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Healthcare · head to head

Dentrix vs IDEXX Cornerstone

Dentrix logo

Dentrix

Healthcare

The Most Trusted Name in Dental Practice Management

From
$299/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
IDEXX Cornerstone logo

IDEXX Cornerstone

Veterinary

On-premise veterinary practice management software tied to the IDEXX diagnostics ecosystem

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Dentrix the Dentrix product page publishes no price and no licence term, and directs buyers to request a demo or contact the vendor; IDEXX Cornerstone the system runs on a server in the building, so the practice pays for hardware, backups and an IT provider, costs that never appear in a comparison against browser based competitors.
  • They diverge on capability: Dentrix covers Patient scheduling, IDEXX Cornerstone covers Medical records.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Dentrix and IDEXX Cornerstone actually diverge.

Attributes where Dentrix and IDEXX Cornerstone differ
AttributeDentrixIDEXX Cornerstone
Starting price$299/monthOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
PlatformsWindows, Web, ApiWindows
CategoryHealthcareVeterinary
Founded1989Unknown

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Dentrix

  • Patient scheduling
  • Electronic health records
  • Treatment planning
  • Insurance claim processing
  • Clinical charting
  • Imaging integration
  • Patient communication
  • Revenue cycle management

Only in IDEXX Cornerstone

  • Medical records
  • Diagnostics integration
  • Estimates and invoicing
  • Inventory control
  • Boarding and grooming
  • Wellness plans

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Dentrix

  • Practice management, charting and scheduling for dental officesnot IDEXX Cornerstone
  • Dental insurance claims, treatment planning and patient billingnot IDEXX Cornerstone
  • Managing imaging alongside clinical records in one systemnot IDEXX Cornerstone

IDEXX Cornerstone

  • A multi-doctor general practice already running IDEXX in-house analysers that wants results in the record automaticallynot Dentrix
  • A clinic with unreliable internet where an on-site server keeps the practice working during an outagenot Dentrix
  • A practice that boards and grooms as well as treating, and wants those bookings on the same invoicenot Dentrix
  • A group needing consolidated reporting across a small number of owned locationsnot Dentrix

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Dentrix

  • The Dentrix product page publishes no price and no licence term, and directs buyers to request a demo or contact the vendor
  • Automatic software updates, in product chat support and priority access to specialists come through the paid Connected Care Essentials plan rather than the base software
  • Dentrix is sold as customisable packages and suites rather than one product, so what a practice gets depends on which suite it buys
  • Henry Schein One sells two separate practice management systems side by side, Dentrix and Dentrix Ascend, so buyers must choose between them rather than moving between editions

IDEXX Cornerstone

  • The system runs on a server in the building, so the practice pays for hardware, backups and an IT provider, costs that never appear in a comparison against browser based competitors.
  • It is Windows only with no meaningful mobile access, which rules it out for house call and ambulatory work and leaves staff tied to workstations.
  • The interface is dense and dated, so training a new receptionist or technician takes materially longer than on newer systems.
  • Commercial gravity runs towards IDEXX diagnostics, and a practice that later moves its laboratory work to a competitor loses the automation that justified the software.
  • IDEXX is directing new customers towards its cloud products, so investment in Cornerstone is maintenance oriented and buyers should assume a migration conversation within the life of the purchase.

Pricing, plan by plan

Dentrix

$299/month
  • Dentrix G7$299/month
    • Patient scheduling
    • Treatment planning
    • Insurance management
  • Dentrix Enterprise$499/month
    • Multi-location support
    • Centralized management
    • Advanced analytics
  • Dentrix Ascend$399/month
    • Cloud-based platform
    • Automatic updates
    • Remote access

IDEXX Cornerstone

On request
  • Cornerstone$undefined/year
    • Licence priced by number of workstations and modules
    • Annual support and maintenance charged separately
    • Server hardware and IT support are the responsibility of the practice

Which should you pick?

Choose Dentrix if

  • You need patient scheduling.
  • You work on Windows, Web, Api.
  • You also want electronic health records.
Dentrix review

Choose IDEXX Cornerstone if

  • You need medical records.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want diagnostics integration.
IDEXX Cornerstone review

Questions people ask

Is Dentrix or IDEXX Cornerstone better?
Neither clearly leads. Dentrix starts at $299/month and IDEXX Cornerstone at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Dentrix or IDEXX Cornerstone?
Dentrix starts at $299/month and IDEXX Cornerstone at On request.
Does Dentrix or IDEXX Cornerstone run on more platforms?
Dentrix runs on Windows, Web, Api. IDEXX Cornerstone runs on Windows.
What is Dentrix best used for?
Dentrix is most often used for practice management, charting and scheduling for dental offices, dental insurance claims, treatment planning and patient billing, managing imaging alongside clinical records in one system. Of those, practice management, charting and scheduling for dental offices and dental insurance claims, treatment planning and patient billing are not what IDEXX Cornerstone is typically brought in for.
What can Dentrix do that IDEXX Cornerstone cannot?
Dentrix covers Patient scheduling, Electronic health records, Treatment planning, Insurance claim processing. IDEXX Cornerstone covers Medical records, Diagnostics integration, Estimates and invoicing, Inventory control.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Dentrix: Does Dentrix publish pricing online?

No, Dentrix does not disclose specific pricing, subscription tiers, costs, or licensing fees on their website.

Source
IDEXX Cornerstone: Is Cornerstone cloud based?

No. It is installed on a server at the practice. IDEXX sells separate browser based products for clinics that want cloud.

Dentrix: How can I get a Dentrix pricing quote?

Contact Dentrix's sales team via the 'Request a Demo' or 'Request Info' options on their website, call 800-336-8749, or visit their support contact page.

Source
IDEXX Cornerstone: Does it work with laboratories other than IDEXX?

Results can be handled, but the automatic requisition and result return that make Cornerstone worth its price are built around IDEXX.

Dentrix: Does Dentrix offer customizable packages?

Yes, Dentrix mentions 'Dentrix Packages & Suites' as customizable options, but specific details and pricing for each package are not provided online.

Source
IDEXX Cornerstone: What is the real total cost?

The licence and annual support are only part of it. Add the server, backup, workstation refreshes and an IT contract before comparing with cloud systems.

IDEXX Cornerstone: Can it be accessed from home?

Only through remote desktop or similar, set up and secured by the practice IT provider.

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