Eaglesoft is a server-based platform built inside the Patterson Dental ecosystem. Curve Dental is a cloud-based system with no server requirement and no vendor ecosystem lock-in. Switching between them is a significant infrastructure change.
Here is what leaving Eaglesoft actually involves and what your practice should prepare before migration day.
Server Cost Planning
Eaglesoft requires a dedicated Windows server that cannot be used as a workstation. When you switch to Curve, that server becomes redundant.
Practices that plan their server exit alongside the migration avoid paying for hardware they no longer need. Practices that do not plan ahead often keep the server running for months after go-live. Your IT provider should advise on server decommissioning as part of migration planning, not as an afterthought.
Planning an Eaglesoft to Curve Dental migration? Find out in 15 minutes if we are the right fit.
What the Eaglesoft Ecosystem Means for Your Migration
Eaglesoft is designed to work closely with Patterson Dental products and services. If your practice uses Patterson Imaging, Patterson payment processing, or other Patterson-integrated tools, those connections need to be evaluated before you leave Eaglesoft.
Patterson ImagingEvaluate before switching
Patterson Payment ProcessingEvaluate before switching
Other Patterson IntegrationsEvaluate before switching
Some Patterson integrations do not carry over to Curve Dental. Your IT provider and Curve’s onboarding team should map out which connected tools need replacement and which ones can continue running independently before the migration date is set.
What Changes When You Move to Curve Dental
Check every change that requires preparation at your practice. Each one has specific IT work that must happen before go-live.
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No items selected yet.
You have reviewed all four change areas.
Understanding what changes is the first step. Each checked item needs a specific preparation task assigned to your IT provider before the migration date is set. The IT readiness checklist below covers the preparation steps for each one.
Some change areas identified that need preparation.
Each checked item requires specific IT preparation work before go-live. Server decommissioning planning and Patterson integration replacement are the most commonly overlooked items in Eaglesoft to Curve migrations.
Multiple major changes identified for your practice.
All four change areas apply to most Eaglesoft practices switching to Curve. Each requires specific preparation work from your IT provider before the migration window opens. Scheduling a migration without addressing these is the primary cause of go-live delays.
Complete these three steps before your migration date is set. Check each one your IT provider has confirmed is done.
Preparation steps confirmed0 / 3
All three IT preparation steps confirmed.
Your IT environment is ready to support a Curve Dental go-live. Proceed with scheduling the migration date in coordination with Curve's onboarding team. Confirm data preparation is also in order before the migration window opens.
IT preparation steps still outstanding.
The unchecked steps are the most common causes of go-live delays in Eaglesoft to Curve migrations. Scheduling a migration date before these are confirmed risks discovering infrastructure problems after the migration is already underway.
IT environment is not ready for migration.
None of the three preparation steps are confirmed. The migration should not be scheduled until all three are complete. Ekim IT Solutions handles pre-migration IT readiness assessments for Eaglesoft practices switching to Curve Dental.
Eaglesoft data conversion is handled by Curve's migration team. Your patient records, treatment history, and scheduling data are exported from Eaglesoft and imported into Curve's system. The process is thorough but not infallible, and having the source data available is a critical safety net.
Create a verified backup of your complete Eaglesoft database before migration begins
Your IT provider should create a verified backup before migration work begins. This means confirming the backup covers all Eaglesoft data locations and performing a restore test to confirm it actually works. A backup that has never been tested is a backup that might work.
Keep the Eaglesoft server accessible for at least 60 days after go-live
Do not decommission the Eaglesoft server immediately after switching to Curve. Keep it accessible for at least 60 days to handle historical lookups and confirm all data transferred correctly. Some practices discover data discrepancies weeks after go-live, and having the source available prevents those from becoming permanent problems.
Data conversion processes are thorough but not infallible. Having the Eaglesoft source data available for 60 days after go-live is the safety net that makes any discrepancy fixable rather than permanent.
Frequently Asked Questions
In most cases yes, but with limitations. Patterson Imaging runs locally on your server or workstation and can continue operating independently. However, the tight integration between Patterson Imaging and Eaglesoft does not carry over to Curve. Your IT provider should test the imaging workflow with Curve before go-live to confirm the setup works for your practice.
Once Curve Dental is live and stable, the server is no longer needed for practice management. If your practice uses server-dependent imaging software, the server may still be required for imaging functions. If not, the server can be decommissioned. Do not decommission it during the first 60 days after migration.
Most migrations run four to eight weeks from start to go-live. Practices with complex Patterson integrations or older infrastructure may need more time. Build in extra time for staff training since Curve's interface is meaningfully different from Eaglesoft.
Yes, provided you take a verified backup before migration begins. Curve's conversion team has an established process for migrating Eaglesoft data. Your IT provider's role is to ensure the source data is clean and complete before the conversion window opens.
Switching from Eaglesoft to Curve Dental? Leaving a server-based system is more than a software decision.
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 Eaglesoft to Curve migration, network readiness, data transition support, and go-live setup so nothing falls through the gap between platforms.
Leaving Eaglesoft means leaving the Patterson ecosystem entirely. Make sure your IT is ready for what comes next.
Ezra Angelo
