Dentrix vs Planet DDS (Denticon): Complete Comparison 2026
An in-depth comparison of features, pricing, and user experience to help you make the right choice.

Dentrix
Henry Schein's industry-standard dental practice management system used by over 35,000 practices for charting, billing, and scheduling.
Planet DDS (Denticon)
Cloud dental platform built for DSOs and group practices with centralized management, analytics, and patient engagement tools.
Quick Comparison
| Aspect | Dentrix | Planet DDS (Denticon) |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Established dental practices with 3+ doctors needing comprehensive clinical charting and insurance billing | DSOs managing 5-200+ locations needing centralized operational visibility and standardized workflows |
| Pricing Model | Contact Sales | Contact Sales |
| Starting Price | $400/mo | Contact Sales |
| Deployment | on premise | cloud |
| Platforms | WINDOWS | WEB |
| Rating | 7.6/10 | 7.4/10 |
Pros & Cons
Dentrix
Pros
- The most comprehensive clinical charting in the dental software market β handles complex cases other systems struggle with
- Insurance billing engine is battle-tested across 35,000+ practices with reliable eClaims and ERA processing
- Massive ecosystem of third-party integrations including imaging, patient communication, and analytics tools
- Deep treatment planning with multi-visit sequencing and automatic CDT code suggestions
- Henry Schein support network means local reps who actually visit your office for training
Cons
- Interface feels outdated with nested menus and workflows that add unnecessary clicks to simple tasks
- Server-based architecture means you handle hardware, backups, and IT maintenance yourself
- Pricing is opaque β expect $15,000-25,000 upfront plus $300-500/month ongoing, and you must call for quotes
- Steep learning curve for new staff requires 2-3 weeks of dedicated training before they are productive
- Dentrix Ascend (cloud version) still lags behind the desktop version in features and has mixed reviews
Planet DDS (Denticon)
Pros
- Purpose-built for DSOs with centralized dashboards that show production and KPIs across all locations in real time
- Integrated ecosystem (Denticon + Apteryx + Legwork) eliminates the need to manage separate imaging and marketing vendors
- Cloud-first architecture since 2006 means the platform is mature and battle-tested for multi-location operations
- Standardize clinical templates, fee schedules, and workflows across dozens of locations from one admin console
- Cloud imaging through Apteryx makes patient X-rays accessible at any location instantly
Cons
- Overkill for solo practices and small groups β the DSO features add cost without proportional value for 1-3 locations
- Charting depth for complex specialty procedures trails behind Dentrix and server-based systems
- Pricing requires a sales conversation with no transparent public pricing for budgeting purposes
- User interface is functional but dated compared to newer cloud platforms like Curve Dental and tab32
- Support response times can be inconsistent β larger DSO clients reportedly get faster attention
Pricing Comparison
| Product | Pricing Model | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| Dentrix | contact sales | $400/mo |
| Planet DDS (Denticon) | contact sales | Contact Sales |
Our Verdict
Choose Dentrix if...
Established dental practices with 3+ doctors needing comprehensive clinical charting and insurance billing
Choose Planet DDS (Denticon) if...
DSOs managing 5-200+ locations needing centralized operational visibility and standardized workflows
Still Not Sure?
Explore more alternatives or read in-depth reviews to make your decision.