Every dentist has a schedule that shows them who their upcoming patients are and which procedures they must perform on each date. Scheduling tools are essential for any small business owner; a dentist’s office is no exception.
Scheduling software for dentists comes in all shapes and sizes, and with plenty of options available, it takes time to find the right tools for your needs. But, just like having the right tool for your patient, good scheduling software can help you book more appointments and ensure smoother operations for your business.
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Customers can book appointments online without overbooking your calendar or needing to call in with our appointment scheduling software. We’ll also send automated reminders to reduce no-shows.
That’s why we’ve put together this list of the best scheduling software for dentists. We’ll discuss what each one does best, its pros and cons, and the pricing for each.
6 Best Scheduling Software for Dentists
Here are the five best scheduling software for dentists. If you’re unsure which is best for you, download our Buying Software Checklist to help you pick the right one.
1. Thryv
Best For: Small Business Owners
Thryv’s scheduling software caters to dentists, doctors, chiropractors, and many other small businesses in the health and wellness industry. Thryv’s is great for small business owners because it’s easy to use and set up, even if you’ve never used this type of software before.
Its scheduling tool sends automatic reminders when appointments are coming up, and it follows up with customers if they miss an appointment without canceling. Patients can schedule appointments via online forms on your website or through a “Client Portal,” where you can share documents, process payments, send messages, and more.
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Thryv Command Center
Communicate with ease.
- One inbox for social and email
- Team Chat
- Phone and video calls
- WebChat
- Free Dedicated Business Line
2. Keap
Best For: Automations
Keap is a CRM-based tool offering powerful scheduling features within its platform. It provides a complete calendar app showing your upcoming meetings in one cohesive dashboard. It also connects to Google, Zoom, and Outlook, so you can continue using your preferred apps and connect them to your Keap account.
Keap also provides useful automations that remove repetitive tasks from your workflow. For example, it automatically sends reminders to customers when they have an upcoming appointment. It will send them a text or email that you can personalize, and it will follow up with them if they miss a meeting or have to cancel.
Keap: Best for Automation
Pros
- Keap can invoice your customers automatically after each transaction.
- The lead management tools help you stay in touch with interested buyers.
- The reporting tools are great for measuring your performance over time.
Cons
- Keap is designed for smaller businesses. Larger organizations may feel limited by some of its features.
- CRM
- Workflow Automation
- Text Marketing
- Lead Management
$249/month
3. LocalMed
Best For: Patient Scheduling
LocalMed helps businesses book more appointments online by providing scheduling tools and a search engine for customers to find local dentist offices. It’s convenient for patients because they can search for dentists in their area and book an appointment without calling or emailing your business. The directory reduces the number of customer requests your front desk receives, allowing you or your team to focus on other tasks around your office.
LocalMed stands out because you can customize its online calendar and create filters so customers only book at certain times of the week. You can also block off vacation times or create special work hours for the holidays. LocalMed connects to your social media pages, so customers can book appointments on your website, Facebook, or Instagram account.
LocalMed: Best for Patient Scheduling
Pros
- Patients can use the online directory to find your business and learn more about its services.
- LocalMed connects to other practice management software to connect your data and make your office more efficient.
Cons
- target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Some users encountered limitations with the scheduling features.
- Other than appointment scheduling, there are limited features and tools.
- Online Directory for Patients
- Customizable Scheduling
- Social Media Integrations
Contact for Pricing
4. Calendly
Best For: Free Scheduling Software for Dentists
Calendly is a popular scheduling tool used by many different types of businesses. It doesn’t take much time to set up, and it’s easy to install on websites. If you don’t have a website, Calendly creates landing pages where customers can view your schedule and book appointments online. You’ll get an email when new appointments are booked, and you can review all of your upcoming patients in the calendar app.
Calendly also provides workflows that automate business tasks. It connects to your CRM and helps you communicate with customers so your office operates more efficiently. For example, Calendly can automatically email surveys to patients after each visit. You’ll collect customer feedback without having to manually send each message.
Calendly: Best for Free Scheduling Software for Dentists
Pros
- Calendly has a built-in holiday feature to set your out-of-office time for vacation and holiday breaks.
- You can create contact profiles that store customer information like name, phone number, and email.
- Calendly has different “event types.” To organize your calendar, you can tag each appointment with a different event type.
Cons
- Calendly isn’t designed specifically for dentists. It may take some time to customize it to your needs.
- Free accounts are limited to one event type.
- Free Accounts
- Marketing Automation
- Performance Reporting
Free to get started; $12/seat/month for Standard Plan; $20/seat/month for Teams plan
5. Dental Intelligence
Best For: Dental Franchises
Dental Intelligence is a business management platform designed specifically for dentists. Its scheduling tool allows customers to pick the type of services they need from your office. For example, they can choose between child and adult services, different types of cleanings, office locations, and more. It’s great for offices with bigger teams and employees specializing in different services.
Dental Intelligence also provides internal and external communication tools, like team chat to collaborate with coworkers, and a patient communication feature to message patients privately. There’s also a mass communication tool that creates email lists and messages for your entire customer base. These tools can help nurture customer relationships and keep patients returning to your business.
Dental Intelligence: Best for Dental Franchises
Pros
- The “Smart Schedule” tracks your appointments and provides reports related to your performance.
- Dental Intelligence is mobile-friendly. You can view all of your appointments in the mobile app.
Cons
- Dental Intelligence has several features that are geared toward larger dental offices. Smaller businesses may not need them as much.
- This software takes time to set up and install.
- Customer Communication Tools
- Loyalty Programs
- Marketing Software
Contact for Pricing
6. NexHealth
Best For: Large Dental Offices
NexHealth is a scheduling software for dentists and other businesses in the healthcare industry. It offers many of the same scheduling features that other providers have on this list. It also has a “waitlist” feature that allows patients to add themselves to book last-minute appointments. If you have a cancellation, you’ll fill that spot quickly because NexHealth will automatically notify your waitlist. This feature cuts down on no-shows and increases revenue for your business.
NexHealth also has automations that re-engage patients who haven’t visited your office in a while. You can send them texts or emails with discounts and offers that motivate them to book an appointment. These messages are sent automatically so you can focus on patients coming through the door.
NexHealth: Best for Large Dental Offices
Pros
- You can create email marketing campaigns and analyze their performance within the platform.
- NexHealth automatically sends review requests to patients after an appointment.
Cons
- NexHealth doesn’t bundle products. You have to pay for each one individually.
- Some users experienced difficulty navigating this software
- SMS Messaging
- Online Forms
- Insurance Verification
- Payment Software
Contact for Pricing
Why do dentists need scheduling software?
If you’re still not convinced about scheduling software, here are a few ways it can benefit your business.
- Reduce Phone Calls: If you provide a way to book appointments online, your front desk will receive fewer phone calls. You’ll play less phone tag with customers and spend more time working on important tasks.
- Provide Convenience: Customers will have a better experience with your office if you provide an online booking form. Most people prefer self-service options like these instead of calling your business.
- Avoid Confusion: Scheduling software automatically records appointments for your business. You won’t double-book appointments or forget about a new client – all this information is stored directly in the software.
- Eliminate No-Shows: Automated reminders reduce the number of no-shows for your business. No-shows are costly, and they waste time during your workday.
- Book Repeat Appointments: Most people go to the same dentist over time. Scheduling software makes it easy to rebook patients or re-engage people that you haven’t seen for some time.
Finding the Right Scheduling Software for Dentists
Dentists are service-based businesses. And, when you provide a service, you need scheduling software to power your business. These tools keep you organized and help you book a steady stream of patients over time. Use this list to find the best software for your business, and check out the guide below if you need help making the right choice.