Open Dental vs Dentrix vs Eaglesoft: the IT side

Most comparisons of Open Dental, Dentrix and Eaglesoft cover features and price. This one covers what each asks of your server, network, backups and workstations, because that is what your IT person has to live with. It is neutral, and every detail comes from the vendor's own documents.

What this comparison covers

This is the hardware, network and backup side only. It does not compare features, ease of use or prices, and it does not say one product is better. The details come from each vendor’s own documents, read on October 30, 2026: the Dentrix 24.1 requirements sheet, Patterson’s Eaglesoft hardware and network requirements and Open Dental’s computer requirements and hardware requirements. Vendors revise these, so check the current versions before you decide anything.

The server and the database

All three are installed in your office, with one computer acting as the database server for the rest.

• Dentrix: the server needs Windows Server 2016 or later, 4 cores and 8 GB of RAM (16 GB above 10 workstations). Henry Schein One allows a desktop version of Windows as the server, as long as its connection limit covers your workstations.
• Eaglesoft: Patterson lists 16 GB of RAM and a 1 TB mirrored drive at every size, and recommends a dedicated server from 6 workstations. Windows 11 Pro or Windows Server 2016 through 2025 Standard are supported, depending on the Eaglesoft version.
• Open Dental: the database is MySQL or MariaDB. The server can run Windows 11 Pro, Windows Server 2016 through 2025, or Linux. Open Dental’s sheet starts at 4 GB of RAM for small offices and recommends a dedicated server to protect the data.

Virtual machines and remote access

• Dentrix: tested on properly configured Hyper-V and VMware. Terminal Services and Citrix are not supported.
• Eaglesoft: virtual machines are not supported for any Patterson software. Eaglesoft is not supported over any WAN, and several offices sharing one database over a WAN is not supported.
• Open Dental: runs on a Windows virtual machine. Open Dental warns that other services on the same host can slow the database and suggests dedicated drives and pinned processor cores.

This matters if you plan to host the server in a data center, or to let a second office work from the same database.

Backups

• Open Dental: its backup page says to back up the MySQL data folder and the image folders at least daily, encrypt the copies, keep older archives and test restores on a computer off the office network. It also says RAID is not a backup, and that its built-in backup should run when no one is working in the program.
• Dentrix: the requirements sheet points to Henry Schein One’s TechCentral Hybrid Backup service and to Dentrix support for backup guidance.
• Eaglesoft: Patterson’s requirements point to its own data backup recommendations. From Eaglesoft 24.20, Schick images taken through the new IOSS integration are saved as larger 16-bit .ESP files, and Patterson’s release notes say to make sure those files are in your backups.

Whichever you run, a backup is only proven when you have restored from it.

Imaging and sensors

• Dentrix: Henry Schein One lists integrated imaging through Smart Image. Its sheet says third-party add-ons must be checked with their own vendor.
• Eaglesoft: from version 24.20, Patterson requires the Schick IOSS driver in place of the older CDR integration. IOSS runs only on 64-bit machines and works only with Schick Elite, Schick 33 and Schick AE sensors. Patterson recommends Intel USB chipsets for Schick sensors.
• Open Dental: images and documents sit in a shared folder. Open Dental sizes that folder separately from the database, starting at 250 GB for up to 10 workstations.

Sensor and scanner makers publish their own requirements. Check them before you replace a PC or change versions.

Workstations and the network

• Dentrix: Windows 10 or later in any edition, 4 GB of RAM, 1 Gbps. Wireless is at your own risk.
• Eaglesoft: Windows 11 Pro with TPM 2.0, 8 GB of RAM, gigabit wired connections, Cat 5e or better cabling. No Windows Home editions.
• Open Dental: suggested new PCs have a quad-core CPU, 8 GB of RAM and Windows 11. Home editions may not work because of networking limits.

How much each one leans on the internet

Patterson says internet access is not required for Eaglesoft to function. Henry Schein One recommends high-speed internet for Dentrix updates and services. Open Dental strongly recommends a high-speed connection and says to treat it as a requirement. In practice, online claims, eligibility checks and reminders need the connection in all three.

Cloud options from the same vendors

Each vendor also sells a hosted product: Dentrix Ascend from Henry Schein One, Fuse from Patterson, and Open Dental Cloud, which Open Dental describes as a limited release for US customers. Moving to one of these changes the IT picture more than switching between the three server products does.

Where we come in

If you are weighing a switch, we can map your current server, images, sensors and backups against each vendor’s requirements through our IT consulting service. Start with a free on-site assessment.