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What’s New in Dentrix Ascend 2026 and What IT Needs to Know
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Ezra Angelo
- • July 15, 2026
Henry Schein One has moved Dentrix Ascend through a significant set of updates in 2025 and 2026, including a platform relaunch built around what Henry Schein One is calling an agentic platform architecture. Three new package tiers designed to unify practice management, clinical workflows, imaging, and revenue cycle management into a single platform with AI-driven automation at the core.
Ekim IT Solutions is the dental-exclusive IT provider that configures and supports Dentrix Ascend environments for practices and DSOs across Maine, New England, Tampa Bay, and nationally.
Here is what has actually changed in Dentrix Ascend and what each update means for the IT configuration and support environment.
Dentrix Ascend updates roll out automatically to all practices on the platform because it is cloud-based. There is no version upgrade to schedule or approve.
Henry Schein One’s 2026 Dentrix Ascend Platform Relaunch
In March 2026, Henry Schein One announced a relaunch of Dentrix Ascend built around three new packages and what they described as an agentic platform architecture. The relaunch introduced Claims Manager, a new claims dashboard for DSOs, as a flagship feature alongside Eligibility Pro and Digital Forms AI. The platform now serves more than 48,000 practices in the US and supports approximately 90 percent of the top 50 DSOs.
Key 2025 and 2026 Feature Updates
These are the Dentrix Ascend updates with the most direct IT and workflow impact.
Released in mid-2026, Voice Perio allows hygienists to chart probing depths, bleeding, and recession by voice directly within the Ascend perio chart. Voice Notes handles clinical note dictation. Both are powered by Bola AI technology integrated into the Ascend platform. IT configuration required: microphone selection and Windows audio settings on each operatory workstation where Voice Perio will be used.
Retrieves real-time benefits from multiple sources including insurance portals and loads coverage details into the patient record automatically. IT configuration required: verify that each practice location’s internet connection provides consistent enough bandwidth for real-time eligibility pulls across all scheduled appointments simultaneously.
Claims Manager provides a centralized claims dashboard for DSOs managing billing across multiple locations. Digital Forms AI uses AI to capture insurance data from photos of patient insurance cards and driver’s licenses. IT configuration required: user access roles must be configured correctly so Claims Manager is accessible to billing staff but not visible to clinical staff who do not manage claims.
Imaging Updates in 2026
Dentrix Ascend Imaging has released versions 175, 176, 181, and 182 in the first half of 2026 alone. Each imaging release updates device compatibility and may change how specific sensors or cameras interact with the Ascend imaging environment. Ekim IT Solutions reviews imaging release notes for each update and confirms that sensor and camera connections at every practice location continue to function correctly after an Ascend Imaging update. Practices running sensors that are near the end of Ascend’s supported device list should confirm continued support with Henry Schein One before each major imaging release.
What Multi-Location Practices and DSOs Need to Watch
DSOs running Dentrix Ascend across multiple locations need IT oversight at the platform access level after each significant update. New features that introduce new user roles or new access rights, like Claims Manager, require an IT review to confirm that access is correctly scoped before staff at every location can see the new feature. Ekim IT Solutions performs an access rights review for every Ascend update that introduces new role-based features for the DSO practices we support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ekim IT Solutions configures and supports Dentrix Ascend environments for practices and DSOs across Maine, New England, Tampa Bay, and nationally. We know what each 2025 and 2026 update actually changes for your configuration and support needs.
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- • July 15, 2026
