Curve Dental is a cloud-based practice management platform. That means no local server, no on-site database, and no after-hours update windows. Everything runs through a browser. Your data lives in Curve’s cloud infrastructure, not on a machine in your back office.
The tradeoff is that Curve’s performance depends entirely on your internet connection and your workstations. Get those right and the software runs smoothly. Get them wrong and you will feel it at the front desk and in the operatory.
These are Curve Dental’s official system requirements as published on their website for 2026.
That is the floor for an average practice with 1 to 10 users. If your office shares bandwidth with other tenants, or regularly transfers imaging files, you will need more.
Because Curve Dental is fully cloud-based, your internet connection is your most critical infrastructure component. A slow or unreliable connection affects every user simultaneously.
| Component | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Minimum speed | 10 Mbps download / 5 Mbps upload for a practice with 1 to 10 users. |
| Connection type | High Speed DSL, Cable, Fiber, or High Speed Copper (T1, T3). Satellite and wireless-only service are not recommended. |
| Shared bandwidth | If your office shares internet with other tenants in the same building, your effective bandwidth is lower. Curve recommends consulting your ISP or IT provider to determine the right plan. |
In practice, most dental IT professionals recommend significantly more than the minimum. A fiber connection of 100 Mbps or higher gives Curve the headroom it needs when multiple users are working simultaneously, uploading imaging files, or running video calls.
Curve Hero, Curve’s main practice management application, runs on both Windows and Mac. This is a meaningful advantage for practices that prefer Mac workstations or already have a mixed environment.
| Component | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Windows (Curve Hero) | Windows 10 or Windows 11 |
| Mac (Curve Hero) | macOS 11 Big Sur, macOS 12 Monterey, macOS 13 Ventura, macOS 14 Sonoma |
| Windows (Curve Capture) | Windows 10 or Windows 11 |
| Mac (Curve Capture) | macOS 12 Monterey, macOS 13 Ventura, macOS 14 Sonoma |
| Mobile (Curve Go) | iOS: latest 2 versions supported. Android: latest 3 versions supported. |
Curve Capture is Curve’s imaging acquisition module. It is not supported on terminal servers, RDP, or Citrix environments because it requires direct local access to imaging devices. If your practice uses a terminal server setup, confirm compatibility with Curve before committing.
Curve Hero runs in Google Chrome. Chrome is the only fully supported browser. Other browsers may work but are not officially supported and may cause display or functionality issues.
| Component | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Required browser | Google Chrome, always the latest version Chrome Required |
| Browser window | Run Curve Hero in a maximized browser window for correct display |
Because Curve runs in Chrome, keeping Chrome updated is part of your practice’s IT maintenance. Your IT provider should include Chrome version management in routine workstation maintenance.
| Component | Requirement |
|---|---|
| RAM | 8GB minimum. 16GB or higher recommended. 16GB Recommended |
| Display (recommended) | 19 inch monitor or larger. Screen resolution of 1920×1080 or better, with Curve running in a maximized window. |
| Display (minimum) | Curve Hero will run at 1280×1024 in a maximized browser window. |
| Monitor calibration | Curve recommends monitors be calibrated periodically for clinical image review accuracy. |
What makes Curve different from Dentrix and Eaglesoft
No server.
No maintenance, no update windows, no back office hardware.
Works on Mac.
Dentrix and Eaglesoft are Windows only. Curve runs on both.
Updates itself.
New features appear automatically. No IT involvement needed.
Cloud-based does not mean maintenance-free. Even without a local server, your practice still needs IT support for several things.
Network and internet infrastructure
Your router, firewall, and network switches need to be maintained and monitored. A failed router takes down every user simultaneously. Your IT provider should be monitoring network health and have a plan for rapid replacement if hardware fails.
Workstation health
Each workstation running Curve still needs operating system updates, Chrome updates, security patches, and antivirus monitoring. Cloud-based software does not protect endpoints from malware or ransomware.
Endpoint security and HIPAA compliance
HIPAA requires technical safeguards at the workstation level regardless of where your data lives. Encryption, access controls, automatic screen lock, and audit logging are all workstation-level requirements that your IT provider manages.
Imaging hardware integration
If your practice uses Curve’s imaging module, your sensors, cameras, and panoramic units still connect to local workstations. Hardware compatibility and driver maintenance are IT responsibilities.
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 check your workstations, network speed, and browser configurations against Curve Dental’s 2026 requirements and tell you exactly what needs attention and what can hold off.