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How to Migrate from Eaglesoft to Open Dental
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Ezra Angelo
- • September 20, 2025
Some practices move from Eaglesoft to Open Dental for cost reasons. Others prefer Open Dental’s server flexibility or want a cloud option. Whatever is driving the decision, there is one critical detail every practice needs to know before scheduling anything.
The Eaglesoft to Open Dental migration is one of the more complex dental software transitions because of a specific imaging compatibility issue that catches many practices off guard. Understanding it before you start saves significant time and cost during the migration.
Open Dental has a dedicated conversions team that regularly handles Eaglesoft migrations. Most patient data transfers reliably. But the imaging situation requires a decision before any migration is scheduled.
Eaglesoft X-rays are stored in a proprietary format that cannot be directly bridged to Open Dental.
This is the single most important fact in any Eaglesoft to Open Dental migration. Without a separate image conversion, your historical X-rays and clinical photos remain accessible only from Eaglesoft after the cutover. Every practice must make a deliberate decision about imaging before the migration is scheduled.
The Imaging Decision You Must Make First
Before scheduling an Eaglesoft to Open Dental migration, every practice needs to make a decision about historical imaging. Select the option that best fits your situation.
Complete an image conversion through Open Dental
Open Dental offers an image conversion service that converts Eaglesoft imaging data into a format Open Dental can display. This is an additional service with its own fee.
It allows historical X-rays to be viewed directly inside Open Dental after migration. Staff do not need to switch between systems to access older images, and no separate Eaglesoft installation needs to remain active.
Best for: practices that want a clean break from Eaglesoft and full access to historical imaging within Open Dental. Contact Open Dental’s conversions team to confirm eligibility and current fees.
Keep Eaglesoft installed for historical image access
Some practices choose not to convert historical images and instead keep Eaglesoft installed and accessible for viewing older X-rays. New images after migration are captured using an Open Dental-compatible imaging system.
This is a lower-cost option but requires maintaining Eaglesoft access indefinitely for older patient records. Staff need to know which system to open depending on whether the X-ray predates or postdates the migration cutover.
Best for: practices that want to minimize upfront migration costs and are comfortable running two systems in parallel for historical image access.
Purchase a new imaging solution and leave historical images in Eaglesoft
Some practices use the migration as an opportunity to switch imaging platforms entirely. They acquire a new imaging system compatible with Open Dental and leave historical X-rays accessible from Eaglesoft.
Over time, as older patients are seen, new X-rays replace the historical ones. This approach works well when the existing imaging hardware is aging and the practice planned to upgrade anyway.
Best for: practices already planning a hardware refresh or wanting to modernize their imaging setup alongside the software migration. Your IT provider and Open Dental’s conversions team can help evaluate fit.
What Transfers from Eaglesoft to Open Dental
Patient demographics
Names, addresses, phone numbers, birthdays, and account information transfer as part of the standard conversion. Provider assignments convert with patient records.
Appointment history
Past appointment data converts. Future appointments require provider and hygienist verification after the final conversion. Open Dental recommends running the Update Provs on Future Appts tool on each operatory immediately after go-live.
Action required after go-liveInsurance plans and ledger data
Insurance plan information and account balances transfer. Outstanding claims at the time of cutover must be manually entered into Open Dental before billing resumes.
Outstanding claims require manual re-entryProcedure codes
Eaglesoft procedure codes often begin with a zero rather than the ADA D-code format. Code cleanup is typically required after conversion to ensure codes are properly formatted for billing.
Code cleanup typically requiredFour things to decide before this migration is scheduled
Imaging path chosen
Convert historical images, keep Eaglesoft for historical access, or switch imaging systems. This decision affects cost, timeline, and what your IT provider needs to configure before go-live.
Server requirements confirmed
Open Dental supports Windows, Linux, and macOS servers. Your IT provider confirms the server configuration and handles installation and setup before the final migration window.
Outstanding claims identified
Billing staff identify all outstanding claims before the cutover date. These require manual re-entry into Open Dental before billing can resume after go-live.
Training planned
Staff must be comfortable with Open Dental before go-live, not learning on the day. Front desk and clinical staff should complete training in advance of the migration weekend.
The Migration Process Step by Step
Four stages every Eaglesoft to Open Dental migration goes through. Check off the steps your practice has completed.
What to Expect on Go-Live Day
Go-live day should be scheduled on a Monday following a weekend migration. By that morning, the data is in Open Dental, workstations are running the client, and your imaging solution is configured. Staff will be slower than usual during the first week. That is normal with any platform change and not a sign that something went wrong.
Imaging confusion during patient appointments
Staff who are used to accessing X-rays directly in Eaglesoft need to know ahead of time whether historical images will be in Open Dental or whether they need to open Eaglesoft for older patient records. Communicate this clearly before day one so it does not create confusion during patient appointments.
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. As a certified Open Dental vendor partner, we handle the server configuration, data migration support, and go-live setup so your practice lands on Open Dental without the chaos.
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- • September 20, 2025
