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Blog / Switching from Open Dental to Dentrix: What to Know
All Dental

Switching from Open Dental to Dentrix: What to Know

A dental software migration banner titled "How to Migrate from OpenDental to Dentrix," showing the Open Dental and Dentrix logos with a blue arrow indicating the data transition.

Open Dental is open-source and runs on Windows, Linux, or macOS. Dentrix runs on Windows Server and operates within the Henry Schein One ecosystem. Switching from one to the other is not just a software change. It is a shift in infrastructure requirements, vendor relationships, and ongoing IT overhead.

Here is what your practice needs to prepare before making the move.

Critical Infrastructure Requirement

Dentrix requires a dedicated Windows Server environment. Practices running Open Dental on a Linux or macOS server will need to replace their server hardware before Dentrix can be installed.

Discovering this during the migration window rather than before it is one of the most common causes of go-live delays for practices switching to Dentrix. Server procurement and setup typically takes two to four weeks and must happen before any migration work begins.

Planning an Open Dental to Dentrix migration? Find out in 15 minutes if we are the right fit.
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Why Practices Switch from Open Dental to Dentrix

DSO standardization

Joining a DSO that has standardized on Dentrix across all locations requires the switch regardless of preference

Acquisition of a Dentrix practice

Acquiring a practice that already runs Dentrix and consolidating onto a single platform for the group

Ecosystem preference

Preference for the Henry Schein ecosystem, broader third-party integrations, and a larger support network

Open Dental

Chosen for flexibility, lower software cost, and cross-platform compatibility. Runs on Windows, Linux, or macOS. Open-source with a strong community but a smaller third-party integration network.

Dentrix

Chosen for its market share, vendor partnerships, and the depth of its integration with Patterson and Henry Schein products. Requires Windows Server and operates within a more structured ecosystem.

What Changes in Your IT Environment

Check each infrastructure change your IT provider has confirmed is addressed before your migration date.

Infrastructure changes addressed 0 / 3

All three infrastructure changes confirmed ready.

Your IT environment is prepared for the Dentrix transition. Confirm data backup and imaging compatibility are also in order before the migration window opens.

Infrastructure changes still outstanding.

The unchecked items must be addressed before migration begins. The Windows Server requirement is the most commonly discovered issue too late: if your current server runs Linux or macOS, procurement must start now to avoid delaying the migration timeline.

IT environment is not ready for Dentrix.

None of the three infrastructure changes have been addressed. A migration scheduled without a Windows Server in place, workstation installations planned, and Henry Schein connections mapped will almost certainly be delayed. These items must be in motion before a migration date is set.

Talk to Ekim about Dentrix migration prep →

What Happens to Your Open Dental Data

Patient records convert through a formal conversion process

Henry Schein has a data conversion process for migrating from Open Dental to Dentrix. Patient records, appointment history, treatment notes, and billing data transfer through a formal conversion. Your IT provider should export a clean, verified copy of your Open Dental database before the conversion window opens. Keep the Open Dental server accessible for at least 60 days after go-live for historical lookups.

Imaging data is handled separately and compatibility must be verified

If you use an imaging system that is compatible with both platforms, the transition is straightforward. If your current imaging setup is not Dentrix-compatible, your IT provider should identify a replacement before migration day. Imaging incompatibility discovered on go-live day is one of the most disruptive migration problems a practice can face.

What Your IT Provider Should Do Before Go-Live

Check each pre-go-live task your IT provider has confirmed is complete before the migration date is set.

Pre-go-live tasks confirmed 0 / 5

All five pre-go-live tasks confirmed.

Your IT environment is ready for the Dentrix migration. Coordinate the go-live date with Henry Schein's onboarding team and confirm staff training is scheduled before migration day.

Pre-go-live tasks still outstanding.

The unchecked items must be completed before migration begins. Server hardware and workstation installation take the most lead time: if these have not started, a migration date should not be set until they are underway.

Most pre-go-live IT tasks are not confirmed.

A migration from Open Dental to Dentrix without these items in place will almost certainly be delayed or result in a failed go-live. Each item represents a specific failure mode that Ekim IT Solutions addresses as part of every dental software migration preparation.

Talk to Ekim about migration prep →

Frequently Asked Questions

Only if your current server already runs Windows Server. Open Dental supports Linux and macOS servers, which Dentrix does not. If your server runs a non-Windows operating system, it must be replaced before Dentrix can be installed.
Most major imaging platforms including DEXIS, Carestream, and Schick are compatible with Dentrix. Compatibility depends on your specific software version and bridge configuration. Your IT provider should verify this before the migration is scheduled.
Most migrations take four to eight weeks from kickoff to go-live. Practices that need new server hardware should budget additional time for procurement and setup. The conversion process itself is managed by Henry Schein's team, but IT preparation runs concurrently.
Yes. Open Dental and Dentrix have different interfaces, workflows, and terminology. Henry Schein provides training resources, but plan for a learning curve during the first two to four weeks after go-live. Staff productivity typically dips before it recovers.
Switching from Open Dental to Dentrix? The infrastructure requirements are not the same and neither is the IT overhead.

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 server setup, data migration support, and Windows environment configuration your practice needs to land on Dentrix without the chaos.

Moving to Dentrix means moving to a whole new IT environment. Make sure yours is built for it before migration day.
Plan your Dentrix migration →

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