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Dental Software Guide

Dental Software Glossary

Your comprehensive guide to dental software terminology. Understanding these terms will help you make better decisions when evaluating dental technology solutions.

API (Application Programming Interface)

A set of protocols that allows different software applications to communicate with each other, enabling integrations and data sharing.

Auto-Reminders

Automated messages sent to patients via text, email, or phone to remind them of upcoming appointments or overdue recalls.

Charting

The process of recording clinical findings, treatment plans, and procedures in a patient's dental record, either on paper or digitally.

Cloud-Based Software

Software hosted on remote servers accessed via the internet, eliminating the need for local server infrastructure and enabling access from any device.

Digital Imaging

Technology that captures dental X-rays and images electronically, including intraoral cameras, panoramic X-rays, and CBCT scans.

EDI (Electronic Data Interchange)

The electronic exchange of business documents like insurance claims in a standardized format between dental practices and insurance companies.

Electronic Health Record (EHR)

Digital version of a patient's paper chart, containing medical history, diagnoses, medications, treatment plans, and test results.

HIPAA Compliance

Adherence to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, which sets standards for protecting sensitive patient health information.

Interoperability

The ability of different software systems to exchange and use data seamlessly, such as between imaging software and practice management systems.

On-Premise Software

Software installed and running on computers within the dental practice, requiring local server hardware and IT management.

Patient Portal

A secure online platform where patients can access their records, schedule appointments, make payments, and communicate with their dental provider.

Perio Charting

Recording periodontal measurements including pocket depths, bleeding points, and gum recession to track gum health over time.

Practice Management Software (PMS)

Comprehensive software that handles scheduling, billing, patient records, treatment planning, and administrative tasks for dental practices.

Revenue Cycle Management (RCM)

The financial process of tracking patient care from registration through final payment, including claims submission and collections.

Treatment Planning

The process of outlining recommended dental procedures, their sequence, costs, and insurance coverage for a patient.

© 2026 Dental Software Guide. All rights reserved.

Dental Software Glossary

By DSG Editorial Team on March 15, 2026
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37 Terms Defined15 Letter Groups
A3 terms
ADA Codes
American Dental Association procedure codes (CDT codes) used to standardize dental procedures for billing and insurance claims. Dental software must support current ADA code sets for accurate claim submission.
API
Application Programming Interface. A set of protocols that allows different software systems to communicate. Dental software APIs enable integrations with imaging systems, payment processors, labs, and third-party tools.
Archy
A modern, cloud-based dental practice management platform designed for tech-forward practices. Features AI-powered scheduling, integrated payments, and a mobile-first interface.
B1 term
BAA
Business Associate Agreement. A legally required contract under HIPAA between a dental practice and any vendor that handles protected health information (PHI). Essential when evaluating dental software vendors.
C4 terms
Carestream Dental
A dental technology company offering imaging solutions and practice management software. Known for their CS series of intraoral sensors and panoramic imaging systems.
CDT Codes
Code on Dental Procedures and Nomenclature. The official coding system maintained by the ADA for reporting dental procedures and services. Updated annually.
Cloud-Based Software
Dental software hosted on remote servers and accessed via the internet. Offers advantages like automatic updates, remote access, lower upfront costs, and built-in disaster recovery compared to server-based solutions.
Curve Dental
A cloud-native dental practice management platform. One of the first fully cloud-based dental PMS solutions, offering practice management, imaging integration, and patient engagement tools.
D5 terms
Data Migration
The process of transferring patient records, treatment history, images, and financial data from one dental software system to another. A critical consideration when switching software vendors.
Denticon
A cloud-based dental practice management software by Planet DDS, designed primarily for DSOs and multi-location practices. Features centralized reporting and multi-site management.
Dentrix
One of the most widely used dental practice management software systems in North America, developed by Henry Schein One. A server-based solution with comprehensive clinical, billing, and practice management features.
DICOM
Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine. The international standard for transmitting, storing, and sharing medical and dental images. Ensures imaging compatibility across different software systems.
DSO
Dental Service Organization (or Dental Support Organization). A business entity that provides non-clinical management and support services to dental practices. DSOs often require multi-location software capabilities.
E5 terms
Eaglesoft
A dental practice management software developed by Patterson Dental. A server-based system known for strong clinical charting and treatment planning capabilities.
EDI
Electronic Data Interchange. The electronic submission of dental insurance claims and related transactions. Dental software must support EDI for efficient claims processing and payment.
EHR
Electronic Health Record. A digital version of a patient's complete health history maintained by a healthcare provider. In dentistry, EHR includes clinical notes, treatment plans, imaging, and medical history.
EOB
Explanation of Benefits. A document from an insurance company detailing what portion of a dental claim was paid, denied, or adjusted. Dental software automates EOB processing and posting.
ERA
Electronic Remittance Advice. The electronic version of an EOB. Enables automated payment posting in dental software, reducing manual data entry and errors.
F1 term
FHIR
Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources. A modern standard for exchanging healthcare information electronically. Increasingly important for dental software interoperability.
H2 terms
HIPAA
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Federal law requiring dental practices to protect patient health information. All dental software must meet HIPAA security and privacy requirements.
HL7
Health Level Seven International. A set of standards for the transfer of clinical and administrative healthcare data between software applications. Used in dental-medical integration scenarios.
I2 terms
Interoperability
The ability of different dental software systems to exchange and use data. Critical for practices using multiple technology solutions (PMS, imaging, billing, patient communication).
Intraoral Scanner
A digital device used to create 3D models of a patient's teeth and oral structures. Modern dental software integrates with intraoral scanners for digital impressions and treatment planning.
N1 term
NexHealth
A patient experience platform for dental practices offering online scheduling, automated reminders, digital forms, reviews management, and patient communication tools.
O2 terms
On-Premise Software
Dental software installed and running on local servers within the dental practice. Requires in-house IT management but offers full data control. Also called server-based or locally-hosted software.
Open Dental
An open-source dental practice management software. Known for its flexibility, customizability, extensive third-party integrations, and transparent pricing model.
P4 terms
Patient Portal
A secure online platform where dental patients can view their records, schedule appointments, complete forms, make payments, and communicate with their dental office.
Perio Charting
Digital recording of periodontal measurements (pocket depths, bleeding points, recession) within dental software. Enables tracking of gum disease progression and treatment outcomes.
PHI
Protected Health Information. Any individually identifiable health information held or transmitted by a dental practice. HIPAA requires specific safeguards for PHI in dental software systems.
PMS
Practice Management Software. The core software system used by dental practices to manage scheduling, patient records, billing, treatment planning, and reporting.
R1 term
RCM
Revenue Cycle Management. The financial process of tracking patient revenue from initial appointment scheduling through final payment collection. Dental software automates many RCM functions.
S2 terms
SaaS
Software as a Service. A cloud-based delivery model where dental software is accessed via subscription rather than purchased outright. Most modern dental software uses the SaaS model.
Server-Based Software
Dental software that runs on physical servers located within the dental practice. Requires local IT infrastructure, backups, and maintenance. Dentrix and Eaglesoft are examples.
T3 terms
tab32
A cloud-based dental practice management platform offering integrated PMS, imaging, patient engagement, and analytics tools designed for modern dental practices and DSOs.
Treatment Plan
A comprehensive document outlining proposed dental procedures, associated costs, insurance estimates, and treatment sequence. Dental software generates and tracks treatment plans electronically.
Two-Factor Authentication
2FA or MFA. An additional security layer requiring two forms of verification to access dental software. Recommended by HIPAA for protecting access to systems containing PHI.
W1 term
Weave
A patient communication and business phone platform for dental practices. Combines VoIP phones, texting, reviews, payments, scheduling, and patient engagement in one platform.
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