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As a dental practice owner or office manager, you understand the importance of effective communication with patients. Lackluster communication can lead to no-shows and cancellations, both of which are costly for dental practices.
According to Dental Economics, a single no-show per day can result in between $20,000 and $70,000 in lost revenue annually. One study found that the use of automated dental reminders (which are part of every good dental communication software) can reduce no-shows by an average of 22.95%.
A common question we hear from the dentists we work with is:
What is the best dental patient communication software to improve efficiency and reduce no‑shows?
As a digital marketing agency that works with dentists, we’ve seen the impact no-shows and cancellations have on our clients. We’ve created this comprehensive guide to help you find the best dental SMS software for your practice. Continue reading to discover how to select the ideal software for your needs, access comprehensive feature lists, detailed pricing information, FAQs, and practical guidance to choose the best patient engagement platform for dentists.
Key Takeaways
- HIPAA compliance is a must for secure, two-way patient communication.
- Seamless PMS integrations (e.g., Dentrix, Open Dental, Eaglesoft) prevent double‑entry and errors.
- Mobile scheduling and communication meet patient expectations for convenience.
- Appointment links on Google and social media help to engage and attract new patients.
- Online review & reputation management can help you level up your patient communication and satisfaction.
- Customizable messaging options help keep patients engaged and make them more compliant with treatment plans.
What is Dental Patient Communication Software?
Dental patient engagement software is a type of software designed to enhance dentists’ communication with patients in various ways. You may also consider it a texting software solution for dentists, enabling HIPAA-compliant texting for dental practices. It may include features such as SMS confirmation, automated recall, and review requests.
Dental communication software is a natural evolution of earlier communication methods, starting with manual calls to confirm patient appointments and answer their questions. Today, automated SMS and email platforms have simplified the process. In other words, the right software can serve as your practice’s digital front desk!
When you invest in software to improve dental patient engagement, you’re also investing in:
- Fewer no-shows and cancellations
- Better adherence to treatment plans
- Increased patient loyalty
- Greater patient retention
For example, a patient who has forgotten their appointment is more likely to show up if they receive an automated text reminder. If aftercare is required, that same patient may do a much better job of adhering to your recommendations than they would otherwise, reducing the need for more expensive dental care down the line. Plus, they’ll remember you as the dentist who helped them feel better, making them loyal to you and a potential referral source as well.
Key Features to Look for Before Choosing a Solution
When you begin your search for dental text message software, there are key features that you should be aware of as you schedule demos and prepare to make your decision.
- Two-Way Texting and Chat. It’s essential to have a secure way for patients to reach out to you with questions and for you to respond. Both can improve communication and patient loyalty.
- Appointment Reminders & Confirmations. Automated appointment confirmations and reminders are a crucial component of dental communication software. They can reduce no-shows and lost income.
- Automated Patient Recalls. An automated dental recall system helps dental practices retain patients by keeping them engaged and facilitating the booking of new appointments, ensuring they stay up-to-date with their dental care.
- Practice Management Software Integrations. If you’re already using practice management software, you’ll need to find patient communication software that integrates with Dentrix, Open Dental, or whatever PMS you’re currently using.
- Bulk Messaging & Campaign Tools. Dental practice marketing and patient communication are inextricably linked. Having the option to send bulk messages and link appointment booking to your social media accounts can be a huge help if you want to grow your practice.
- Analytics & Reporting. Another helpful marketing feature is access to analytics and reporting. These can help you track the impact of your patient communication efforts and increase bookings and patient retention.
- HIPAA Compliance & Security. You don’t need us to tell you why HIPAA compliance and security are important. Your patients trust you with their personal information, and compliance and security help you retain their trust.
- AI-Powered Personalization. Artificial intelligence can’t do everything, but it can be useful when it comes to predicting patients’ scheduling needs and preferences. It’s also helpful if you want to personalize patient messaging.
- Security, HIPAA, and Compliance. Require a signed BAA, multi-factor authentication (MFA), audit logs, encryption, and clear data export terms.
- Deposits and Waitlists. Online deposits and automated waitlists reduce no-shows and fill cancellations.
- Digital Forms & E‑Sign. Medical history, consents, and uploads; prefer secure links and multilingual options.
- Payments. Text-to-pay, card-on-file, and financing (e.g., CareCredit) to speed collections.
As you review the features, be sure to check for the most recent updates. For example, NexHealth has recently added predictive analytics to help practice owners improve their marketing ROI and increase their profits.
Benefits of Dental Patient Communication Software
Investing in patient engagement software for dentists has many benefits. Here are some key considerations to keep in mind.
- New Patient Acquisition. New patient acquisition is directly tied to patient communication. Most patients expect online scheduling, automated reminders, and the ability to communicate securely with their providers. You’ll have an easier time acquiring new patients if your reviews show that you do these things.
- Reduced No-Shows. When patients don’t receive regular communication from their dental providers, they’re less likely to make their appointments. Sending automated reminders has been shown to reduce no-shows from over 30% to 14%.
- Improved Patient Satisfaction. Studies have shown that professional communication with patients improves patient outcomes and patient satisfaction.
- Reduced Administrative Workload. Your front office staff could spend hours each day making appointment confirmations and reminder phone calls to clients, or they could spend their time doing other things. Using dental office communication tools frees up their time and can make your practice run more efficiently.
- Increased Revenue. Depending on where you practice, acquiring one new dental patient can cost $500 or more. Retaining patients through improved communications means you’ll spend less time attracting new patients while making it easier to appeal to new patients in your service area.
- Better Reviews. Good patient reviews serve as a beacon for new patients and reduce the cost of growing your practice. Ongoing and professional communication will make your practice appealing to prospective patients.
Research indicates that SMS reminders are the most effective, with a success rate of 97% to 99%. That’s compared to a significantly lower 30% to 60% success rate for telephone reminders. Studies, including one published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, indicate that SMS reminders can reduce no-show rates by up to 38% in outpatient settings. With patient experience software, dental practices can increase patient retention, reduce no-shows, and improve patient outcomes.
How Does Dental Patient Communication Software Work?
HIPAA-compliant dental software can enhance patient communication and workflow, ensuring patients remain engaged. As a result, they’ll trust you with their care and be more likely to refer their family and friends to your practice.
Here are the basic steps that illustrate how dental patient communication software works.
- Scheduling. Patients log into your scheduling page or click a “Book Now” button on the Google search results page or your social media ad. From there, they’ll view a synced version of your calendar displaying available appointment times. Some of the best software options show appointments by treatment type, chair, or practitioner.
- Reminders. Patients opt in to receive email or SMS reminders when they schedule their appointment. They’ll receive automated reminders, including options to confirm or reschedule their appointments. With automated appointment reminders, dental patients are less likely to forget appointments and more likely to get the dental care they need.
- Two-way Messaging. With HIPAA-compliant dental software, you can send messages to patients regarding their upcoming appointments, and they can contact you if they have any questions.
- Recalls. When a patient has missed an appointment or hasn’t yet scheduled a cleaning or follow-up, you can send automated and personalized messages to re-engage them and get them back to your practice.
- Billing reminders. If a patient has an outstanding balance with you, the right patient communication software can send them reminders and link them directly to a payment page, allowing them to bring their account up to date.
One of the biggest challenges to consider is integration. If you’re investing in stand-alone patient communication software, ensure that the solution you choose integrates seamlessly with your practice management software.
Best Dental Patient Communication Software in 2026
Now, it’s time to review our picks for the best communication platforms for dentists in 2026.
| Software | Best For | Key Strengths | Integrations | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Weave  |
Review Management |
|
20+ (Dentrix, Open Dental) | $249/mo |
Solutionreach |
Customization |
|
400+ | Custom |
RevenueWell |
Affordability |
|
6 (Dentrix, Open Dental) | $189/mo |
Lighthouse 360 |
Procedure Reminders |
|
18 (Dentrix, Open Dental) | Quote-based |
Doctible |
Growing Practices |
|
11 (Open Dental) | Custom |
NexHealth |
Reducing No-Shows |
|
Dentrix, Open Dental | Custom |
Dental Intelligence |
Patient Loyalty |
|
VoIP, PMS | Custom |
Practice by Numbers |
Engagement Insights |
|
Open Dental only | $249/mo |
PracticeDilly |
Mobile-First |
|
Dentrix, Open Dental | $99/mo |
|
Podium
|
Reputation Management |
|
Dentrix, Open Dental + more | Custom |
Weave: Best for Review and Reputation Management
Overview:
Weave is an all-in-one patient communication platform that handles every aspect of patient engagement from appointment booking to payment reminders. It’s a good choice for dental practices that want to integrate review and reputation management with other aspects of patient engagement. Integrates with more than 20 of the most popular PMS solutions, including Open Dental, Dentrix, Curve, and Eaglesoft.
Some of the most attractive features of Weave include Call Pop, which displays patient information for incoming calls; landline texting, automated appointment reminders and missed call texts; automated review requests; and review management.
Limitation:
Syncing sometimes is slow during peak hours.
Pros:
- All-in-one communication is useful and maximizes patient engagement
- Includes review and reputation management
- User-friendly interface
Cons:
- Pricing may be too high for some small practices or solo practitioners
- Some users report glitches in call integration
- Customer support may be slow in some cases
Best For:
Dental practices looking for an all-in-one communication solution that includes review and reputation management.
Pricing:
3 plan tiers: Ultimate, Elite, and Professional. Pricing starts at $249/month. Contact Sales for a quote.
Customer Ratings/Reviews:
4.3 out of 5 stars on Capterra
Dentists say:
My office uses Weave for digital forms and text to pay. They have been great. We have found when a patient receives an invoice or forms link directly from our phone #, they are much more likely to engage with it than if they get it from an outside phone #. More confidence, less friction. - DentalTown
Our Take:
The best dental software for patient communication should include tools that automate repetitive tasks for front office staff, thereby building patient trust. Weave does exactly that, and we particularly appreciate the missed call texts and call integration, both of which help dental practice staff make patients feel appreciated.
Solutionreach: Best for Customization
Overview:
Solutionreach is dental communication software that offers a range of features, including secure text messaging with customizable options, bulk messaging, easy-to-use online scheduling, and insurance eligibility checking. It’s a good choice for practices that want the option to customize messaging.
Over 400 integrations are available through SyncAssure, including many popular dental practice management systems, as well as claims, payment, and phone software. Some of Solutionreach’s best features include mobile & online scheduling, HIPAA-compliant two-way texting, insurance eligibility checking, automated reminders for appointments & payments, and patient recall.
Limitation:
Reporting & analytics features are limited.
Pros:
- Customization options make it easy to earn patients’ trust
- Automation saves you and your staff time on repetitive tasks
- One of the few communication systems to include insurance eligibility
- 400+ integrations
Cons:
- New integrations may have some glitches
- Frequent updates may frustrate some users
- As a newer platform, users may experience some growing pains
Best For:
Dental practices that want a highly customizable solution for patient engagement.
Pricing:
Three plan options: contact sales to schedule a demo and get a quote
Customer Ratings/Reviews:
Dentists say:
It offers the ability to contact your patients in the manner that they prefer, be it voice, text or email. Everything can be customized to the messages, information and education you want your patient to receive. Nothing your patients receive will ever say Solutionreach...it will all be coming from your office, promoting your brand. - DentalTown
Our Take:
We appreciate Solutionreach for its customizable patient messaging, which enables dental practices to effectively engage patients and maintain their interest, fostering trust while leveraging automation.
RevenueWell: Best for Affordability with Premium Features
Overview:
RevenueWell markets itself as an all-in-one dental marketing software, offering a range of communication tools for dental practices. Integrates with Dentrix, Dentrix Ascend, Open Dental, Eaglesoft, and WinOMS, as well as CareCredit for patient financing.
Some of RevenueWell’s features include online booking, two-way texting and emailing, automated birthday greetings, and marketing features such as online review management and social media integration.
Limitation:
Frequent updates can occasionally cause glitches in the software.
Pros:
- Custom campaigns improve patient engagement
- Pricing is lower and more affordable for small practices
- Easy to use for staff and patients
Cons:
- Limited integrations may be problematic for some practices
- Some users have mentioned that outages can be a problem
- Confirm SMS/MMS usage fees to avoid surprises
Best For:
RevenueWell is best for practices that want access to premium features without paying a high price.
Pricing:
3 pricing plans: Starter, Professional, and Premium. The Starter plan is currently priced at $189 per month. For quotes on the Professional and Premium options, please contact Sales.
Customer Ratings/Reviews:
4.5 out of 5 stars on Capterra
Dentists say:
One of my favorite features is that patients can fill out their forms online before they arrive at the office. The positive impact this software has had on our practice is invaluable. I would recommend it to any office that would like to improve their communication/relationship with patients. - Capterra
Our Take:
RevenueWell offers a unique set of features that focus on the relationship between patient engagement and successful dental marketing. While it’s not a replacement for an experienced dental marketing firm, it can be a cost-effective way for new practices to streamline patient communication.
Lighthouse 360: Best for Procedure-Based Reminders
Overview:
Lighthouse 360 is patient experience software that includes multiple engagement features, such as online scheduling, patient recall, patient message history, and waitlist management, to ensure you’re not losing money due to no-shows and cancellations. Lighthouse 360 integrates best with Dentrix and other Henry Schein products, but it will integrate with 18 popular software options, including Open Dental.
Lighthouse 360 has some excellent communication features, including two-way personalized messaging with access to patient messaging history, online appointment scheduling, procedure-based reminders, and waitlist management to fill vacant spots in your schedule.
Limitation:
Message templates are less customizable than those of some competitors; verify any PMS-specific limitations.
Pros:
- Easy to use and set up
- Reviewers praise the patient engagement features
- Calendar management features are strong
Cons:
- Integrations may need work
- Some reviewers mentioned long hold times for customer service
Best For:
Sending procedure-based reminders to improve patient compliance and outcomes.
Pricing:
Contact sales for a quote.
Customer Ratings/Reviews:
4.1 out of 5 stars on Capterra
Dentists say:
Overall, Lighthouse has been a helpful addition to our practice and has made some aspects of patient communication easier for us. All the appointment reminders and confirmation texts, eliminated our need to manually call and confirm/remind patients which saved our office a lot of time. - Capterra
Our Take:
Dentists wanting to enhance patient compliance with procedure preparation and post-treatment care will benefit from Lighthouse 360’s customized reminders. It’s also a good choice for practices that want an easy way to manage waitlists to maximize revenue.
Doctible: Best for Growing Practices
Overview:
Doctible is patient engagement software that includes the features necessary to scale and grow a dental practice. Their website reveals that clients have added up to $187,000 in annual revenue thanks to reduced no-shows and improved patient engagement. Integration is available with 11 of the most popular PMS solutions, including DentiMax, Dolphin, and Open Dental.
Important features include online scheduling, a website messenger, automated text & voice reminders, digital patient forms, and an online reputation manager, all of which can help small practices grow.
Limitation:
Not ideal for large or multi-location practices.
Pros:
- Seamless scheduling helps reduce no-shows and cancellations
- Patient review outreach improves online reputation
- Users praise Doctible’s customer care
Cons:
- Cancellation requires written notification
- Some integrations don’t include analytics
- Analytics availability can vary by integration; confirm reports you need.
Best For:
New and growing practices
Pricing:
Schedule a free demo to get a custom quote
Customer Ratings/Reviews:
4.8 stars out of 5 stars on Capterra
Dentists say:
I use doctible with good success. 200+ reviews in the first year. - DentalTown
Our Take:
Doctible is a great choice for small practices that want software that can grow with them. Pricing is tied to growth, and scaling is built in. We also appreciate the company’s focus on customer care, which is often lacking in many of the newest patient communication solutions.
NexHealth: Best for Reducing No-Shows
Overview:
NexHealth is software specifically designed to help dental practices enhance the patient experience through online scheduling, secure two-way communication, fillable online forms, billing reminders, and more. Their Synchronizer API enables seamless integration with Denticon, Dentrix, Apes, Open Dental, and read/write capabilities with your PMS.
Limitation:
Requires time to set up custom reminders and follow-up messages.
Pros:
- Excellent customer support & onboarding
- Wide array of integrations
- Deposits and easy rescheduling links help cut no-shows
Cons:
- Some reviewers mention lag times that can occasionally impact patient scheduling.
- There’s a need for more customization options for messages.
Best For:
Reducing no-shows with consistent communication
Pricing:
Pricing is based on practice specifics; fill out their form to get a quote.
Customer Ratings/Reviews:
4.7 out of 5 stars on Capterra
Dentists say:
Nexhealth with Eaglesoft has worked well for our office. There are a few learning curves to avoid patients getting texts that we do not want to go out. But the front loves it overall! - DentalTown
Our Take:
NexHealth is one of the most effective solutions for reducing no-shows, thanks to its credit card deposit option, which ensures that patients who fail to show up and don’t reschedule will be charged a fee. Practices using NexHealth saw a 78% increase in new patient bookings and a 75% increase in existing patient bookings during the pandemic, demonstrating the platform’s effectiveness in driving practice growth even under challenging conditions. We also like their strong onboarding and training support for new clients.
Dental Intelligence: Best for Improving Patient Loyalty
Overview:
Dental Intelligence Engagement (formerly Modento), is a data-based software solution designed to streamline patient communication and increase patient loyalty. Patients can choose to receive appointment reminders and aftercare updates via email, SMS, or mobile push notifications.
Integrations are available for most dental practice management solutions, as well as VoIP software and payment processors. Key features include online/mobile scheduling, a mobile app for patients, virtual check-in, automated reminders, bulk messaging, and voicemail drops.
Limitation:
The broad feature set requires training to maximize value.
Pros:
- Users praise the company’s client support
- Flexible filters maximize usability
- It’s easy to view patient claims and billing to integrate with chat
Cons:
- There are some integration kinks to be worked out
- Some users have mentioned that they wish they could filter analytics by team member
Best For:
Building patient loyalty
Pricing:
Book a free demo to get a custom quote
Customer Ratings/Reviews:
4.7 out of 5 stars on Capterra
Dentists say:
DI has been transformative in the practice with recall and upping perio production. We get it as part of our practice coaching package but I would advocate for it even without. - Reddit
Our Take:
We love Dental Intelligence’s thoughtful selection of patient communication tools, particularly their analytics-based approach that offers patients the choice of how to receive communication from you and your staff.
Practice by Numbers: Best for Patient Engagement Insights
Overview:
Practice by Numbers is an all-in-one patient communication software that helps with everything from patient scheduling to claims submissions and payments. It strives to be an inclusive front-office solution for dental practices of all sizes. A potential downside is that at this time, its only integration is with Open Dental.
Some features that practices may find helpful include easy online scheduling and automated reminders, secure two-way communication, Patient Finder, and custom marketing campaigns to attract new patients to your practice.
Limitation:
Open Dental–first; confirm features available for other PMS.
Pros:
- Reviewers rave about Practice by Numbers’ customer support
- The user-friendly interface is easy to learn
- Real-time insights make patient management simple and intuitive
Cons:
- The only integration available is Open Dental
- Some users have mentioned connectivity issues
Best For:
Practices that want to leverage data and analytics for patient insights.
Pricing:
Four pricing tiers are available: Core, Flow, Scale, and Thrive. Prices start at $249/month; contact sales for a quote for higher tiers.
Customer Ratings/Reviews:
Dentists say:
Practice by Numbers for the win! We were able to reschedule patients by viewing the schedule and also get phone numbers from the website. - DentalTown
Our Take:
We appreciate Practice by Numbers for its excellent customer support and training, as well as for providing real-time patient insights to enhance communication. We hope to see them add more integrations, as Open Dental is currently the only one available.
PracticeDilly: Best for Mobile-First Patient Management
Overview:
PracticeDilly is patient communication and dental reputation management software. It offers expansive patient communication features, from online booking to dental insurance verification and text-to-pay, making it a true all-in-one solution for patient management.
Integrations are available with Dentrix, Eaglesoft, Open Dental, and Practice Web. Patient communication features include a mobile app, automated confirmations & reminders, two-way texting, automated recalls, and online reputation management. They also offer dental insurance verification and a text-to-pay feature.
Limitation:
Restrictive and frequently changed Terms of Use may be challenging for some practices. Review current Terms carefully; terms and pricing can change.
Pros:
- Mobile features make it easy for patients to schedule appointments and for staff to keep track of their schedules.
- Transparent pricing
- One of the few communication software solutions to offer a 30-day free trial
Cons:
- Mobile-first option may not be right for every practice
Best For:
Practices looking for a mobile-first communication solution.
Pricing:
Three pricing plans: Basic for $99 per month, Pro for $129 per month, and Premier for $179 per month. Prices are based on practice size.
Customer Ratings/Reviews:
4.5 out of 5 stars on the Apple Store
Dentists say:
Their price is very reasonable and we mainly needed patient communication software, for reminders and texts and this has worked out perfectly for us. Also, it’s very easy to reach customer care which is what I value the most before we commit to any business. - Dental Town
Our Take:
If you prefer mobile-first solutions, we don’t think there’s a better option than PracticeDilly. We appreciate their transparent pricing, a rarity in the world of dental software, as well as their free trial.
Podium: Best for Review & Reputation Management
Overview:
Podium is a dental marketing software solution that features several tools to enhance patient communication and engagement. Its primary focus is on marketing, especially online reputation and review management. Dozens of integrations are available, including Dentrix, Open Dental, and Eaglesoft, as well as popular platforms such as Sage, QuickBooks, and HubSpot.
Some of Podium’s features include secure, two-way patient communication, reputation and review management, and a selection of marketing tools to help practices manage their campaigns.
Limitation:
It may not be ideal for practices that require features such as bulk messaging or customizable reminders.
Pros:
- Automated review requests make building your online reputation easy
- Real-time, HIPAA-compliant texting strengthens patient relationships
- AI tools make automation a snap
Cons:
- Some users dislike Podium’s long-term contracts
- There’s no option for patient scheduling
- Some users say customer service is too slow to respond
Best For:
Online review and reputation management
Pricing:
Three plans, including Core, Pro, and Signature. Contact sales to book a demo and get a personalized quote.
Customer Ratings/Reviews:
4.3 out of 5 stars on Capterra
Dentists say:
Starting using Podium yesterday afternoon. Was able to already to get 2, new 5 star Google reviews. If I can continue to get just 2 a day, I will be very happy. It really is so easy to use. - DentalTown
Our Take:
We like Podium’s mobile-first features and that it’s so easy to automate review requests and manage reviews once they’re posted. We would also like it to include patient scheduling options.
Questions to ask vendors
- How do you integrate with our PMS (read/write, sync frequency, conflict handling)?
- Can you show role-based permissions, MFA, and audit logs?
- What are SMS/MMS/voice rates and typical monthly usage for a 5‑op practice?
- What’s included in onboarding and training? After-hours support?
- Do you support deposits and automated waitlists? Which processors?
- What’s the data export format and fee at termination?
How to Choose the Right Patient Communication Software for Your Practice
Here’s our mini buyer’s guide to help you choose the best communication tools for dental practices to retain more patients and grow your practice.
Here’s our breakdown for choosing patient engagement software based on practice size.
- Small practices may need to focus on cost, sticking to budget-friendly tools such as RevenueWell, and may also appreciate software that can grow with them.
- Multi-location practices may be best served by all-in-one communication software and scalable tools such as Weave, which make it easy to change plans.
- Marketing-heavy practices, including those in a growth phase, may prefer Podium due to its focus on reputation and reviews, as well as its seamless integration with dental marketing.
We suggest making a list of the features that are most important to you. Here’s a sample decision checklist.
Rank each feature, then compare the patient communication software options to select the one that best suits your practice.
How We Evaluated These Platforms
We evaluated each platform based on its patient communication features, HIPAA compliance, PMS integrations, pricing, messaging capabilities, and multi-location support. We also reviewed vendor documentation, user reviews, and public demos. Pricing/features are subject to change; please confirm details with each vendor.
Implementation Tips
- Take advantage of free demos and trial periods to evaluate software and ensure it meets your needs.
- Pilot any new software with a small group of key staff members to resolve issues before you roll it out to everyone in your practice.
- Take advantage of all onboarding resources and training offered by the vendor.
- If you have more than one location, phase the rollout to minimize disruption.
- Train your front-office employees on exception handling, such as late cancellations and partial or incomplete payments.
- Double-check your data migration and backup process.
- Document procedures related to your new software, including your reminder cadence and deposit policy, and put documentation on your website.
These tips can help you avoid the most common issues related to using new software.
Emerging Trends in 2026
When choosing automated dental marketing tools, it’s important to focus on emerging trends, including:
- AI dental communication software, which may include predictive scheduling and smart reminders.
- Enhanced automation features, including marketing tie-ins, campaign tracking, and integrated appointment & billing reminders.
- Multi-channel engagement that allows patients to connect with your practice via email, SMS, patient portals, and social media.
We’re keeping an eye on the future. AI features are a significant trend, but it’s equally important to consider how AI usage may impact patients’ privacy. We’re all going to have to evolve to take advantage of new technology without losing sight of what patients need.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best dental patient communication software?
We can’t tell you what’s best for your practice, but we think the best options streamline repetitive tasks with automation and focus on keeping patients engaged and enthusiastic.
How does dental patient communication software work?
Dental patient communication software streamlines processes by automating repetitive tasks for front office staff, sending automated reminders and follow-ups, and even prompting patients to pay their bills or submit insurance information. It can also nudge them to write reviews and help you manage your online reputation.
Why is patient communication software important for dentists?
Patient communication software can reduce no-shows and cancellations, keep patients engaged, build trust, and help you maintain a positive online reputation.
Which software integrates best with Dentrix, Eaglesoft, or Open Dental?
Open Dental is the most common integration. We would say NexHealth is one of the best options for integrations.
How much does dental patient communication software cost?
Most dental patient communication software offers custom pricing, but those with transparent pricing typically have costs starting at around $200 per month.
Can patient communication software reduce no-shows in dental practices?
Yes! Features such as synced scheduling and automated appointment confirmation & reminders make it less likely that patients will miss an appointment.
What features should I look for in dental patient communication software?
HIPAA-compliant texting for dental practices is crucial, as many patients prefer text messaging over email or phone calls. We also suggest looking for automated appointment and aftercare reminders to reduce no-shows.
Is dental patient communication software compliant with HIPAA?
Not automatically. Choose a vendor that signs a BAA and provides safeguards (encryption, MFA, audit logs) and uses minimal PHI in messages.
How does dental patient communication software integrate with dental marketing?
Dental marketing integration software should link to various marketing channels, including custom marketing campaigns, email marketing, bulk messaging, and social media marketing. Some solutions allow patients to book an appointment or message their provider directly from Facebook or Instagram.
Do I need a BAA?
Yes. If PHI flows through the platform, you must have a signed Business Associate Agreement and enforce safeguards (encryption, MFA, audit logs).
Is texting PHI allowed?
Yes, with consent and safeguards. Keep details minimal in SMS and use secure links for sensitive content. Always provide STOP to opt out.
What is 10DLC, and do we need it?
A standard 10-digit phone number used by businesses to send large volumes of texts to customers is a regulated system for Application-to-Person (A2P) messaging. If your business sends SMS to customers, you likely need to register it. Registration became mandatory for many businesses in 2023. Not registering can cause message delivery problems, carrier filtering, and possible fees.
Conclusion: Best Dental Patient Communication Software (2026)
Dental communication software is one of the most effective tools for growing a dental practice that we know. It can help dentists with inbound marketing by creating marketing synergy, improving practice efficiency, and increasing patient retention – all while boosting practice revenue.
While the world of software is always evolving, you can stay on the cutting edge by choosing patient communication software that can grow with you as you head into the future. And, if you need help choosing software or improving your digital marketing, contact us for a free consultation!
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Tyson Downs is the founder of Titan Web Agency, a company specializing in marketing for dental professionals. With an impressive track record of working with over 100 dental practices, Tyson has a deep understanding of the unique marketing needs within the dental industry.
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