The web-based dental software revolution | Dentally

The web-based dental software revolution 

Dentally is the UK’s leading cloud practice management software, designed in collaboration with dentists across the UK.  Dentally allows you to work from anywhere, streamline your practice and free up valuable time.

Dentally offers you fast and simple practice management, allowing you to work smarter, securely and remotely.

Our story started in 2011 with Nick and James founding it originally as small business IT support across multiple industries, including dental. After years of extensive research into what dentists want (and need) from their dental systems, Dentally was launched in early 2014. Today, dental professionals are using Dentally, across the UK and worldwide including Australia and many regions globally.

Dental practitioners are using cloud technology's power to make their lives easier.  Dentally's web-based dental software allows dentists to see patients during surgery hours and then head home as the last patient leaves the practice. They can reclaim their time with family and friends and log in securely at a time that suits them to finish off any notes or admin. 

Here are nine reasons Dentally can simplify your practice management (and life!)

1. Cloud-based - work where it suits you
2. Saves money on IT setup, admin, and maintenance
3. Data is secure
4. Easy to use
5. Saves time using task automation
6. Integrates seamlessly with other software
7. Streamlined reporting
8. Support you can rely on
9. Trusted by thousands of dental professionals

Moving your dental practice to the cloud provides many benefits not provided with the older, server-based solutions. This is why Dentally is now one of the most common dental software providers in the UK. This article details some of the most widely enjoyed ones, so please read on. 

Work where suits you

With Dentally or any other cloud-based dental software, you can access your information from any location. All you need is a computer and internet access. This means no more late nights at the dental clinic to work on your accounts and admin; you can balance your work life around the rest of your life.

You get the same performance from within the surgery as you do from outside. Giving you more time to focus on your patients and the other aspects of your life that matter to you. 

No need for an expensive server 

Using a cloud-based software saves money on IT setup, administration, and maintenance. Gone are the days of needing to run an expensive and power-hungry dedicated server. 

In a cloud-based dental software system, our remote servers do the brunt of the work instead. This means there is no need to spend a four-figure sum on a top-of-the-range server to sit in your cupboard or storeroom in the dental office. 

In turn, being cloud-based means less stress on your in-surgery computers. You can use less expensive machines around the practice, further reducing your hardware investment. 

If you already have a server for your current practice management solution, you can still use it for other things. When you come to replace it, you can simply replace it with a normal PC. If it is a dedicated machine (exists purely for your data, e.g. digital images and patient records), you can just throw it out when it no longer works.

Data you wish to store, such as radiographs and files, can be shared across the practice machines' hard drives if needed. We also give you online storage space so you can access your uploaded documents/radiographs from anywhere.   

Access from anywhere with no need to network the practice

Dentally is light to run over the internet through WIFI. Some practices choose to avoid wiring cable throughout the whole building, so ethernet cables aren't available everywhere. 

Cabling the practice does provide benefits, such as file sharing between machines and a more stable wired connection to the internet. However, for new practices looking to get off the ground and build their business, this is another expense which can be saved.

In the long term, we recommend the practice be cabled for the above reasons; it can just be one less thing to worry about initially. As a true cloud-based solution, Dentally’s internet requirements are as low as 1mbs download (very slow by today’s modern digital standards). This means that you can access the system with full performance from wherever you are.

This extra freedom doesn’t compromise security, as you can limit access for staff between certain times, limit access to only certain IP addresses, and use plenty more security features, such as two-factor authentication. 

This means that Dentally meets and exceeds all CQC requirements regarding data safety and managing patient information. 

Freedom to choose your operating system

Being cloud-based means you can choose your machine and your operating system. Want to use Windows 10? No problem.  Oh, you like Apple and want to use a Mac? Sounds great; just plug it in.

If there is a split opinion in the practice, each person can use their personal preference and still get the same great performance.

Our hardware requirements are also tiny, so if keeping costs down is a priority you can save significantly here. Cloud-based dental software works for your practice and preferences rather than vice versa. We have detailed more information on our system requirements in our Support area.

Updates are simple

As a cloud-based solution, a Windows / MAC update does not interact with Dentally. This means you will never encounter unexpected issues when updating your server. You'll never find yourself locked out of your system and unable to manage appointments while an update kicks in. 

Dentally releases updates without any disruption to you.  Lots of micro-updates mean that the systems landscape never changes too dramatically in a short period of time, leading to a simple progression of features and functionality. To install the most recent version, all a user has to do is refresh their browser. No downtime, no restarting PCs or servers, so less messing about. 

Practice hardware becomes easily replaceable

The most common cause of data loss in dental practices is hardware failure, while the second most common is data theft. If your dental software solution is cloud-based, your machines do not hold your data, so they are easily replaceable.

Many dental practices consider dropping expensive hardware maintenance when switching to Dentally. This is because if a machine fails, the replacement can be delivered to the practice straight from an online retailer one day later. It also means there is no charge to install Dentally on the new PC, as you do not need to install Dentally at all - instead, just run from any device which has Google Chrome installed.

Managed and tested data backups as standard

No more rotating external hard drives or data tapes. Cloud-based software is backed up automatically multiple times a day. We also test the backups for you.

This means that you never have to worry about managing your data or take the time out of your day to do so again.  Leaving you more time to work on treatment planning and patient engagement. 

What happens if I lose internet?

One of the most common questions we are asked, is that if the practice is not relying on a server to run the dental system, what happens when the internet drops?

In the rare case that you lose your connection to the internet in your practice, the great news is that it is very simple to use Dentally.

One of the most common ways to overcome this is to set your phone up as a data hotspot (settings > connections > mobile hotspot and tethering on an Android). This uses your 3G / 4G data connection and means your mobile phone emits a WiFi signal for your devices to connect to. You can connect to this WiFi on your PC, and you're back into Dentally. 

If you've never done this before, in essence, what it means is that your phone omits a WiFi signal through 3G/4G. You will be able to connect your laptop or computer to the internet through your mobile. Most phones come with the ability to hotspot these days, but you might want to check that your providers allow you to do it. Similar results can be achieved with a USB data dongle available from any network provider and as a 'pay as you go' plan for an emergency back up.

Of course, if the hotspot option doesn't give you the peace of mind you need, you could consider having a backup router. A backup router can be wired or wireless, but the basics of what happens is that if your main router loses access to the internet and stops broadcasting, the backup router receives a signal that the internet is no longer broadcasting and instantly starts its own signal.

This happens so quickly that the user rarely notices that something has gone wrong.  A wireless router runs off a SIM card that you insert into it and will start up if your main router goes down.

Of course, you can still use the system in its entirety from home or anywhere else you happen to be with a WiFi connection! This means that even if all electricity is out at the practice, your equipment won't work, but at least you can use a battery-powered device to run your patient management software.

Data is fully secure

Security is at the heart of cloud computing and far safer than a server locked in the practice storeroom. We take various measures to give you increased flexibility and enhanced security with the cloud. 

Hardware failure and theft are the two main causes of data loss. Dentally (and any cloud-based solution) completely protects you from both. Our role as IT professionals is to protect your data as part of the service so you have less to worry about regarding the IT infrastructure.

Instead of the windows, doors, and locks protecting your data on the server, we are talking about some of the best engineers in the world, with 24/7 protection, implementing the most modern and state-of-the-art protection possible. 

Easy to use

Ease of use is part of the Dentally ethos.  We want our customers to enjoy and learn how to use  the software confidently and quickly. Then, they can be productive in their everyday roles within the practice and focus on oral health.  But don't just take our word for it; learn more about its simple design and user-friendly interface. 

Save time with task automation

Choosing the right practice management software is essential in simplifying the way day-to-day work is carried out and ensuring a fantastic end-to-end experience for your patients.  You should select a tool that has been built with ease of use and time-saving functions at its core.

Dentally has been developed with customer feedback and cloud technology at its heart to provide a time-saving solution to everyday patient communications and management. Learn more about task automation. 

Integrates seamlessly with other software

Cloud-based technologies now offer dentists a way to integrate the software they need to run a successful practice. This allows them to optimise their time with the patient in the chair and deliver a number of positive outcomes.

Seamlessly linking practice management software with a number of platforms means end-to-end clinical and practice workflows can be established. Learn more about integration and some useful tools. 

Support you can rely on

Support you can count on provides a healthy environment for your dental practice to thrive, as with any business.  Responsive support is what we do, whether looking after new or existing customers or large or small dental practices. 

Customers can call us or send us a message within the Dentally software. One of our fully remote-based Customer Success team members will be on hand to answer queries quickly. They all know Dentally inside and out, so they have the knowledge and tools to help customers get the most out of the software and answer their queries.  

In Summary

So there you go!  Hopefully, this article has helped answer several of your questions.  If Dentally sounds like what your business is missing, then we would recommend that you take a look at the software for yourself.

As a fully remote-based company, we provide more online demonstrations than face-to-face, although both are an option. Please feel free to get in contact with any questions you may have, as we can provide you with more personally tailored information in line with the requirements for your business.

Access our sandbox - We set you loose with a ‘fake’ dental practice, populated with test patients and appointments. This is known as our sandbox account, and you can explore the system at your leisure, without consequences and before making your decision.

Get in touch - We’re more than happy to have a chat! Email hello@dentally.co with details of your practice and what you need from us in order to find out more.