Dolphin Management (Patterson Dental) Alternatives

Orthodontics Practice Management
PlanMonthlyAnnual
PlusMost popular$895.00/mo$10,740.00/yr
Standard$595.00/mo$7,140.00/yr

Verdict

Dolphin Management Standard at $595 per provider monthly + Plus at $895 is fair for active orthodontic practices depending on imaging + treatment planning + scheduling + billing. Solo + 1-provider practices over-buy. Where alternatives win: Cloud9 Ortho ships cloud-native orthodontic PMS at $495-$795, Ortho2 Edge Cloud covers budget-tier orthodontic PMS at $425-$695, OrthoTrac bundles Carestream-imaging at $525-$795, and EasyRx offers ortho-lab Rx workflow at $199-$399.

By Subrupt EditorialPublished Reviewed

Orthodontics practice management splits cleanly by practice size. Solo and 1-provider practices need affordable PMS, imaging, and treatment planning. Mid-volume practices layer on scheduling and billing. Multi-location orthodontic groups need roster, custom workflows, and APIs.

Dolphin Management (Patterson Dental-owned) dominates the orthodontic imaging + treatment planning segment with the deepest installed base. Cloud9 Ortho leads cloud-native orthodontic PMS. Ortho2 Edge Cloud serves the budget-tier orthodontic segment. OrthoTrac (Carestream Dental-owned) bundles Carestream imaging integration. EasyRx focuses on ortho-lab and appliance Rx workflow.

On cost, a 5-provider practice pays roughly $35,700/year on Dolphin Management versus $29,700 on Cloud9 Ortho, $25,500 on Ortho2 Edge Cloud, and $31,500 on OrthoTrac. EasyRx scales separately as a lab Rx workflow tool ($199 per practice base). The 1-1.4x spread tracks imaging + treatment planning depth, cloud-native PMS, budget-tier flat economics, Carestream-imaging integration, and ortho-lab Rx workflow.

Quick map by practice type. Solo + 1-provider budget: Ortho2 Edge Cloud at $425/provider. Cloud-native + multi-location: Cloud9 Ortho. Carestream-imaging stack: OrthoTrac. Ortho-lab Rx workflow: EasyRx. Mid-volume + Dolphin stack: stay with Dolphin Management. Multi-location + APIs: Dolphin Plus + Cloud9 Ortho Plus.

Affiliate disclosure: Subrupt earns a commission when you switch to a service through our recommendation links. This never changes the price you pay. We only recommend services where there's a real cost or feature advantage for you, and our picks are based on the data on this page, not on which programs pay the most.

Quick pick by use case

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At a glance: Dolphin Management (Patterson Dental) alternatives

Quick comparison across pricing floor, best fit, and switching effort. Tap a row to jump to the full pick.

Our picks for Dolphin Management (Patterson Dental) alternatives

#1

Cloud9 Ortho

High switching effort

Best for cloud-native orthodontic PMS

Try Cloud9 Ortho

Cloud9 Ortho Standard at custom $495 per provider monthly covers cloud orthodontic PMS + scheduling + billing + imaging + treatment planning + standard support. Plus at $795 per provider adds advanced reporting + APIs + integrations + multi-location + custom workflows + priority support. Where Dolphin Management focuses on Patterson Dental ecosystem + on-premise + cloud-deployment, Cloud9 Ortho leads on cloud-native orthodontic PMS: cloud-first architecture, mobile-first provider apps, and multi-location consolidation tuned for cloud-native orthodontic groups. For multi-location orthodontic groups prioritising cloud-native architecture, Cloud9 Ortho beats Dolphin on cloud-native depth. The trade vs Dolphin: weaker Dolphin-equivalent imaging + treatment planning depth, smaller US orthodontic installed base, less mature Patterson Dental ecosystem alignment.

Strengths

  • +Cloud-native orthodontic PMS
  • +$495 + $795 per provider predictable tiers
  • +Plus adds APIs + multi-location + custom workflows
  • +Strong fit for multi-location orthodontic groups

Trade-offs

  • Weaker Dolphin-equivalent imaging + treatment planning
  • Smaller US orthodontic installed base
  • Less mature Patterson Dental ecosystem
Standard
Custom ~$495/provider/mo
Plus
Custom ~$795/provider/mo with APIs + multi-location
Differentiator
Cloud-native orthodontic PMS
Strength
Multi-location cloud-native ops
Pricing verified
2026-04-30
Migration steps
  1. Schedule demo at cloud9ortho.com (typically a 60-90 minute walk-through plus custom pricing).
  2. Plan a 4-6 month rollout; pilot Cloud9 Ortho on 1 location first.
  3. Migrate Dolphin patient + treatment + imaging + billing history via Cloud9 onboarding.
  4. Configure Cloud9 Ortho cloud PMS + scheduling + imaging + treatment planning workflow.
  5. Cancel Dolphin once Cloud9 Ortho covers full patient + treatment + imaging + billing cycle for one quarter.

Not for: Pass on Cloud9 Ortho if you depend on Dolphin's imaging + treatment planning + Patterson Dental ecosystem depth; Dolphin Management Standard + Plus fit those shapes better.

Paid plans from $495.00/mo

#2

Ortho2 Edge Cloud

Medium switching effort

Best for solo + budget-tier orthodontic PMS

Try Ortho2 Edge Cloud

Ortho2 Edge Cloud Standard at custom $425 per provider monthly covers orthodontic PMS + imaging + treatment cards + scheduling + billing + reporting + standard support. Plus at $695 per provider adds advanced reporting + APIs + integrations + multi-location + custom workflows + priority support. Where Dolphin Management Standard at $595 is the entry tier with deep imaging + treatment planning, Ortho2 Edge Cloud Standard at $425 ships parity scope (orthodontic PMS + imaging + treatment cards + scheduling) at 29% lower entry cost. For solo + 1-provider orthodontic practices where per-provider cost is the primary constraint, Ortho2 beats Dolphin on entry economics. The trade vs Dolphin: weaker Dolphin-equivalent imaging + treatment planning depth, smaller US orthodontic installed base, less mature multi-location enterprise consolidation.

Strengths

  • +$425 Standard (vs Dolphin $595)
  • +Bundled orthodontic PMS + imaging + treatment cards
  • +Plus adds APIs + multi-location
  • +Strong fit for solo + 1-provider budget

Trade-offs

  • Weaker Dolphin-equivalent imaging + treatment planning
  • Smaller US orthodontic installed base
  • Less mature multi-location consolidation
Standard
Custom ~$425/provider/mo
Plus
Custom ~$695/provider/mo with APIs
Differentiator
Budget-tier orthodontic PMS
Strength
Solo + 1-provider budget
Pricing verified
2026-04-30
Migration steps
  1. Schedule demo at ortho2.com (typically a 30-60 minute walk-through plus custom pricing).
  2. Migrate Dolphin patient + treatment + imaging + billing history via Ortho2 onboarding.
  3. Configure Ortho2 Edge Cloud orthodontic PMS + imaging + treatment cards workflow.
  4. Train providers + admin staff on Ortho2 UI vs Dolphin.
  5. Cancel Dolphin once Ortho2 Edge Cloud covers full patient + treatment + imaging + billing cycle for one quarter.

Not for: Ortho2 falls short for multi-location practices depending on Dolphin's imaging + treatment planning + Patterson Dental ecosystem depth; Dolphin Management Standard + Plus fit those shapes better.

Paid plans from $425.00/mo

Best for Carestream-imaging-bundled

Try OrthoTrac (Carestream)

OrthoTrac (Carestream Dental-owned) Standard at custom $525 per provider monthly covers orthodontic PMS + imaging integration + scheduling + billing + treatment planning + reporting + standard support. Plus at $795 per provider adds advanced reporting + APIs + integrations + multi-location + custom workflows + priority support. Where Dolphin Management focuses on Patterson Dental ecosystem, OrthoTrac leads on Carestream-imaging-stack-bundled: native integration with Carestream intra-oral cameras + sensors + cone-beam CT + cephalometric imaging tuned for Carestream-imaging-stack-bundled orthodontic practices. For Carestream-imaging-stack-bundled orthodontic practices, OrthoTrac beats Dolphin on Carestream-imaging-integration economics. The trade vs Dolphin: weaker Dolphin-equivalent treatment planning depth, smaller US orthodontic installed base, less mature Patterson Dental ecosystem alignment.

Strengths

  • +Native Carestream imaging integration
  • +$525 + $795 per provider predictable tiers
  • +Plus adds APIs + multi-location
  • +Strong fit for Carestream-imaging-stack practices

Trade-offs

  • Weaker Dolphin-equivalent treatment planning
  • Smaller US orthodontic installed base
  • Less mature Patterson Dental ecosystem
Standard
Custom ~$525/provider/mo
Plus
Custom ~$795/provider/mo with APIs
Heritage
Carestream Dental-owned
Strength
Carestream-imaging-stack-bundled
Pricing verified
2026-04-30
Migration steps
  1. Schedule demo at carestreamdental.com/orthotrac (typically a 30-60 minute walk-through plus custom pricing).
  2. Migrate Dolphin patient + treatment + imaging + billing history via OrthoTrac onboarding.
  3. Configure OrthoTrac orthodontic PMS + Carestream imaging integration + scheduling workflow.
  4. Train providers + admin on OrthoTrac UI vs Dolphin.
  5. Cancel Dolphin once OrthoTrac covers full patient + treatment + imaging + billing cycle for one quarter.

Not for: OrthoTrac is suboptimal for Patterson-Dental-stack practices valuing Dolphin's imaging + treatment planning + ecosystem depth; Dolphin Management Standard + Plus fit those shapes better.

Paid plans from $525.00/mo

#4

EasyRx

Low switching effort

Best for ortho-lab Rx workflow

Try EasyRx

EasyRx Standard at $199 per practice monthly covers ortho lab + appliance Rx workflow + STL viewer + lab communication + standard support. Plus at $399 per practice adds 3D model storage + advanced reporting + APIs + multi-location + custom workflows + priority support. Where Dolphin + Cloud9 + Ortho2 + OrthoTrac are full PMS platforms, EasyRx is laser-focused on ortho-lab + appliance Rx workflow: digital lab Rx submission, STL file transfer to labs, 3D model storage + viewer, and lab communication tuned for ortho-lab Rx workflow specifically. For orthodontic practices wanting focused ortho-lab Rx workflow alongside their primary PMS, EasyRx layers alongside Dolphin (or any other PMS) without replacing it. The trade vs Dolphin: not a full PMS (lab Rx workflow only), no Dolphin-equivalent patient + treatment + scheduling + billing, smaller installed base outside lab Rx workflow segment.

Strengths

  • +Ortho-lab + appliance Rx workflow focus
  • +$199 + $399 per practice flat-fee predictable
  • +3D model storage on Plus
  • +Strong fit for ortho-lab Rx workflow layer

Trade-offs

  • Not a full PMS (lab Rx workflow only)
  • No Dolphin-equivalent patient + treatment + billing
  • Smaller installed base outside lab Rx segment
Standard
$199/practice/mo
Plus
$399/practice/mo with 3D model + APIs
Focus
Ortho-lab + appliance Rx workflow
Strength
Lab Rx workflow layer
Pricing verified
2026-04-30
Migration steps
  1. Sign up at easyrx.com (typically a 14-day free trial).
  2. Migrate Dolphin lab Rx history (manual import) via EasyRx data import.
  3. Configure EasyRx lab Rx workflow + STL viewer + lab communication + 3D model storage workflow.
  4. Layer EasyRx alongside Dolphin (or another PMS) for lab Rx workflow.
  5. Cancel Dolphin only if EasyRx + alternative PMS covers full patient + treatment + lab Rx workflow.

Not for: EasyRx is suboptimal for full PMS use cases (patient + treatment + scheduling + billing); Dolphin Management + Cloud9 Ortho + Ortho2 fit those shapes better. Often layered alongside, not replacing.

Paid plans from $199.00/mo

When to stay with Dolphin Management (Patterson Dental)

Stay with Dolphin Management if your orthodontic practice depends on its imaging + treatment planning + scheduling flow, your Patterson Dental ecosystem alignment is well-tuned, or your enterprise rollout includes APIs + custom workflows. The picks below cover Cloud9 Ortho for cloud-native orthodontic PMS, Ortho2 Edge Cloud for budget-tier orthodontic PMS, OrthoTrac for Carestream-imaging-bundled, and EasyRx for ortho-lab Rx workflow.

4 Alternatives to Dolphin Management (Patterson Dental)

Cloud9 Ortho starts at $495.00/mo vs Dolphin Management (Patterson Dental) Plus at $895.00/mo

From $495.00/mo

Save $400.00/mo ($4,800.00/yr)

Switch to Cloud9 Ortho

Ortho2 Edge Cloud starts at $425.00/mo vs Dolphin Management (Patterson Dental) Plus at $895.00/mo

From $425.00/mo

Save $470.00/mo ($5,640.00/yr)

Switch to Ortho2 Edge Cloud

OrthoTrac (Carestream) starts at $525.00/mo vs Dolphin Management (Patterson Dental) Plus at $895.00/mo

From $525.00/mo

Save $370.00/mo ($4,440.00/yr)

Switch to OrthoTrac (Carestream)

EasyRx starts at $199.00/mo vs Dolphin Management (Patterson Dental) Plus at $895.00/mo

From $199.00/mo

Save $696.00/mo ($8,352.00/yr)

Switch to EasyRx

Price Comparison

Compared against Dolphin Management (Patterson Dental) Plus ($895.00/mo)

Continue your research

How we picked

We compared orthodontic practice management platforms across the solo through multi-location segment on per-provider pricing, orthodontic PMS depth, imaging integration, treatment planning, ortho-lab Rx workflow, and integrations ecosystem.

We weighted predictable per-provider pricing, bundled vs add-on pricing model, and practice-stage fit (solo, mid-volume, multi-location). Pricing pulled from each vendor's site or sales conversations on the review date. Last refreshed 2026-04-30.

Update history1 update
  • Initial published version with 4 picks.

Frequently asked questions about Dolphin Management (Patterson Dental) alternatives

What is Dolphin Management pricing?

Dolphin Management (Patterson Dental-owned) Standard at custom $595 per provider monthly covers orthodontic PMS + scheduling + billing + imaging + treatment planning + standard support. Plus at custom $895 per provider adds advanced reporting + APIs + integrations + multi-location + custom workflows + priority support.

Is there a free orthodontic PMS?

No vendor in this segment offers a permanent free tier; Dolphin + Cloud9 Ortho + Ortho2 + OrthoTrac + EasyRx all require paid tiers. Vendors typically offer 14-30 day trials but no free perpetual tier.

Which platform leads on cloud-native orthodontic PMS?

Cloud9 Ortho is engineered as cloud-native orthodontic PMS. Standard at $495 per provider monthly + Plus at $795 are canonical for multi-location orthodontic groups prioritising cloud-first architecture + mobile-first provider apps + multi-location consolidation.

What replaces Dolphin for budget-tier orthodontic entry?

Ortho2 Edge Cloud Standard at $425 per provider monthly + Plus at $695 are canonical for solo + 1-provider orthodontic practices where per-provider cost is the primary constraint. Ortho2 ships parity scope at 29% lower entry cost vs Dolphin Management Standard.

Which platform fits ortho-lab Rx workflow?

EasyRx Standard at $199 per practice monthly + Plus at $399 are canonical for orthodontic practices wanting focused ortho-lab + appliance Rx workflow + STL viewer + lab communication + 3D model storage. EasyRx layers alongside any primary PMS without replacing it.

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About the author: Subrupt Editorial

The team behind subrupt.com. We track subscriptions, surface cheaper alternatives, and publish comparisons where the score formula is on the page so you can recompute it yourself. We do not claim 30,000 hours of testing. What we claim is live pricing from our database, a transparent composite score, and honest savings math against a category baseline.

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