As a dental provider, you’re all too familiar with the challenges of running a dynamic practice, from managing dental procedures and business operations to paperwork, time, and staff effectively—all while prioritizing patient satisfaction and business growth.
Inefficiencies in these areas lead to lost time and diminished revenue. They also disrupt workflows, reduce overall productivity, and negatively impact the patient and team experience. A disjointed workflow can increase stress and frustration among staff, detracting from their ability to focus on delivering exceptional care.
The key to overcoming these challenges and thriving in today’s fast-paced environment is an optimized workflow powered by top-notch all-in-one software.
Is Your Practice Management Software Right for Your Business?
Your practice management software is the lifeblood of your dental business. It houses your patient records, billing procedures, insurance claims, appointment scheduling, imaging, and more. For years, dental offices have run on server-based software models. However, as times change and the dental industry adapts to new standards, many dentists are searching for a modern solution that is more reliable and more efficient.
Are you wondering if your current software is right for your business? Let’s compare some of the main features of server-based and cloud-based software.
Server-Based Software
-
The software is installed on a server in your office. When the server is down, you can no longer operate.
-
Data is accessed through a local network or VPN.
-
You make hefty investments in purchasing the necessary hardware, periodic software updates, and ongoing IT support.
-
Software updates are typically large and require time for installation, training, and adaptation.
Cloud-Based Software
-
The software is hosted and run on secure cloud servers. Data is updated in real time and automatically backed up.
-
Data can be accessed through a web browser or a mobile app from anywhere with an internet connection.
-
You typically pay a recurring subscription fee based on the number of locations, number of doctors, or number of users. The subscription model saves you the money you would spend on IT and equipment costs, and this model is easily scalable as you add locations, doctors, or users.
-
Software updates are uploaded to the cloud during the night so there is no disruption of your operations. Typically, updates to the software tools are small, with linked notes that describe each change and coach you on how to use enhancements.
All-in-one software that seamlessly combines multiple functions and features typically found in separate software programs offers significant advantages to help you grow your business in today’s modernized world. Frazier & Deeter’s 2025 Innovation Series report, Powerful Trends Shaping the Dental Industry, identifies outdated technology as a key contributor to rising costs and inefficiencies in dental practices.
Traditional server-based systems increasingly fall into the "software death spiral," where reduced investment leads to declining functionality, escalating maintenance costs, and inadequate support. The convenience of having reliable online access to your practice’s database is a great reason to switch to a cloud-based system.
Streamlining Your Dental Practice's Workflow
1. With Curve Dental® all-in-one software, you can keep all your data in one easy-to-access database.
Dentists and their teams manage a vast amount of data, including patient information, dental history, imaging, treatment plans, communications, billing, and insurance. When these records are stored across disconnected systems that are “bolted” together, syncing issues often occur, increasing the likelihood of errors from rekeying information. In contrast, an all-in-one cloud-based system keeps all your data centralized, accurate, and consistently up-to-date, eliminating these inefficiencies.
The Frazier & Deeter report highlights how fragmented systems create inefficiencies, data silos, and administrative burdens. Curve Dental eliminates these challenges with a unified database, improving accuracy and simplifying workflows.
Data security is critical when storing data. Curve Dental utilizes a top-tier data center to protect your data, and cybersecurity work is included at no extra cost. With the “Get My Data” button, you’re always in control and can download your data anytime.
2. With Curve Dental® all-in-one software, you can multitask without forfeiting functionality.
If your dental practice is like many others, you and your team have up to seven log-ins to remember and must toggle back and forth between your software applications. This inefficiency often wastes time, breaks focus, and increases errors. Curve Dental’s all-in-one platform allows you to multitask seamlessly within a single system. For example, while on the phone with a patient, you can pull up their information instantly with one click—no toggling or reentering data is required.
3. With Curve, you can automate tasks.
Gone are the days of repetitive manual tasks taking up your staff’s time and energy. Curve Dental makes it simple to automate appointment reminders, patient intake forms, treatment plans, revenue cycle management, business reporting, and more.
The Frazier & Deeter report underscores automation as a critical driver of efficiency in dental practices. Automating patient communications, electronic forms, and reporting can reduce administrative burdens and allow staff to focus on higher-value tasks.
4. With the Curve SuperHero™ platform and Curve Mobile App, you can access your data from anywhere in the world.
Cloud solutions minimize cybersecurity risks compared to on-premise systems. The Frazier & Deeter report points to the growing demand for cloud-based solutions that enable remote work and business continuity.
Curve software is ideal for remote work due to its cloud security, reliability, and easy access while multi-location practice management, dentists, and local practice managers are at home or on the go. Curve Dental’s cloud-based platform allows you to access the system from anywhere with an internet connection.
5. Curve provides the constant support you deserve.
One of the greatest challenges of running a dental practice is mastering technology. Your whole business depends on it. You lose valuable time if you have to wait for IT support to fix issues. Curve Dental eliminates this problem by providing a single point of contact for all support needs. Their team answers calls in under one minute and resolves issues in an average of eight minutes so that you can focus on patient care instead of troubleshooting.
The Future of Dental Software is in the Cloud
The Frazier & Deeter report predicts that over 55% of dentists are considering a switch to cloud-based solutions to reduce costs, streamline operations, and scale effectively. With its unified approach, Curve Dental empowers practices to meet these challenges head-on.
Learn how Curve Dental’s all-in-one software can dramatically optimize your workflow while saving your practice money. Request a Demo: See How Curve Can Transform Your Practice today!
