Dentrix is a server-based system. Curve Dental is fully cloud-based. Switching between them is not just a software change. It is a change in how your entire practice infrastructure works.
Here is what the transition actually involves and what your practice needs to prepare.
2–4weeks average go-live delay
Practices that switch without preparing their IT infrastructure first face go-live delays averaging two to four weeks.
The most common cause is discovering that workstations, internet speed, or network configuration do not meet Curve Dental’s requirements after the migration is already scheduled.
What Changes When You Move to Curve Dental
Dentrix stores your data on a server inside your office. Curve Dental stores everything in the cloud. That shift touches almost every part of your IT environment.
Server
Your on-site server becomes unnecessary for practice management
Curve runs entirely in the browser, so the server that Dentrix used to run the database is no longer needed for that purpose. Your IT provider should advise on whether the server can be repurposed, powered down, or decommissioned. Do not decommission immediately after go-live.
Workstations
All workstations access Curve through a web browser instead of installed software
No software installation is required on each workstation. Instead, every machine needs a supported browser, a current operating system, and enough RAM to run Curve alongside imaging software simultaneously. Browser and OS requirements must be confirmed before go-live.
Internet
Your internet connection becomes the most critical piece of infrastructure
With Dentrix, a slow internet connection was inconvenient. With Curve, a slow or unstable connection stops the entire practice. Curve recommends a minimum of 25 Mbps download and 10 Mbps upload per workstation. Most practices need a speed upgrade before going live.
Imaging
Imaging software and hardware remain local and must be integrated separately
X-ray sensors, intraoral cameras, and imaging software stay on your local workstations. Curve integrates with most major imaging platforms, but your IT provider should verify compatibility with your specific equipment before migration begins.
Planning a Dentrix to Curve Dental migration? Find out in 15 minutes if we are the right fit.
Patient scheduling, billing, and charting functions all carry over. The interface looks different but the underlying tasks are the same.
Core practice management functions
Curve Dental supports the core functions that Dentrix covers including patient records, treatment history, insurance processing, and appointment management.
Imaging hardware and sensors
X-ray sensors, intraoral cameras, and digital X-ray systems stay in place. Compatibility with your specific equipment must be verified before migration begins.
Patient history and records
Curve provides a data conversion process that migrates patient records, treatment history, and scheduling information from Dentrix as part of the transition.
Imaging compatibility
Curve Dental integrates with most major imaging platforms, but compatibility varies by specific sensor and software version. Your IT provider should verify your equipment against Curve’s current integration list before the migration date is set.
What Your IT Environment Needs Before You Switch
Address these three items before your migration date is set. Check each one your IT environment currently meets.
Requirements confirmed0 / 3
Your IT environment meets Curve Dental’s requirements.
All three infrastructure requirements are confirmed. Your practice is ready to proceed with scheduling the migration date. Confirm imaging software compatibility with your specific sensors before go-live, as that step happens separately from the IT readiness check.
IT environment gaps need to be resolved before migration is scheduled.
The unchecked items are the most common causes of go-live delays. Scheduling a migration date before these are confirmed risks a two to four week delay after the migration is already underway. Resolve the outstanding items first, then confirm the migration window.
Your IT environment is not ready for a Curve Dental migration.
Multiple infrastructure requirements are unconfirmed. A migration scheduled without addressing these will very likely result in significant delays. Ekim IT Solutions handles pre-migration IT readiness assessments for dental practices and can confirm exactly what needs to be addressed before your migration date is set.
Curve Dental provides a data conversion process that migrates patient records, treatment history, and scheduling information from Dentrix. The conversion is handled by Curve's team, but your IT provider needs to prepare your existing Dentrix data and confirm a clean export before the migration window opens.
Check each data preparation step your practice has confirmed before the migration date is scheduled.
Data preparation steps confirmed0 / 4
Dentrix data preparation is confirmed.
All four data preparation steps are complete. Your practice is ready to hand off the export to Curve's conversion team. Confirm your IT environment readiness (Widget 04) if you have not already done so.
Data preparation steps still needed before migration can proceed.
The unchecked steps must be completed before the migration window opens. A missing backup or an unverified export are the most common causes of data loss during practice management migrations. Your IT provider should handle these items as part of their pre-migration preparation process.
Data preparation has not been started.
None of the required data preparation steps are confirmed. A migration that begins without a verified backup and a confirmed clean export puts practice data at risk. These steps must be completed before a migration date is scheduled, not after.
Most migrations take four to eight weeks from kickoff to go-live. That includes data conversion, workstation preparation, staff training, and network configuration. Practices that skip the IT preparation phase often extend that timeline significantly.
Not for practice management. Your server becomes unnecessary for Dentrix once Curve is live. However, if you use server-dependent imaging software, a server may still be required for imaging functions. Your IT provider should map out which systems depend on the server before decommissioning it.
Curve integrates with most major imaging platforms including DEXIS, Carestream, and Schick. Compatibility depends on your specific software version. Confirm integration support with both Curve and your imaging vendor before committing to a migration date.
Patient records are migrated through a formal data conversion process. Your Dentrix data is exported, converted to Curve's format, and imported into your new account. The conversion team handles the process, but your IT provider should verify data integrity before go-live.
Switching from Dentrix to Curve Dental? The infrastructure change is bigger than the software change.
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 handle the IT side of your Dentrix to Curve migration, network readiness, data transition support, and go-live setup so the switch does not take your practice offline.
Moving from server-based to cloud is not a software swap. Make sure your infrastructure is ready before you commit.
Ezra Angelo
