Pricing
contact sales
Best For
General dental practices wanting a proven server-based system with strong charting and scheduling tools
Rating
7.3/10
Last Updated
Mar 2026
TL;DR
Eaglesoft is Dentrix's main competitor in the server-based dental software market. Patterson Dental backs it, so you get solid support and a large user community. The charting is excellent, SmartDoc paperless forms save real time, and the Sidekick scheduling tool is genuinely clever. But like Dentrix, it's server-based, pricey, and showing its age. Cloud alternatives are catching up fast.
What is Eaglesoft?
Dentrix's Biggest Rival
Eaglesoft has been the number two dental practice management system for years, and it's held that position because it does the fundamentals well. Patterson Dental distributes it alongside their supply business, creating a similar vendor ecosystem to Henry Schein and Dentrix. About 20,000 practices run Eaglesoft daily.
What Eaglesoft Does Right
The clinical charting is on par with Dentrix. Perio charts, odontograms, treatment plans — it handles everything a general or specialty practice needs. SmartDoc is a standout: it digitizes patient forms, consent documents, and clinical notes into searchable, paperless records. Patients fill out forms on a tablet, and the data flows directly into their chart. It genuinely reduces front desk paperwork.
Sidekick is the scheduling tool, and it's smarter than most. It analyzes your appointment book for gaps, suggests optimal scheduling, and helps fill cancellations. For practices that struggle with production goals, Sidekick provides actionable scheduling recommendations that actually move the numbers.
Billing and Insurance
eClaims, electronic remittance, and real-time eligibility checks all work reliably. The insurance ledger is detailed and easy to navigate. Patterson's eClaims hub is well-integrated. Reporting is solid for tracking production, collections, and accounts receivable by provider. Nothing groundbreaking, but everything works as expected.
The Downsides
Same problems as every server-based system: hardware costs, IT maintenance, and no remote access without VPN workarounds. The user interface has had cosmetic updates but still feels like early 2010s software. Patterson's support quality varies by region. Pricing requires a call — expect similar costs to Dentrix at $12,000-20,000 upfront plus $250-400/month for support and eServices.
The Verdict
Eaglesoft is a perfectly capable dental software that does everything it should. It's not exciting, but it's reliable. Choose it if your Patterson rep gives you a better deal than Henry Schein, if your staff already knows it, or if SmartDoc and Sidekick solve specific pain points in your practice.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- SmartDoc paperless forms system is a genuine time-saver for patient intake and consent documents
- Sidekick scheduling tool actively finds gaps and suggests optimal appointments to hit production goals
- Clinical charting depth matches Dentrix for both general and specialty dental procedures
- Patterson Dental support network with local reps available for in-office training and setup
- Reliable insurance claim processing with solid eClaims integration and ERA posting
Cons
- Server-based architecture means hardware costs, IT maintenance, and no native remote access
- User interface shows its age despite cosmetic updates — workflows feel clunky compared to cloud competitors
- Pricing is opaque and requires calling Patterson for quotes — expect $12,000-20,000 upfront
- Support quality varies significantly by region depending on your local Patterson representative
- No true cloud version available — remote access requires VPN configuration and workarounds
Eaglesoft Pricing
Eaglesoft (Server-Based)
- Clinical charting
- SmartDoc paperless forms
- Sidekick scheduling
- Insurance processing
- Treatment planning
- Imaging integration
Pricing last verified: March 26, 2026
Who is Eaglesoft Best For?
- General dental practices wanting a proven server-based system with strong charting and scheduling tools
- Practices using Patterson Dental for supplies that want a unified vendor relationship
- Offices that value paperless intake — SmartDoc is best-in-class for patient form digitization
- Practices where production scheduling is a pain point — Sidekick actively optimizes your appointment book
Technical Details
The Bottom Line
Eaglesoft scores 7.3/10. It stands out for smartdoc paperless forms system is a genuine time-saver for patient intake and consent documents. Best suited for general dental practices wanting a proven server-based system with strong charting and scheduling tools. Keep in mind that server-based architecture means hardware costs, it maintenance, and no native remote access.
Frequently Asked Questions
Based on editorial analysis