
Open Dental 26.1 is now stable! New features include ODTouch 25, custom insurance history categories, HTML billing emails, and much more.

Practice knowledge is most powerful when it’s documented and centralized. Meet the Open Dental Wiki – your new practice knowledge hub.

We are excited to announce that Version 18.1 has been released as Stable. This version implemented 31 enhancements and features requested by our users! Read the highlights in this post, then update to unlock all the software has to offer!

Congratulations future smile-makers, you’ve survived dental school! There’s good news, and bad news. The good news is, you made it! The bad news? 80% of you graduated with over $287,000 in student debt. Combined with the cost of starting or purchasing a dental practice, it’s hard not to feel overwhelmed. But don’t fret, there’s more good news. With Open Dental, you…

Planned Appointments prevent patient care from slipping through the cracks, and are a great way to fill openings in your schedule. Read this post to find out how to use planned appointments to boost case acceptance, and fill your schedule.
Read content written by featured third-party guest writers.

Manual eligibility checks are slow and error-prone. DentalXChange’s Eligibility AI now writes verified benefit data directly into your system, no retyping required.
![10 Best Backup Services for Healthcare Providers [2026 Comparison]](https://opendental.blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Thumbnail_10-Best-Backup-Services-for-.png)
The article evaluates backup services for healthcare providers, emphasizing factors like data protection, recovery responsibilities, and compliance to ensure effective data management and security.

Six sites per tooth, up to 32 teeth: a full periodontal chart can mean 192 measurements called out and recorded in a single visit. A thorough exam can take up to 15 minutes, and recording the findings may involve a second team member. When appointment time is tight, it can be difficult to document measurements…

Cost conversations can be difficult. You and your staff like to provide care and help your patients, and your patients want to get dental care without worrying about bills. But payments and costs are an inevitable part of healthcare. And with rising costs and complicated insurance and payment options, these conversations might be more tense…

What 8,887 patient calls revealed about front desk measurement, and why the group average hides it. Most dental practices track missed calls. It’s the number every phone system reports; it’s easy to explain, and it feels like it measures something important. For a multi-location group, it’s usually the first metric rolled up to the top.…

Incomplete verifications, ignored denials, and aging patient balances add up to significant lost revenue. Here’s where the leaks happen and how to fix them.