Open Dental

Open Dental is full dental practice management software from Open Dental Software in Oregon, covering scheduling, charting, treatment plans, insurance, billing and patient communication, and its free Trial Version with a demo database is the realistic way to learn it before you buy. If you arrived looking for “Open Dental Trainer”, there is no software product by that name: Open Dental uses “trainer” for the members of its support team who run paid online and on-site training. For a free way to practise, use the trial.

Open Dental is commercial software, so we list it as shareware (conditionally free). It was open source under the GPL for many years, but from version 24.4 the licence changed to proprietary. The trial installs the real program with a blank database and a demo database of fictional patients, which makes it a good hands-on training environment for front-desk staff, assistants and students.

Open Dental at a glance

What it does

• Appointment book with online scheduling (Web Sched) and automated confirmations and reminders.
• Graphical tooth chart, including a 3D tooth chart showing dentition and treatment over time, plus perio charting.
• Treatment planning, procedures and clinical notes.
• Insurance plans, claims and patient billing, with payment and messaging tools.
• Electronic prescriptions.
• Patient communication: email, secure email, integrated texting, patient portal and digital forms (eClipboard, web forms).
• Built-in reports and user-written queries.
• Mobile companion apps (ODMobile, ODTouch).

How dental teams use it

Set up a practice sandbox for new staff

1. Install the Trial Version on a spare Windows PC (it installs Open Dental, MySQL or MariaDB, the database and the OpenDentImages folder).
2. Open the demo database with fictional patients.
3. Have new hires book, move and break appointments, post procedures and create a treatment plan without touching real records.

Practise charting and treatment planning

1. Open a demo patient’s Chart module and enter existing conditions and planned work.
2. Move to the Treatment Plan module and present options to a “patient” played by a colleague.
3. Press the ? icon in any window to open the matching help page.

The trial uses temporary procedure codes instead of copyrighted CDT codes, so code numbers will differ from a live system.

Plan a switch from another system

1. Use the blank database to test your settings, fee schedules and appointment types.
2. Read Open Dental’s guides on using a converted database versus a blank database.
3. When ready, contact Open Dental support to move from the trial to the full version.

Get trainer-led help

Customers on support can book online or on-site training with a trainer from the Open Dental support team; these sessions are charged separately. The pre-recorded webinars on Open Dental’s YouTube channel, presented by its trainers, are free.

Install and first run

• Windows: the client runs on Windows 11 (not Windows 11 S, because it cannot be installed from the Windows Store). Open Dental’s support for Windows 10 ended on 14 October 2025. Pro or Business editions are preferred; Home editions can hit networking limits.
• Database: make sure MySQL or MariaDB is not already installed on the machine before running the trial installer.
• Canada: set Windows region and language settings before installing, as the trial page instructs.
• Server: for a multi-computer office the server can be Windows Server 2016, 2019, 2022 or 2025, or Linux (tested).
• Mac: the client cannot run on macOS or Linux. Open Dental points Mac users to Parallels (Windows in a virtual machine) or Boot Camp (Intel Macs only).

Gotchas: the trial is limited to 30 patients and does not work with the API or eServices, so online booking, texting and portal features cannot be tested fully.

Limitations

• No product called “Open Dental Trainer”; training is a service, and the trial is the software route.
• Commercial and proprietary since 24.4 – the source code is no longer GPL.
• Trial limits: 30 patients, temporary codes instead of CDT, no API and no eServices.
• Windows-only client; Open Dental Cloud is US-only, in limited release and not suited to Mac-based offices.
• No DICOM or 3D imaging functions of its own; it is practice management software.

Open Dental vs alternatives

ClearDent is the closest comparison we cover: commercial practice management with a demo, built for Canadian practices and offering a Canadian-hosted cloud. VistA Dentistry is the US Department of Veterans Affairs’ dental record package, built for VA medical centres rather than private practices. OneTouch EMR is a medical EHR and not a dental practice system.

FAQ

Is Open Dental free?

No. It is commercial software with a free Trial Version; live use needs a registration from Open Dental. That makes it shareware (conditionally free).

Where do I get the Open Dental trial download?

The Trial Version is offered on opendental.com; the installer listed there is currently 25.3.48, while the latest full release is 26.1.

Is Open Dental open source?

Not any more. Open Dental states that from version 24.4 its licence changed from open-source GPL to proprietary.

Is there Open Dental for Mac?

No native Mac client. Open Dental suggests Parallels or Boot Camp to run Windows on a Mac; the server can run on Linux, and macOS servers are untested.

Is Open Dental cloud-based?

It is normally installed on your own Windows server and workstations. Open Dental Cloud exists but is limited to US customers and in limited release.

Does Open Dental run on Windows 11?

Yes, Windows 11 is supported, except Windows 11 S. Support for Windows 10 ended on 14 October 2025.

How do I learn Open Dental for free?

Install the trial and practise on the demo database, use the built-in Help (the ? icon), and watch the free webinars on Open Dental’s YouTube channel. Sessions with a live Open Dental trainer are a paid service for customers on support.

Last checked against official sources: 28 September 2026 (developer website: opendental.com). Versions and licence terms change — confirm on the developer's site before deploying in a clinic.