The 2014 Software Advice BuyerView report analyzes insights from 368 dental professionals seeking software solutions, revealing that 93% prefer integrated suites, with 51% still using manual methods. The top requested software application was imaging device integration, and patient scheduling is prioritized as a must-have application. Most buyers come from small practices, with over half operating solo and a focus on general dentistry.

1. Software Advice BuyerView:
Dental Software Report 2014
Insight into today’s software buyer

2. Every year, Software Advice speaks with hundreds of dental professionals
searching for dentistry software solutions. To find out what drives practices to
purchase these systems and why, we recently analyzed data from 368
interactions with prospective dental software buyers. Key findings included:
!
!
• The overwhelming majority of buyers (93 percent) were seeking integrated
suites, but only 31 percent had a preference between Web-based and on-
premise solutions.
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• Slightly more than half of buyers (51 percent) still relied on manual methods:
30 percent were using paper exclusively, and 21 percent employed a
combination of paper records and software.
!
• Imaging device/digital sensor integration was the top-requested software
application among prospective buyers.
Abstract

3. Most Buyers Seek Integrated Suites
Nearly all prospective buyers surveyed seek integrated suites. Five percent prefer
a best-of-breed solution, and the rest are OK with using multiple products.
2%
5%
93%
Integrated suite only
Best-of-breed
Multiple products OK

4. Most Buyers Have No Preference on Deployment
Most prospective buyers surveyed have no preference between Web-based and
on-premise solutions. Web-based systems were more popular for those who did.
!
69%
9%
22%
Web-based
On-premise
Not sure

5. More Than Half of Buyers Are Still Using Manual Methods
Slightly more than half of buyers are still relying on manual methods exclusively
or paired with software.
!
7%
1%
21%
30%
41%
Commercial software only
Paper only
Paper and software
Proprietary software only
Not applicable/new practice

6. Most Requested Applications for Buyers
Most potential buyers specifically cited imaging device and/or digital sensor
integration as their top software application request.
Digital sensor/imaging
EHR
Billing
Electronic claims
0% 5% 10% 15% 20%
Percent of sample

7. Most Requested Modules for Buyers
Our respondents’ other popular software requests included modules. Robust recall
and appointment reminder systems topped the list.
Recall system/reminders
Reporting
Coding
Staff scheduling
0% 5% 10% 15% 20%
Percent of sample

8. Most Necessary Applications for Buyers
When it comes to must-have software applications, patient scheduling was
actually considered more necessary for potential buyers than digital imaging.
Patient scheduling
Billing
EHR
Digital imaging
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Percent of sample

9. Top Reasons for Replacing Existing Software
The most commonly cited reason respondents gave us for replacing their current
software is that they needed improved integration.
Improve integration
Reduce paperwork
Current performs poorly
Government compliance
Current billing/claims poor
Other
Current lacks features
Current user-unfriendly
Current expensive
0% 5% 10% 15% 20%
Percent of sample

10. Most Buyers Are Small-Practice Leaders
Most of our buyers came from small dental practices with more than half of
respondents practicing dentistry solo.
3%5%
8%
23%
61%
Solo practice
2
3
4
5+

11. Nearly All Respondents Have Less Than 10 Employees
The great majority of our sample (93 percent) consists of practices with 10 or less
employees.
1%
6%
93%
1-10
11-20
20+

12. Prospective Buyer Size by Number of Users
Nearly three-fourths of respondents said their next software purchase was
intended for just two to five users.
6%
17%
71%
6%
Single user
2-5
6-10
11+

13. Prospective Buyers by Dentistry Segment
The buyers we spoke to came from a variety of dental concentrations, but the
majority represented general dentistry practices.
4%
3%
3%
5%
85%
General dentistry
Periodontics
Pediatric dentistry
Orthodontics
Other

14. Read the full report
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dental software
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15. Software Advice™ is a trusted resource for software buyers. The company's
website, www.softwareadvice.com, provides detailed reviews, comparisons and
research to help organizations choose the right software. Meanwhile, the company’s
team of software analysts provide free telephone consultations to help each
software buyer identify systems that best fit their needs. In the process, Software
Advice connects software buyers and sellers, generating high-quality opportunities
for software vendors.
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