A software as a service (SaaS) from Planet DDS, Denticon is a cloud-based enterprise practice management software in the dental market. Founded in 2003, and based in Newport, California, Denticon has had strong growth through the years. Impressively, Planet DDS has made Inc. 5000’s list of “America’s Fastest Growing Private Companies.”
Features
The strength of Denticon is in its clinical approach, with the benefit of a cloud-based architecture, allowing for a single patient record, which gets termed the ‘Concept of one.’ The advantage is that several providers, across multiple office locations can then access the record. This can be a significant strength for multispecialty practices combining both general dentistry and specialty dentists. Security is baked in via secure access, with users with a high enough clearance can access multiple office locations- from within the same browser window- without a cumbersome remote login process. Furthermore, updates are done by the operations team, such as to the fee schedule or to the participating insurance plans just once, and then globally applied to all the locations, (an improvement to having to keep multiple desktop versions of the program updated).
Another challenge is entering data into the patient record electronically can be difficult when chairside given the infection control issues. Denticon does a good job by getting a step ahead of the clinician, via helpful cues, and “Context-specific tools and menus,” to streamline this process. Finally, perio depth measurements are often difficult to input with multiple measurements along the gum pockets along all the tooth surfaces. Denticon handles this via a ‘Voice-activated perio’ function that captures the data accurately and smoothly- without delaying the exam.
There are also gains in the efficiency of the workflow, with less burden on the clinician. Repetitive tasks get handled through advanced macros, for example, the treatment plans and progress notes. Furthermore, drop down menus are available that prompt the user via a ‘Pick list’ that allows easier input into the commonly used fields.
There is also incorporation of a team of in-house business services into the software, and with a claim that Denticon is the only software provider to offer this. While this type of support can certainly be done locally as the practice prefers, Denticon offers “Access to an expert team of agents.” This support can be used for a variety of business focused dental office tasks, such as to verify insurance eligibility, enter fee schedules, update insurance plans and submit claims.
Drawbacks
The first major drawback is that Denticon does not have any Android mobile apps, however it has one for the iOS platform. Mobile apps are increasingly popular with users to access data when out of the office, such as for accessing patient records when providing off hours coverage. This lack of an Android app is somewhat surprising given the cloud based architecture.
Also concerning is that the iOS app is low rated, getting only 1.7 out of 5 stars. Users complain about a number of issues, from a lack of updates (last updated in December of 2017), to difficulty logging in.
Another limitation is the choice of browser. The Denticon minimal system requirements states that “Chrome, Edge,” as the requirement, but some users indicate issues with using anything other than their Chrome browser.
Yet, another system requirement designated is Windows 10 only, which leaves out users of Apple and Linux computer systems. Also the processor is designated as “Intel i5 or higher,” with 8 GB of RAM, which while not particularly steep, is too vague for us, and we would prefer it to be designated as to what generation of processor, and whether a mobile or desktop chip.
That Denticon could be easier to use is another criticism that comes up. For one thing, in Denticon there are extra button clicks for accomplishing some tasks compared to competing solutions. Users all report that in some cases when a problem gets submitted, that there are delays in waiting for the company to call back. Finally, there is a steep learning curve for Denticon, as it takes a while to get up and running.
Support
A variety of methods are used to support Denticon. For US phone support, a toll free number is offered, but without specifying the hours and days for support. Also there is an email address, specifically for support, although we would warn against sending patient information via this method as email is not considered secure for Protected Health Information (PHI). The final direct method is through their online portal, which has the capability not frequently seen to include other members on the request via the “CC:” field, and also include attachments to illustrate the issue.
There is also plenty of self help information. There are detailed articles and videos that are listed as the issue is entered into the online portal, which can either be helpful, or a side adventure as the issue is more specific than the references provided that do not solve the issue.
Live chat is not an available option for support, although it is available for sales.
There are also webinars available on multiple topics, including “Navigating the Patient Journey Through COVID-19,” and “Making Teledentistry Profitable,” among other timely and relevant topics.
Pricing
Denticon goes with an opaque pricing model, with a dearth of information on the cost found on its website. Contact with this company is a requisite in order to secure a custom quote for your dental practice.
Combing through search engines, we gleaned that Denticon has a starting price of $300 (£242) per month. We did not find details as to how many providers or locations this would cover, or how much any optional extras may potentially cost.
Final verdict
Denticon provides a cloud-based approach to dental practice software that is comprehensive to say the least. The multiple strengths include the multiple methods of support, the business services that are integrated in, and the suite of video webinars to support your team. Weaknesses include an opaque pricing model, the lack of an Android app, the lack of an update for the iOS app with a notably low rating, and that only the Windows desktop platform is supported in only certain browsers. Putting it all together, Denticon has a workable solution for dental practice management that targets the more complex practice with multiple dental providers across multiple locations.
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