- New England's Only Dental-Specific IT Provider
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What to Look for in a Local Dental IT Company
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Ezra Angelo
- • January 11, 2026
When dental practice owners search for dental IT companies, they are usually looking for one of two things: someone to fix an immediate problem, or a long-term managed IT partner who understands dental software and HIPAA compliance. The type of company that is right for each situation is very different, and most practices cannot tell the difference until something goes wrong.
Here is what to evaluate when searching for a dental IT company in your area.
Most IT companies that appear in local search results for dental IT are general managed IT providers who have added dental to their service list.
A general IT provider can install a network and set up workstations. What they typically cannot do is configure a Dentrix imaging bridge, troubleshoot an Eaglesoft database connection, produce HIPAA technical documentation that satisfies OCR, or verify that your Open Dental server is backed up correctly. In a dental practice, that difference matters every day.
Dental-Specific vs. General IT: What the Difference Looks Like
General knowledge applied to whatever business they are serving
- Can install a network and set up workstations
- When they encounter a Dentrix-specific error, they are learning on your time
- May not know what a BAA is or why it is required
- Cannot configure an imaging bridge or troubleshoot sensor drivers
- HIPAA documentation, if offered, is generic and unlikely to satisfy OCR
- Dental software experience is self-described, not demonstrated
Direct, hands-on experience with the software your practice runs
- Has configured Dentrix, Eaglesoft, and Open Dental installations before
- Knows the imaging platforms used in dental offices and how they connect
- Understands HIPAA requirements specific to covered entities
- Knows the clinical workflows that IT problems disrupt
- Produces HIPAA technical documentation that satisfies OCR requirements
- Can answer dental software questions without researching them first
What to Ask a Dental IT Company Before Signing
Use these questions to evaluate any dental IT provider. A company with genuine experience answers without hesitation.
Which dental practice management platforms do you actively support?
Ask them to name your specific platform and describe the most common support issue they see with it. A general IT provider will give a vague answer or name the platform without describing any real experience. A dental-specific provider will name the platform, describe a specific error they see frequently, and explain how they resolve it.
We support Dentrix, Open Dental, and Eaglesoft. The most common issue we see with Dentrix is the imaging bridge dropping after a Windows update. We have a documented fix for that and we catch it proactively during patch management.
What HIPAA documentation do you produce as part of your standard service?
The answer should include encryption configuration records, access control documentation, backup verification reports, and a Business Associate Agreement. If they do not know what a BAA is, stop the conversation. A provider without a BAA creates a HIPAA violation the moment they access your systems.
We produce a BAA as standard, document encryption status on all workstations and servers, provide backup verification reports, and contribute the technical component of your annual Security Risk Assessment.
How many dental practices do you currently manage?
A provider serving two dental practices alongside fifty general businesses has a very different level of dental expertise than one serving dental practices exclusively. Volume matters because it means they have seen your specific problems before and already have solutions documented.
We exclusively serve dental practices. We currently manage over 100 practices across the country, which means we have seen almost every configuration of Dentrix, Open Dental, and Eaglesoft and have documented resolution steps for the most common issues.
On-Site vs. Remote Dental IT Support
Most day-to-day issues quickly and effectively
- Software problems and configuration changes
- Network configuration and user account management
- HIPAA documentation and compliance tasks
- Fast response without waiting for a technician to travel
- Most Dentrix, Eaglesoft, and Open Dental issues
Physical work that cannot be done over a screen share
- Physical hardware installation and cabling
- Imaging hardware configuration and sensor setup
- Problems that require hands-on access to equipment
- Server hardware replacement or upgrade
- New operatory or office buildout IT setup
A dental IT company that operates exclusively remotely without on-site capacity creates a gap for hardware-related problems that cannot be resolved over a screen share. Ask any provider you evaluate how they handle on-site needs and what their response time commitment is for a critical hardware failure during business hours.
Red Flags When Evaluating Dental IT Companies
Mark any red flags you have already noticed from a provider you are evaluating.
Cannot name your practice management platform or describe how they support it
Has not signed or offered to sign a Business Associate Agreement
Does not include HIPAA documentation in their standard service
Cannot describe their response time commitment for a critical failure during business hours
Prices exclusively per-hour with no managed service agreement option
Frequently Asked Questions
Ekim IT Solutions works exclusively with dental practices. We serve New England and New York with on-site support and dental practices nationwide with remote support. We are not a general IT company that also takes dental clients. Dentistry is all we do, which means no learning curve on your software, your compliance requirements, or how a dental office actually runs.
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- • January 11, 2026
