Compare · Head to head

Molar vs. Open Dental

Why growing practices switch from Open Dental to Molar, and what to know before you do.

Why practices switch

3 reasons to choose Molar over Open Dental

Cloud-based, no office server

Works in a browser from anywhere.

Molar Built inOpen Dental Not available
Built-in phone system

Calls ring inside the software.

Molar Built inOpen Dental Not available
Automatic text reminders

Appointment reminders go out on their own.

Molar Built inOpen Dental Limited

✓The score

Molar

80 of 85

built in

Open Dental

3 of 85

confirmed built in

  • 5 limited
  • 11 not available
  • 66 not rated

Molar customers can count on 77 more built-in features to elevate their practice operations.

≡Every feature rated for Open Dental

FeatureMolarOpen Dental

Clinical

Odontogram and perio chartingChart teeth, surfaces, and gum measurements.Built inLimited
Treatment planningBuild plans and estimates, and get them signed.Built inLimited
Imaging built by the software makerImaging software from the same company, not a bridge to another vendor.Built inMolar Imaging: a browser viewer plus a desktop capture app.Not available
Guided clinical examsStep-by-step exam prompts based on the Kois method.Not availableNot available

Front office

Multi-location schedulingRun every office from one schedule.Built inNot available

Patients

Automatic text remindersAppointment reminders go out on their own.Built inText reminders are included in your Molar subscription.Limited
Online self-schedulingPatients book their own visits online.Built inBuilt in
Patient portalPatients see visits, forms, and bills online.Built inBuilt in
Online formsPatients fill out and sign forms before the visit.Built inBuilt in
Check-in kioskPatients check themselves in on a tablet.Built inNot available
Built-in phone systemCalls ring inside the software.Built inCalls and fax through Molar Voice. Included in your Molar subscription.Not available
Online reputation managementRequest, track, and answer online reviews.LimitedMolar sends review requests and tracks clicks today. Monitoring and replying to reviews are on the roadmap.Not available
TeledentistryVideo visits with patients.On the roadmapNot available

Payments

Online paymentsPatients pay online or from a text.Built inThrough Fiserv CardPointe.Limited
Card processing and cards on fileProcess cards and save them for later.Built inNot available
Payment plans with auto-debitSplit a balance into automatic payments.Built inIncluded with Molar through Umbrella (umbrellasmileclub.com), plus installment schedules for orthodontic contracts.Not available
Membership plansIn-house plans for patients without insurance.Built inIncluded with Molar through Umbrella (umbrellasmileclub.com).Not available
Electronic statementsSend statements by email or text.Built inLimited

Platform

Cloud-based, no office serverWorks in a browser from anywhere.Built inNot available
Built inBuilt in, pass-through feeOn the roadmapCosts extraLimitedNot availableNot rated

Compare Molar with every platform

Molar's ratings come from our own product. Open Dental's ratings are compiled from published comparison pages, as of November 2026. Product names are trademarks of their owners.