PMS vs CRM
Dental PMS vs Dental CRM: what's the difference?
Dental practice management systems (PMS) and dental CRMs solve different problems. PMS handles the operational core of your practice. CRM handles lead capture and enquiry conversion. Dentaloptima is both, in one platform.
| Feature | Dentaloptima | Dental CRM only |
|---|---|---|
| Diary management | Yes (PMS) | No, requires separate PMS |
| Patient records | Yes (PMS) | Lead and contact records only |
| Treatment planning | Yes (PMS) | No |
| Email recalls and reminders | Yes (PMS) | Marketing nurture only |
| Lead management and conversion | Yes (built in) | Yes (core function) |
| Patient enquiry forms | Yes (built in) | Yes (core function) |
| Online booking | Yes (built in) | Limited or via integration |
| Website included | Yes | No |
| Reporting | Practice and patient activity | Lead pipeline and conversion |
What is a dental PMS?
A dental practice management system (PMS) is the core operational software your practice uses every day. It manages the diary, patient records, treatments, recalls, reporting, and admin workflows.
Examples include Dentally, Software of Excellence EX ACT, Sensei Cloud, and Dentaloptima.
What is a dental CRM?
A dental CRM focuses on lead management, enquiry conversion, and patient acquisition. It tracks where new patients come from, manages follow-ups, and reports on conversion.
Examples include DenGro and PatientComms. These tools usually sit alongside a PMS rather than replace it.
Dentaloptima covers both
Dentaloptima is a full PMS with practice operations covered, plus a website and online booking that capture and convert new patient enquiries directly. You get the operational core and the lead conversion layer in one platform, for one transparent monthly fee.
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