CareStack

CareStack is cloud-based dental practice management software for single practices, dental groups and DSOs: scheduling, charting, treatment planning, imaging, insurance claims, payments, patient engagement and reporting in one web application. It is sold in the US, the UK and Australia. Anyone searching for CareStack dental software or a CareStack download should know the main program runs in the browser and is hosted by the vendor; only a small bridge for imaging devices is installed on Windows workstations, plus an optional mobile app.

CareStack is commercial software with no free version. The vendor offers a free demo, so we list it as shareware (conditionally free). It is offered in packages (the current ones are named Essentials and Intelligence, the latter adding AI clinical tools), and an implementation fee may apply depending on data migration and training needs.

CareStack at a glance

What it does

• Multi-specialty, multi-location scheduling with online appointment booking where patients can pick an office from a list or map.
• Clinical charting, perio charting, treatment planning, clinical notes and e-prescriptions; the Intelligence package adds AI-generated notes, voice perio charting and X-ray analysis.
• Native cloud imaging with one-click capture from supported intraoral sensors, TWAIN support for 2D panoramic units, intraoral cameras, enhancement filters, annotations and measurements.
• Bridges to more than 16 imaging programs, including Dexis, Sidexis, Romexis, VixWin, Carestream, SOTA Imaging and XDR.
• Revenue cycle tools: eligibility verification, claims management and patient payments.
• Patient engagement: patient portal, reminders, two-way messaging, reputation management and teledentistry.
• Lab case tracking, team chat, a daily huddle dashboard and analytics across locations.
• Automatic cloud backups, with no server in the office to maintain.

How dental teams use it

Move a practice off an on-premises server

1. Book a demo and confirm that the features you rely on (specialty charting, your imaging devices, your clearinghouse needs) are covered.
2. Work with CareStack’s implementation specialists on data conversion from your current system and on reminder and form setup.
3. Train staff, switch over on an agreed date, and keep the old system read-only for reference.

Capture and view X-rays in the browser

1. Install CareStack Link on each operatory PC that has a sensor, camera or imaging program.
2. Enable the Chrome permissions the bridge needs, then refresh the browser.
3. Capture images with native imaging, or open the patient in your existing imaging program through the bridge.

Manage several locations

1. Set up each office with its providers, operatories and hours.
2. Let patients choose a location when booking online.
3. Compare production and other metrics across offices in the reports.

Install and first run

• The main application needs no installation: sign in through the browser. CareStack’s imaging and bridge tools are built around Google Chrome, so use an up-to-date Chrome on clinical workstations.
• CareStack Link requires Windows 7 or later (use a supported, updated Windows version) and .NET Framework 4.6 or later. After installing it, refresh the browser before using imaging.
• After Chrome updates, check that the permissions for CareStack Imaging Link (and, in Australia, the HICAPS bridge) are still allowed.
• For teledentistry you only need a computer with a webcam and microphone.
• Install the CareStack app from the App Store or Google Play to see the schedule, patient details, treatment notes, allergies and medications, and patient messages on a phone.
• Support chat is available inside the program from the System menu.

Limitations

• Commercial product with no free edition or self-service trial; evaluation is through a demo. We do not list prices.
• Everything depends on a reliable internet connection; there is no published offline mode.
• Imaging bridges are Windows-only and tied to Chrome.
• Available only in the US, UK and Australia; check country-specific features (claims, payments) for your region.
• Switching from an established system takes planning, data conversion and staff retraining.

CareStack vs alternatives

Practices that want to keep their current system and only add online booking, forms or analytics can look at NexHealth or Dental Intelligence instead.

FAQ

Is CareStack cloud-based?

Yes. CareStack describes itself as a 100% cloud-based solution with automatic backups. Only the CareStack Link bridge for imaging is installed on Windows PCs.

Is there a CareStack download?

The software runs in the browser. The downloads are CareStack Link for imaging devices and the CareStack mobile app for iOS and Android.

Is CareStack free?

No. It is commercial software sold in packages, with a free demo but no free edition. We do not list prices.

CareStack vs Dentrix?

Classic Dentrix is installed on your own Windows server; CareStack is hosted and runs in Chrome. Dentrix Ascend is the closer cloud comparison, so compare both in demos with your imaging hardware.

CareStack vs Open Dental?

Open Dental is installed and maintained on your own server and offers a trial you run yourself; CareStack is hosted by the vendor and is evaluated through a demo.

Does CareStack work for oral surgery and other specialties?

CareStack advertises multi-specialty scheduling and charting and markets pages for specialties including oral surgery. Confirm the specialty workflows you need in the demo.

How do I learn to use CareStack?

New customers are onboarded by implementation specialists, and help articles and in-app support chat cover daily tasks such as uploading clinical images.

Last checked against official sources: 2 October 2026 (developer website: carestack.com). Versions and licence terms change — confirm on the developer's site before deploying in a clinic.