR and ARR. His eyes widened when they showed him dashboards: members, churn, revenue per member, reactivation flows. The software looked the same, but the backend had been upgraded.
He made the move. Within 9 months, membership revenue hit $18,200/month. His membership patients were accepting 2.7× more treatment. His “software problem” turned into a “growth engine” solution. That was his epiphany: choosing the “best” software was no longer enough — building on top of it was what changes your life.
What Does “Best Dental Software” Really Mean?
Before you get dazzled by demos, settle on your true criteria. The best software for one clinic might be the worst for another. Here’s what you should demand:
-
Membership / subscription support or integration
-
APIs / integration capacity — connect imaging, billing, membership logic
-
Automated billing / renewal / dunning logic
-
Analytics dashboards — MRR, ARR, churn, revenue per member, cohort behavior
-
Scalable architecture (cloud + multi‑location support)
-
Ease of use / adoption — staff hate complex systems
-
Security, compliance, uptime
-
Support, training, community, ecosystem
Look at lists of “top dental software” — Capterra, Podium, DayDream etc. — they often emphasize features, UI, price, tech stack. Capterra+2Podium+2 But you should filter through the lens of revenue leverage.
In the market size world, the dental practice management software market is already over USD 2.36 billion (2025 estimate) and growing at ~10.95 % CAGR. Mordor Intelligence So there’s plenty of money in the backbone — but the real value is what you do with it.
Top Contenders & Tradeoffs
Here are some names you’ll see thrown around. None are perfect, and each has its tradeoffs. Use them as benchmarks, not gospel.
| Software | Strengths / Why People Use It | Common Limitations / What to Watch | Good For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dentrix (Henry Schein / Dentrix One) | Huge footprint, many integrations, trusted in legacy practices. It still features deep charting, scheduling, billing modules. RevUp Dental+2DayDream Dental+2 | Not fully cloud by default, some modules require add-ons, sometimes dated UI. | Practices migrating from legacy systems that value ecosystem and support |
| Curve Dental | Cloud‑native, modern UI, mobile access, accessible for small to medium clinics. DayDream Dental+1 | May lack depth in enterprise features, possible tradeoffs in customization | Fast‑growing clinics needing remote / cloud access |
| Denticon (Planet DDS) | Strong for multi-location, centralized data management, cloud architecture. The Medical Practice+1 | Complexity, cost, onboarding curve | DSOs, multi-branch practices |
| Open Dental | Open architecture, high flexibility, strong community | More DIY in customization, may require more technical support | Practices that want ultimate control & extensibility |
| Eaglesoft / Patterson / Carestream | Legacy strength, good imaging integration, reliability | Limited cloud, fewer native subscription tools | Clinics with existing imaging stack and infrastructure |
No single one wins all. The “best” is the one you can activate as a revenue lever.
Why Membership Programs Are Game-Changers
You might pick the best software, optimize workflows, reduce errors — but that won’t force your growth. Membership models do.
When you layer membership programs, you get:
-
MRR — predictable cash every month
-
ARR — your recurring revenue baseline
-
Patient loyalty & retention — patients stay engaged
-
Higher case acceptance — since part of cost is anticipated
-
Members often spend 2× to 4× more (membership + treatment) than traditional insurance patients
-
Reduced reliance on insurance / PPO discounts
BoomCloud™ case studies prove this:
-
One clinic: 1,026 members, ~$30,780 MRR, climbing. Podium+1
-
7 to 7 Dental: 3,484 active members, $156,780 MRR — they made what looks like magic from ordinary software. Software Advice+1
Once your software is set, membership logic turns it from tool to engine.
Case Study: A Clinic That Bought “The Best” — And Turned It Into a Growth Machine
Clinic: Summit Smiles Dentistry
-
Bought what they were told was “the best dental software” — powerful, full suite, solid reputation
-
But for the first year, revenue fluctuated; collection lagged; many patients deferred procedures
-
They integrated BoomCloud™ membership layer on top
-
Launched three tiers: Basic, Premium, VIP
-
Within 10 months:
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Members | ~620 |
| MRR | ~$20,400 |
| ARR | ~$244,800 |
| Treatment acceptance (members) | ~84% |
| Member spend (membership + treatment) | ~3.0× vs non-members |
They then overlaid membership status into their software’s reporting: which providers converted better, which days or rooms had more reactivations. They re-allocated resources accordingly.
Their “best software” wasn’t enough — how they used it made the difference.
MRR, ARR & Revenue-per-Patient — Your New Metrics
You can’t run growth without fluency in these metrics:
-
MRR = sum of subscription fees from active memberships each month
-
ARR = MRR × 12 (minus churn, downgrades)
-
Churn / Retention Rate = % of members canceling regularly
-
Revenue per Member / Patient (RPM / RPP) = (membership + treatment revenue) ÷ # members
-
Lifetime Value (LTV) = RPM ÷ churn (or via cohort modeling)
If your membership patients are spending 2× to 4× more, your LTV spikes. That means your acquisition and software costs shrink in comparison.
How to Choose “Which Dental Software Is Best” for Your Practice
Here’s your tactical filter:
-
Map your growth goal. Multi-locations? Need offsite access? Imaging-heavy?
-
Screen for monetization potential. Does it support partnerships, extensions, APIs for subscription modules?
-
Check community & third-party support. Popular systems have more tools, docs, plug-ins.
-
Run a pilot membership test. Use your front desk + small cohort to test whether your software + membership flow works.
-
Evaluate metrics visibility. If you can’t see MRR, churn, revenue per patient, software is incomplete.
-
Plan migrations carefully. Data export, patient transfer, training — these cost time and money.
-
Iterate. The software you pick now should evolve. The best becomes the one you continuously adapt.
FAQs
Is there a universally “best dental software”?
No — context matters. The best is the one that aligns with your workflows, growth goals, and monetization strategies.
Can any dental software support membership?
Most modern ones can, either natively or via integrations / APIs. What matters is how clean and seamless the connection is.
How soon will membership returns appear?
Often 3–6 months, depending on enrollment, adoption, pricing, and marketing.
Do membership patients really spend that much more?
Yes — many BoomCloud clients observe 2× to 4× more total revenue from membership patients.
What about churn and cancellations?
Churn is real. But with solid onboarding, value, reactivation, and retention workflows, many practices keep it manageable.
Conclusion
So — which dental software is best? The real answer: the one you activate, not just the one you install. The “best” software is the one that lets you plug in membership engines, see MRR / ARR, optimize per-patient revenue, automate renewals, and scale.
Pick software with solid ecosystem + integration capacity. Launch membership. Track your metrics. Optimize. Let your software not just support your practice — let it grow your practice.
When you’re ready to see how membership layers look in action, schedule a Demo of BoomCloud™. Watch the numbers light up — then ask yourself: did I pick software that only works, or software that earns?
Download the million‑dollar membership plan ebook — https://boomcloud.myclickfunnels.com/million-dollar-book
Take The Six‑Figure Patient Membership Plan Course — https://www.boomcloudapp.com/six-figure-membership-course
Schedule a Demo of BoomCloud™ & Learn how to manage & grow your membership plan — https://boomcloudapps.com/demo-schedule
Create Your BoomCloud™ Account For FREE — https://www.boomcloudapp.com/main-online-demo-and-sign-up-page
