The PMS is the system of record every other tool connects to. Choosing one is the most consequential software decision a practice makes, because switching later means migrating years of clinical and financial data.
From our data: We track 63 practice management and analytics products.
What a PMS does
Appointment scheduling by operatory and provider, patient records and family accounts, clinical and periodontal charting, treatment planning, insurance plans and estimates, electronic claims and payment posting, patient billing, recall and reporting.
Around that core sit connected tools: imaging software, patient communication, online booking, payment processing, analytics and AI. Which of them can connect is decided by the PMS.
How PMS products differ
Deployment (cloud or a server in the office), the size of the integration ecosystem, depth of insurance automation, multi-location capability, pricing model and how easily you can take your data out.
Go deeper
FAQ
Is a PMS the same as an EHR?
In dentistry the terms overlap. A dental PMS includes the clinical record, so it functions as the electronic health record as well as the business system.
How much does a dental PMS cost?
Published entry prices run from about $125 to $899 a month; several major vendors are quote-only. See our dental software cost guide.