Getting Started  

If you have an internet connection, the best way to access this manual is to go to the Main Menu in Open Dental, and select Help | Online Help. The manual is also on the installation CD. One of the folders on the CD is called Manual. After opening this folder, click on the file called index.html. The main page of our website should open, with all the various links including the manual intact. You may also copy the entire Manual folder from your CD to your harddrive, and open it from there.

Required Setup
After you have successfully installed Open Dental, you must follow these three easy steps before you can start using the program.

Step 1. In the Main Menu, click Setup | Practice. Enter the name and address of your practice.

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Step 2. In the Main Menu, click Lists | Providers.

Double click on DOC1 to edit. You will be editing DOC1 instead of adding your own provider. At a minimum, change the first and last name to the primary dentist and clear out any values that are obviously wrong.

Step 3. (skip this step if still using the trial version) In the Main Menu, click Lists | Procedure Codes.  At the lower left, click Tools. Click Run Now.

If you have time, it's helpful to go through the rest of the setup sections in the Main Menu to familiarize yourself with them, but it's not essential. You are now ready to start adding patients and scheduling appointments.

See Tutorials for videos that cover common tasks.