This is not a comparison of charting interfaces or patient communication features. It is a comparison of what each platform requires from an IT infrastructure perspective, how complex each is to maintain and support, and what HIPAA compliance looks like on each.
Ekim IT Solutions is the dental-exclusive IT provider that supports all four of these platforms actively for dental practices across Maine, New England, Tampa Bay, and nationally, which puts us in a position to give a real IT-side comparison that software vendors and clinical reviewers do not.
If you are still deciding which platform to run, this is what your IT provider will tell you when you ask.
Fit Matters More Than Ranking
Every major dental practice management platform can run a dental practice effectively. The IT comparison that matters is not which one is better in isolation but which one fits your existing infrastructure, your growth plans, and the IT support capacity you have available.
Ekim IT Solutions has managed Dentrix, Eaglesoft, Open Dental, and Curve Dental environments simultaneously across our practice portfolio. Here is the honest comparison.
Not sure which platform fits your infrastructure and growth plans? Find out in 15 minutes if we are the right fit.
Dentrix by Henry Schein One is the most widely deployed dental practice management platform and the most IT-intensive of the four. It requires a high-performance Windows server with specific SQL Server and RAM configurations, regular database maintenance, and patch management coordinated carefully to avoid breaking integrations. The AI and imaging integrations are deep but complex. Dentrix has a hard Windows 10 support cutoff of June 30, 2026, making Windows 11 workstations required before that date.
Server RequirementWindows Server 2019 or 2022, 32GB RAM minimum, NVMe storage strongly recommended.
IT ComplexityHigh. Database tuning, patch sequencing, and imaging bridge management require dental-specific expertise.
HIPAAStandard dental HIPAA requirements. Audit logging available and should be enabled.
Best ForEstablished practices with strong IT support who want the deepest feature set and AI integration.
Eaglesoft: IT Overview
Eaglesoft by Patterson Dental is the second most widely deployed platform. Like Dentrix it is server-based, but generally considered somewhat less demanding on server hardware than Dentrix at comparable practice sizes. Patterson has not announced a hard Windows 10 cutoff but recommends Windows 11 for all new workstations.
Server RequirementWindows Server 2016 or newer, 16GB RAM minimum for smaller practices.
IT ComplexityModerate to high. Less demanding than Dentrix but still requires server maintenance and imaging bridge management.
HIPAAStandard dental HIPAA requirements, similar to Dentrix.
Best ForEstablished practices comfortable with server-based infrastructure who prefer the Patterson ecosystem.
Open Dental: IT Overview
Open Dental is the only major open-source dental practice management platform, which means no per-seat licensing beyond the optional support subscription. It is server-based with a MySQL database rather than SQL Server, which requires a different skill set to maintain. As a certified Open Dental vendor partner, Ekim IT Solutions maintains specific Open Dental expertise across our team.
Server RequirementWindows Server with MySQL, 16GB RAM minimum.
IT ComplexityModerate. MySQL administration differs from SQL Server. The open-source nature means the IT provider must be more proactive about update management.
HIPAAStandard dental HIPAA requirements. Full audit logging available.
Best ForCost-conscious practices that want full data ownership and no vendor lock-in, and have an IT provider with Open Dental experience.
Curve Dental: IT Overview
Curve Dental is the most established fully cloud-native dental practice management platform. No local server is required. All data lives in Curve’s cloud infrastructure. The IT requirements shift from server maintenance to internet reliability and workstation management.
Server RequirementNone. Cloud-hosted entirely by Curve.
IT ComplexityLow to moderate on infrastructure. High on internet dependency: a reliable, fast internet connection with backup failover is required infrastructure, not optional.
HIPAACurve signs a BAA and manages infrastructure-level security. The practice remains responsible for workstation security, access controls, and staff training.
Best ForNew practices avoiding server capital costs, and growing DSOs opening new locations at scale who want fast deployment.
Side-by-Side IT Comparison
Dentrix
Eaglesoft
Open Dental
Curve Dental
Server Required
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Windows 10 Hard Deadline
June 30, 2026
None announced
None announced
Not applicable
Internet Dependency
Low
Low
Low
High
IT Complexity
High
Moderate to High
Moderate
Low to Moderate
Open Dental Certified Partner. Ekim IT Solutions is certified for Open Dental specifically, in addition to actively supporting Dentrix, Eaglesoft, and Curve Dental across our practice portfolio.
Which Platform Fits Your Practice
1. Server preference
Avoid a local server entirely
A local server is fine
2. Top priority
Minimize cost and own my data
Deepest feature set and AI integration
Comfortable, established ecosystem
Suggested platform
Frequently Asked Questions
There is no universally better choice. Dentrix offers the most features but the highest IT complexity. Eaglesoft is slightly less demanding. Open Dental offers the lowest cost and full data ownership with moderate IT complexity. Curve Dental eliminates server hardware but requires reliable internet as core infrastructure. Ekim IT Solutions recommends based on each practice’s existing infrastructure, growth plans, and available IT support.
Curve Dental has the lowest server-side IT complexity since there is no on-premise server to maintain. Open Dental is next, with moderate complexity. Eaglesoft and Dentrix have the highest IT complexity due to SQL Server or MySQL administration requirements and imaging bridge management.
Yes. Ekim IT Solutions actively supports Dentrix, Eaglesoft, Open Dental, and Curve Dental for dental practices across Maine, New England, Tampa Bay, and nationwide. We are a certified Open Dental vendor partner.
For a new practice avoiding server capital costs with reliable high-speed internet available, Curve Dental or another cloud platform is often the better infrastructure choice. For a practice in a location with unreliable internet or one that prioritizes data ownership, a server-based platform may be more appropriate. Ekim IT Solutions evaluates this decision for every new practice buildout we support.
Still deciding between Dentrix, Eaglesoft, Open Dental, and Curve and want the IT-side comparison that software vendors will never give you?
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 actively support all four platforms and can tell you from direct experience what each one demands from your infrastructure, your IT budget, and your compliance program before you commit.
The comparison that matters is not which software looks better in a demo. It is which one your IT environment can actually support. Find out which one fits yours.
Ezra Angelo
