Dentrix vs MyDentalPractice: Which is Better for Nigerian Clinics?

Dentrix vs MyDentalPractice: Which is Better for Nigerian Clinics?

If you're researching dental practice management software for your Nigerian clinic, you've likely encountered Dentrix—the world's most widely used dental software. But is an American-designed system really the best choice for a Nigerian practice?

In this comparison, we'll give you an honest assessment of both Dentrix and MyDentalPractice, helping you make an informed decision based on your clinic's specific needs.

Quick Comparison Overview

Detailed Feature Comparison

Patient Management

Dentrix:

Dentrix offers robust patient management with comprehensive demographic capture, insurance information (US-focused), and medical history tracking. It's designed for practices dealing with US insurance systems, Medicare, and Medicaid.

MyDentalPractice:

MyDentalPractice provides complete patient records optimized for Nigerian workflows. Auto-generated patient numbers follow local conventions, and the system handles Nigerian HMO and NHIS insurance structures. Medical history forms match Nigerian healthcare standards.

Winner for Nigerian Clinics: MyDentalPractice

The Nigerian-specific patient intake process, HMO handling, and locally-formatted records make MyDentalPractice the better fit.

Clinical Charting

Dentrix:

Industry-leading clinical charting with detailed odontogram, periodontal charts, and treatment planning. Excellent imaging integration. Decades of refinement have made this one of Dentrix's strongest areas.

MyDentalPractice:

Interactive 32-tooth odontogram with comprehensive tooth condition tracking (caries, fillings, crowns, extractions, implants). Full periodontal charting with probing depths. Clinical notes with rich text formatting.

Winner: Tie

Both platforms offer excellent clinical charting. Dentrix has slight advantages in imaging integration, while MyDentalPractice's charting is fully integrated with Nigerian billing codes.

Appointment Scheduling

Dentrix:

Sophisticated scheduling with operatory management, provider calendars, and production scheduling. Designed for multi-provider US practices with complex insurance appointment coding.

MyDentalPractice:

Intelligent scheduling with real-time conflict detection, color-coded appointment types, and automated reminders. Critical difference: Built-in SMS reminders that work reliably with MTN, Glo, Airtel, and 9mobile.

Winner for Nigerian Clinics: MyDentalPractice

Dentrix's scheduling is powerful, but the lack of Nigerian SMS integration is a dealbreaker. Patient reminders are essential for reducing no-shows, and MyDentalPractice's built-in SMS has 98%+ delivery rates on Nigerian networks.

Billing and Payments

Dentrix:

Comprehensive US billing with insurance claim management, EDI submission, and patient statements. Designed around US dental insurance workflows and CPT/CDT coding.

MyDentalPractice:

Winner for Nigerian Clinics: MyDentalPractice

Dentrix's billing is built for US insurance. Nigerian clinics need Naira invoicing, local payment gateways, and HMO handling—all native to MyDentalPractice.

Reporting and Analytics

Dentrix:

Extensive reporting suite with practice analytics, production reports, and KPI dashboards. Can export to Excel for custom analysis.

MyDentalPractice:

Comprehensive dashboards showing revenue, appointments, patient flow, and clinical metrics. Financial reports in Naira with local formatting. Treatment acceptance tracking. Multi-branch consolidated reporting.

Winner: Tie

Both offer strong reporting. Dentrix has more report templates; MyDentalPractice reports are designed for Nigerian practice metrics and tax requirements.

HR and Payroll

Dentrix:

No built-in HR module. Requires third-party integrations with US payroll systems like ADP or QuickBooks.

MyDentalPractice:

Complete HR suite including:

Winner: MyDentalPractice

This isn't close. If you need HR functionality, MyDentalPractice includes it at no extra cost. Dentrix users must purchase and integrate separate HR software.

Inventory Management

Dentrix:

Basic inventory tracking. Most practices supplement with dedicated inventory software.

MyDentalPractice:

Full inventory management with:

Winner: MyDentalPractice

Integrated inventory management reduces duplicate data entry and provides accurate supply costing.

Pricing Comparison

Dentrix Total Cost of Ownership (Nigerian Practice)

Initial Costs:

Monthly Costs:

At ₦1,500/$ exchange rate:

MyDentalPractice Total Cost of Ownership

Initial Costs:

Monthly Costs:

Total Annual Cost:

Cost Comparison

Dentrix: ₦675,000 - ₦1,200,000/month

MyDentalPractice: ₦15,000 - ₦35,000/month

MyDentalPractice is 20-80x more affordable for Nigerian practices.

Support Comparison

Dentrix Support

MyDentalPractice Support

Winner: MyDentalPractice

Getting support during Nigerian business hours in local context is invaluable.

When Dentrix Makes Sense

Dentrix might still be the right choice if:

When MyDentalPractice is Better

MyDentalPractice is the clear choice if:

Migration from Dentrix to MyDentalPractice

If you're currently using Dentrix and considering a switch, here's what to expect:

What Can Be Migrated

Migration Process

Migration Timeline

Migration assistance is included free with MyDentalPractice Professional and Enterprise plans.

Real Feedback from Nigerian Dentists

Dr. Adewale O., Lagos (Switched from Dentrix)

*"We used Dentrix for three years. The clinical features were excellent, but the SMS never worked properly with Nigerian numbers, billing was always in dollars, and getting support at 4am was impossible. Since switching to MyDentalPractice, our no-show rate dropped from 28% to 9% thanks to reliable SMS reminders. The cost savings alone have paid for five years of MyDentalPractice."*

Dr. Funke A., Abuja (Current Dentrix User)

*"We're part of an international group that mandates Dentrix. It works, but we've had to build workarounds for everything Nigerian—separate SMS system, manual currency conversion for financial reports, third-party HR software. If we were independent, we'd switch immediately."*

Dr. Chidi E., Port Harcourt (Evaluated Both)

*"I demoed both before opening my practice. Dentrix was impressive but felt like bringing a Ferrari to Lagos traffic—powerful but impractical. MyDentalPractice understood my reality: power outages, NHIS patients, staff who needed Naira payslips. Easy decision."*

Our Recommendation

For Nigerian dental practices, MyDentalPractice is the superior choice in almost every scenario.

Dentrix is an excellent product for its intended market (US dental practices), but using it in Nigeria means fighting against its design rather than working with it. You'll pay significantly more for a system that requires constant workarounds.

MyDentalPractice was built from the ground up for Nigerian dental clinics. Every feature—from SMS reminders to payroll processing—works the way Nigerian practices need it to work.

Ready to see the difference for yourself?

Start Your Free 14-Day Trial →

No credit card required. No sales pressure. Just 14 days to experience what dental software designed for Nigerian practices feels like.

*Have questions about switching from Dentrix? Contact our migration team for a free consultation and custom migration plan.*