People who search for FreeDental are usually looking for Open Dental, the dental practice management system that Dr. Jordan Sparks first published as Free Dental in 2003 before renaming it. Today it is a full practice management package for dental offices in the US and Canada: scheduling, charting, treatment plans, insurance claims, imaging and patient communication in one Windows program.
The old name is now misleading. Open Dental was open source under the GPL for many years, but from version 24.4 the licence became proprietary. The installer is a free download for evaluation, while live use in a practice requires a paid registration key from the developer, so we list it as shareware (conditionally free). There is no separate “FreeDental” product any more.
Open Dental at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Latest version | 26.1 (stable, released 6 August 2026); 26.2 is in beta |
| Licence | Shareware (conditionally free): proprietary since version 24.4, earlier versions were GPL; the free evaluation version is limited to 30 patients |
| Platforms | Windows 11 and Windows Server 2016/2019/2022/2025; the database server may alternatively run on Linux or macOS |
| Developer | Open Dental Software, Inc. (Oregon, USA) |
| Official website | opendental.com |
| Best for | US and Canadian general and multi-provider practices that want a complete, locally hosted practice management system |
What it does
- Appointment book for multiple providers and operatories, with online self-scheduling (Web Sched) and automated reminders.
- Graphical tooth chart for recording existing conditions, planned and completed procedures, plus perio charting.
- Treatment plans that can be presented to patients with insurance estimates.
- Insurance billing and electronic claims through more than 20 supported clearinghouses, including pre-authorisations.
- Imaging module that stores X-rays, photos and documents in the patient record, with image acquisition and video capture.
- Electronic prescriptions, digital forms, eClipboard check-in and a patient portal.
- Built-in reports, graphical reports and custom SQL queries against the practice database.
- ODTouch app for chairside use and dedicated tools for dental schools.
How dental teams use it
Evaluate the software with the demo database
- Install the trial on a spare Windows PC and choose the demo database, which contains fictional patients and providers.
- Walk through a typical day: book appointments, open a patient, chart procedures and post payments.
- Switch to the blank opendental database to test your own setup with up to 30 patients.
Chart and plan treatment
- Open the patient and go to the Chart module.
- Select teeth and surfaces, pick a procedure code and mark it as existing, treatment planned or complete.
- Review the plan in the Treatment Plan module and print or present it to the patient.
The trial uses temporary codes; licensed CDT codes and ADA claim forms become available only after a registration key is issued.
Keep X-rays with the patient record
- During installation, place the OpenDentImages folder on a shared network location.
- In Setup, Data Paths, enter the UNC path so every workstation sees the same images.
- Import or capture radiographs and intraoral photos in the Imaging module; they stay attached to the patient.
Install and first run
Open Dental runs as a Windows client connected to a MySQL or MariaDB database. The trial installer sets up the program, MariaDB, the database and the image folder in one go.
- Server: run the installer as administrator, keep the database on a local path (for example C:mysqldata), set a MySQL password when prompted and share the OpenDentImages folder.
- Workstations: choose the Workstation option; each PC then connects to the server’s database from the Choose Database window.
- Requirements: Windows 11 or Windows Server 2016–2025 (Windows 10 support ended on 14 October 2025, Windows 11 S is not supported); 4–8 GB RAM; minimum screen resolution 1280×768; a fast internet connection for updates and support.
- Gotchas: do not install on a machine that already has MySQL or MariaDB from other software; Windows SmartScreen may warn about the installer; if the program will not start, install the required .NET runtime; Pro or Business editions of Windows handle office networking better than Home.
Documentation, the user manual and version notes are published on the official website.
Limitations
- Not free for real use: the evaluation copy is limited to 30 patients and does not work with the API or eServices.
- No longer open source: current versions cannot be modified or redistributed; only older releases were GPL.
- Windows only on the desktop; there is no native macOS client.
- Built around US and Canadian insurance and coding; practices elsewhere will find much of the billing workflow irrelevant.
- The hosted Open Dental Cloud is available to US customers only and is in limited release.
- A local install needs someone to look after the server, backups and network shares.
Open Dental vs alternatives
| Tool | Licence | Key difference |
|---|---|---|
| Open Dental | Shareware (conditionally free) | Full US/Canada practice management, local Windows install, strong insurance tools |
| iDentist | Shareware (conditionally free) | Cloud-synced app for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Android and Windows; simpler, focused on scheduling, reminders and patient charts |
| OpenEMR | Free and open source (GPL) | General medical EHR, web based; no dental-specific charting out of the box |
| OpenMolar | Free and open source (GPL) | UK-built dental practice software; its developer describes version 1 as mothballed |
FAQ
Is FreeDental the same as Open Dental?
Yes. Free Dental was the original name of the project Dr. Jordan Sparks started in 2003; it has been developed as Open Dental ever since.
Is there a free dental software download?
The Open Dental installer is a free download for evaluation and includes a demo database. For live patient work you need a registration key from Open Dental Software, so it is shareware rather than free software.
Is Open Dental free and open source?
Not any more. Versions before 24.4 were released under the GPL; from 24.4 the licence is proprietary. Open Dental states that the change did not affect how customers use the software.
Does Open Dental run on Mac?
The program itself requires Windows. A Mac or Linux machine can host the database server, but there is no native macOS version of the Open Dental client.
How many patients can I add in the trial?
The blank trial database accepts up to 30 patients. The separate demo database is pre-filled with fictional patients for testing.
What is a free alternative to Open Dental?
Fully free, actively maintained dental practice systems are rare. OpenEMR is free and open source but is a general medical EHR; OpenMolar is a free dental option whose first version is no longer maintained.
How do I move from the trial to the full version?
Contact Open Dental Software to order. You receive a registration key, and the trial installation can serve as the first step of the full installation.
Last checked against official sources: 26 September 2026 (developer website: opendental.com). Versions and licence terms change — confirm on the developer's site before deploying in a clinic.
