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Dentrix vs Eaglesoft vs Open Dental

Which practice management software is right for your dental practice?

Dentrix, Eaglesoft, and Open Dental are the three most widely used practice management systems in North America. Each has a distinct approach to pricing, support, and workflow — the right choice depends on your practice size, budget, and how much flexibility you need.

D
Dentrix
Practice management
Paid

The most widely used practice management system in North America.

E
Eaglesoft
Practice management
Paid

Comprehensive dental practice management software by Patterson Dental.

O
Open Dental
Practice management
Free

Open source practice management with strong community support.

Side-by-side comparison

A quick overview of the key differences between these systems.

DentrixEaglesoftOpen Dental
PricingPaidPaidFree
CategoryPractice managementPractice managementPractice management
Rating4.1 / 53.9 / 54.5 / 5
Listingstandardstandardstandard

In-depth look at each option

Here's what you need to know about each system before making a decision.

D

Dentrix

Practice management · Paid

The most widely used practice management system in North America.

Dentrix by Henry Schein is the industry-leading dental practice management software trusted by over 35,000 dental practices. It offers comprehensive tools for scheduling, billing, charting, and patient communication all in one integrated platform.

Read full Dentrix review →
E

Eaglesoft

Practice management · Paid

Comprehensive dental practice management software by Patterson Dental.

Eaglesoft is a full-featured dental practice management solution from Patterson Dental. It integrates clinical and business functions including patient records, scheduling, billing, and imaging.

Read full Eaglesoft review →
O

Open Dental

Practice management · Free

Open source practice management with strong community support.

Open Dental is a free, open-source dental practice management software with a large and active community. It offers a full suite of features including charting, scheduling, billing, and imaging integrations.

Read full Open Dental review →

Which should you use?

Use Dentrix if you want the most widely supported system with deep integrations and do not mind the cost. Use Eaglesoft if you are already in the Patterson ecosystem and want tight supply-chain integration. Use Open Dental if you want full control, zero licensing fees, and are comfortable with a community-supported model.

Related comparisons

Best cloud-based dental software 2026Best dental software for small practicesCurve Dental vs Dentrix Ascend

Full reviews

Dentrix — full review
Eaglesoft — full review
Open Dental — full review
Written by Nick Grigora · Published April 2026