What Most Offices Get Wrong About “Going Cloud-Based”

Let’s talk about something a lot of dental offices are asking lately:

🗣️ “Should we switch to Open Dental Cloud?”

And my honest answer? It depends. But for many offices… my gut reaction is a hard no.

The Allure of Cloud-Based Software

Cloud-based dental software is the shiny new toy right now. It's marketed as sleek, simple, and accessible from anywhere. And that’s not untrue—but it’s definitely not the whole picture.

We’ve worked with dozens of practices who jumped on the cloud bandwagon, only to regret it within months. Why? Because the reality didn’t match the hype.

Open Dental’s cloud version is often:

• 🐌 Slower than its server-based counterpart

• 🚫 Missing features that teams rely on daily

• 🔐 Restricted when it comes to using third-party tools

Ask Yourself: Why Do You Want Cloud?

Before you make the switch, ask yourself this key question:

❓ “Do I want cloud-based software because I actually need it—or because I think I’m supposed to?”

Here are some of the most common reasons we hear from offices considering Open Dental Cloud—and what we recommend instead:

1. “We have multiple locations.”

This is probably the most common reason for exploring cloud—but here’s the good news:

➡️ You can still connect multiple locations without going cloud-native.
Open Dental’s clinics feature allows for centralized databases and shared scheduling between locations. Plus, with the right IT setup, you can host your Open Dental server on the cloud—meaning you get the speed and full functionality and remote access.

2. “We want remote access in case of emergency.”

Totally fair. But you don’t need full-blown Open Dental Cloud for that.

➡️ Try ODMobile or remote access tools like ConnectWise or Splashtop.
These options let you check schedules, respond to emergencies, or manage data remotely without sacrificing functionality or speed.

3. “Our in-office server is a pain to manage.”

Yes—server maintenance can be tedious, especially without a solid IT partner.

➡️ Solution? Host your server-based Open Dental in the cloud.
Many IT companies offer hosted environments where you get the best of both worlds:

• Full access to Open Dental’s features

• Compatibility with all your favorite third-party tools

• Reliable performance (unlike many true cloud-based EMRs)

Why This Matters

At SKF Practice Solutions, we’ve unfortunately helped too many offices convert back from cloud-based platforms that overpromised and underdelivered. They thought cloud would simplify their lives—and instead, they ended up with more frustration, less functionality, and slower systems.

Choosing a dental software platform just because it’s cloud-based is like picking a car just because it has Wi-Fi. Cool feature, sure—but does it drive well?

The Bottom Line

Cloud-based platforms can work great for some practices. But if your goal is performance, customization, and compatibility—Open Dental’s server-based version (whether hosted locally or in the cloud) is still the gold standard.

So before you make the leap:

✔️ Know your “why”
✔️ Understand the trade-offs
✔️ Explore server-hosted cloud options before ditching the power of the full platform

Not Sure What’s Best for Your Office?

We’d be happy to talk it through. We’ve helped dozens of practices navigate the cloud vs. server debate—and even more convert back to Open Dental after learning the hard way.