Planet DDS Declares the Practice Management Era Over and Launches DentalOS®, the Dental Enterprise Platform for DSOs

Here's some pretty big news from Planet DDS.  The company is announcing that Planet DDS will officially declare the practice management era over and launch DentalOS®, a dental enterprise platform that unifies Denticon and Cloud 9 on one data layer, with AI agents built on top, and they are doing that at no extra cost to customers.

Most PMS platforms were built with the  basic concept of a single location private practice.  That was pretty much the norm when dentistry was moving from analog to digital record keeping, charting, etc in the late 90s and early 00s.  However, since those early days, the business aspect of dentistry has changed significantly.  Now many private practices are multi-location enterprise businesses.  Then when you factor into the equation the emergence of corporate dental offices and DSOs, it's apparent that the market has changed... in ways that many systems weren't originally built to handle.

The new system, which they are calling DentalOS will launch in phases.

 

Phase 1 lays the enterprise foundation: a unified OS Desktop, enterprise-grade security with SSO and MFA, centralized user management, and an Agentic Marketplace for AI-powered workflows.   

With this launch, they aim for the platform to absorb operational noise and eliminate RCM friction, with every specialty acting on connected patient data.  Here is what Planet DDS has to say:

One Patient. One Schedule. One RCM.

Planet DDS today declared the practice management era in dental software over and launched DentalOS®, the dental enterprise platform built to replace it. DentalOS is not a smarter practice management system. It is a new category of software entirely: a unified platform that connects Denticon and Cloud 9 on a single data layer, with a new suite of enterprise capabilities, including AI agents, built on top. DentalOS will be available at no additional cost to Planet DDS customers, giving dental group executives visibility, control, and financial performance to run the organizations they’ve built.

More than half of the largest 60 DSOs in North America already run on Planet DDS. What the company sees across the industry is consistent: multi-location enterprises using software built for a single practice. The company has observed the industry entering a new enterprise era, which requires a fundamentally different kind of software.

“Every bet we’ve made as a company, we made early and often alone. Cloud-native before it was obvious, open ecosystem to give our customers choices, and enterprise-grade before DSOs were a mainstream conversation. It was never luck or prophecy. Our customers knew and we had the conviction to listen. DentalOS is our answer to the dental enterprise era,” said Eric Giesecke, CEO of Planet DDS.

Why Planet DDS Built DentalOS

Years of consolidation produced organizations managing dozens or hundreds of locations, with private equity-grade reporting requirements, multi-specialty complexity, and the operational ambition to run it all as one. The practice management software those organizations are running was only ever designed to manage a single office.

“I’ve never met a DSO leader who said their biggest problem was finding the right practice management software. They talk about visibility, scale, AI, and operational consistency across dozens of locations. They’re looking for a platform that matches the ambition of what they’ve built,” said Mike Huffaker, Chief Revenue Officer of Planet DDS.

Four forces are converging to make the status quo increasingly untenable: the industry-wide shift from acquisition to operation as DSOs focus on running what they’ve acquired; the arrival of AI, where the underlying data layer determines who wins; a labor crisis that makes automation a survival necessity; and a rising bar for enterprise-grade security, total cost of ownership, and visibility across multi-location dental organizations.

“Every capability we're building—AI agents, clinical voice, predictive revenue cycle—performs relative to the quality of the data beneath it. DentalOS is that foundational platform. We built the platform so that everything built on it today and in the future performs at a level disconnected tools never could,” said Nathan James, Chief Product Officer of Planet DDS.

What Is DentalOS? The Dental Enterprise Platform Explained

DentalOS is the dental enterprise platform that connects practice management, revenue cycle, imaging, and AI on a single data layer for DSOs and multi-location dental groups. Built on an open ecosystem of 80+ integration partners, DentalOS gives operators the tools that fit their organization—not the tools a single vendor chose for them. On that foundation is a new layer of enterprise add-on suites, each solving specific operational problems at scale:

• Agents+: Expands operational capacity without adding headcount. The Confirmation Agent automatically confirms appointments and updates the schedule; the Recall Agent identifies overdue patients and reaches out to book recall appointments. Both are available today. Coming soon: the Cancellation Recovery Agent, which rebooks cancelled appointments, and the Missed Appointment Recovery Agent, which follows up immediately with no-shows. RCM and clinical agents to come. 
• Clinical Voice+: Standardizes clinical documentation at the point of capture so DSO leadership can benchmark, govern, and trust clinical data across every provider and location; AI Voice Perio and AI Voice Restorative live today in Denticon; AI Progress Notes launching next
• Imaging+: Removes per-location server infrastructure and gives enterprise leadership an organization-wide view of imaging utilization; includes 3D module, CBCT cloud storage, expanded storage, and imaging analytics
• Patient+: Turns patient communication from a staff-dependent task into a systematic revenue process; includes MyTooth for a connected patient digital experience across scheduling, forms, and communication
• Payments+: Closes the gap between collecting a payment and recording it; includes Planet DDS Pay for automatic ledger posting at the moment of collection across every location
• RCM+: 20 to 30% of submitted claims sit in denial or pending at any given time. For a 20-provider group, that’s millions in recoverable revenue. The RCM Hub changes that—purpose-built for revenue cycle within DentalOS, not as an afterthought inside practice management, surfacing that risk before it becomes a write-off across eligibility, claims, remittance, and patient AR.

DentalOS Phases: What's Launching and What's Coming

DentalOS will launch in phases. Phase 1 establishes the enterprise foundation that makes everything else possible: a unified OS Desktop experience, enterprise-grade security with Single Sign On (SSO) and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), centralized user management, and an Agentic Marketplace for AI-powered workflows. This is the infrastructure layer that gives CTOs and IT teams the visibility and enterprise-level control they’ve been asking for.

The platform roadmap ahead is persona-driven, with each phase designed to solve for a distinct role inside the DSO, from the front desk and DSO administrators to multi-specialty operators and enterprise leadership. Near-term phases focus on eliminating workflow friction and login fragmentation that costs staff time every day. Upcoming phases connect the multi-specialty enterprise and give leadership centralized control across every location and every user.

DentalOS for Every Stage of DSO Growth

Planet DDS is clear that the dental enterprise era is defined by intent, not size. A dental group that makes the right infrastructure decision at 15 locations will be better positioned at 150 than one that waits. For qualifying 2 to 9 location groups, the company’s Launchpad program gives early-stage groups access to the same DentalOS platform as the largest DSOs in the country.

The long-term destination: a dental enterprise where the platform handles the operational noise, RCM friction approaches zero, every specialty is connected, and the data accumulated across every location and patient relationship becomes a measurable, compounding competitive advantage.

Dental groups ready to move beyond practice-level tools can learn more by visiting planetdds.com/dentalos.

Resources

• Learn more about DentalOS
• Discover Denticon Practice Management
• Explore Cloud 9 Ortho Practice Management
• Read the 2026 Deep Dive Report
• Apply for Launchpad

About Planet DDS

Dental software is broken. We aim to fix it. Planet DDS is the leading dental enterprise software company in North America, delivering DentalOS®—the platform built to run the dental enterprise, not just the practice. As the industry enters the dental enterprise era, Planet DDS gives DSO and multi-location group executives the visibility, control, and financial performance to run every location, every specialty, and every dollar as one connected organization. Built on an open ecosystem with 80+ integration partners, DentalOS connects Denticon Practice Management, Cloud 9 Ortho Practice Management, and Apteryx Cloud Imaging on a single data layer—cloud-native since 2003 and enterprise-proven at scale. More than half of the top 60 DSOs in North America trust Planet DDS with solutions used across 14,500 practices and 175,000 users nationwide.

Why Standards Matter - The ADA's work on Standards and Safety

 

In a science based field like dentistry, standardization is critical.  If you don't have standards, nothing can really be measured and/or improved.  Imagine that you got to a jeweler and you ask for a gram of gold.  He pulls out a sealed black box and then tells you the price?  You ask, "Is there gold in there?"  How do you know how much it weighs?"  If his response is "Trust me.  If I say there's a gram of gold in there, you can be sure there is."  I think you would you would walk out.  I realize that's an overly simplistic and kooky example, but it really does hold true.  If you don't know what's in something or how much of it there is, how can you know what it is? 

Way back in 1917 the U.S. Army needed to get soldiers ready for battle.  They tasked the National Bureau of Standards to be in charge of research on amalgam.  That ended up being the event that brought the American Dental Association into the picture and lead to a standard on amalgam.

Today most practitioners don't even think about it.  We know the materials we order and use every day are state of the art, developed by amazingly intelligent people, and held to exacting standards.  But if it weren't for a lot of people working tirelessly in the background, that wouldn't be the case.  This is also a perfect example of why I'm a fan of organized dentistry.  I sometimes hear someone wonder "what has the ADA ever done for me?" and the ADA Standards Program is just one of those things.

The ADA News has a great article on how the Standards Program came to be and how it continues to help dentists every day.  You can find that article here and I think you'll be amazed when  you read it!

If you are a recent dental school graduate, I don't need to tell you about the student loan debt you have.  However today I can tell you about a program that could potentially help you make a dent in those student loan payments.  Delta Dental of Rhode Island has a program that offers up to $20k annually for up to three years if you practice in Rhode Island.  The info and details that Delta provided me are below as well as a link in case you are interested in applying.

As Rhode Island continues to face challenges in ensuring access to dental care, particularly in underserved communities, Delta Dental of Rhode Island is investing $5 million to help attract and retain dentists across the state.

 The Delta Dental of Rhode Island Dentist Loan Repayment Program is now accepting applications from eligible early-career dentists. Administered by the Rhode Island Foundation, the program provides up to $20,000 annually for up to three years in student loan repayment assistance for dentists who commit to practicing in Rhode Island.

Why it matters:

• Student loan debt remains a significant barrier for new dentists entering practice.
• Rhode Islanders in many communities continue to experience challenges accessing oral health care.
• The program supports dentists practicing in a variety of settings, including private practices, DSOs and community health centers, helping strengthen the state's oral health workforce.
• The initiative launched in 2025 and represents a long-term investment in improving access to care while helping new dentists build sustainable careers in Rhode Island. 

Applications are open through August 13.

Additional information and applications are available at RIFoundation.org/DeltaDental.

Davids Health Sciences Launches Fluoride-Free Unflavored Nano-Hydroxyapatite Toothpaste Featuring Proprietary Hydroxi™ Technology

 

The consumer oral care market is growing at a pretty incredible pace.  I routinely see new products coming to market.  I have NOT had a chance to try the toothpaste in today's post, so I can't give you a personal opinion.  However the unflavored aspect of this may be useful for some patients.  I often have patients ask me or a member of the hygiene team "what is the best toothpaste"?  Of course there isn't a simple answer to that, but one thing I think is important is finding a toothpaste with a flavor the patient likes.  Odds are that if a patient finds a taste disagreeable, they probably won't brush as long or as well.  The thought process should be on cleaning and not on how bad the taste is.  Some patients simply have a difficult time finding a flavor of toothpaste they like.  Because of that, I think it's a good idea to have some unflavored options to discuss.  Today's post is about a new unflavored toothpaste from Davids Health Sciences.

Inspired by a "less is more" approach to oral care, Davids introduces a fluoride-free formula designed for those seeking a simpler, more intentional brushing experience

Davids Health Sciences, Inc., a leader in premium naturally derived oral care, today announced the launch of Davids Hydroxi™ Whitening + Enamel Health Clean & Fresh Unflavored Toothpaste, the newest addition to its Hydroxi™ portfolio, expanding the brand's fluoride-free oral care offerings for consumers seeking ingredient-conscious, high-performance toothpaste without unnecessary additives.

The launch reflects a broader shift in consumer wellness, as more people embrace ingredient transparency, simplified routines and products that prioritize function over excess. Consumers are increasingly choosing products that deliver exceptional performance while eliminating unnecessary complexity and sensory stimulation. Hydroxi™ Unflavored extends that same philosophy into oral care by pairing advanced dental science with a deliberately minimal formulation. As consumers rethink what belongs in their daily wellness routines, Davids is bringing that same philosophy to oral care.

Modern life is filled with constant stimulation, from notifications and fragrances to flavors and endless sensory input. Hydroxi™ Unflavored was created for consumers who believe not every daily ritual needs to be stimulating. Rooted in Davids' "Less is More" campaign, the launch embraces thoughtful restraint as the ultimate expression of clean, effective oral care. Whether preserving the taste of morning coffee or simply seeking a more intentional daily routine, Hydroxi™ Unflavored delivers advanced oral care without unnecessary sensory distraction.

"Consumers don't always want more from their wellness routines, they often want less," said Eric Buss, Founder and CEO of Davids Health Sciences. "Hydroxi™ Unflavored reflects that shift. We created a toothpaste that removes everything that doesn't need to be there while delivering the advanced enamel support, whitening performance and clean ingredients people expect from our Hydroxi™ technology. It's high-performance oral care built around intentional simplicity."

Powered by Davids' proprietary Hydroxi™ nano-hydroxyapatite technology, the new fluoride-free formula helps remineralize and strengthen enamel while supporting whitening and plaque removal, expanding the Hydroxi™ portfolio with a thoughtfully formulated option for consumers seeking a simpler approach to oral care and a more intentional brushing experience.

Hydroxi™ is Davids' proprietary nano-hydroxyapatite technology inspired by the natural mineral composition of tooth enamel. The biomimetic ingredient helps support enamel remineralization, whitening and plaque removal while providing an innovative fluoride-free approach to everyday oral care.

Davids Hydroxi™ Whitening + Enamel Health Clean & Fresh Unflavored Toothpaste features:

Science-Backed Performance

• Proprietary Hydroxi™ nano-hydroxyapatite technology
• Helps remineralize and strengthen enamel while supporting whitening and plaque removal

Clean Formula

• No added flavors or essential oils
• Fluoride-free
• SLS-free, sulfate-free and vegan
• No artificial colors or preservatives
• EWG VERIFIED®
• Leaping Bunny Certified

Thoughtful Design

• Recyclable metal tube with food-grade protective lining
• FSC Mix certified carton packaging
• Made in the USA by a family-owned independent oral care brand

Hydroxi™ Unflavored broadens the Hydroxi™ collection with a new option for consumers seeking ingredient-conscious oral care that prioritizes performance over excess. By pairing advanced dental science with a deliberately minimal formula, Davids continues to redefine what clean oral care can look like.

Davids Hydroxi™ Whitening + Enamel Health Clean & Fresh Unflavored Toothpaste is available at davids-usa.com for $9.95.

About Davids Health Sciences, Inc.

Davids Health Sciences, Inc. is a pioneer in premium oral care, dedicated to providing advanced, highly effective solutions that are both safe and sustainable. Founded by Eric Buss, Davids combines cutting-edge dental science with the highest quality naturally sourced and naturally derived ingredients. The proprietary Hydroxi™ formulation exemplifies this commitment, setting new benchmarks for enamel repair, sensitivity relief, whitening, and freshness, all without fluoride or harsh chemicals. Davids continues to redefine premium oral care, ensuring trust, efficacy, and innovation in every product.

A Second Set of Eyes: Using Diagnocat's FDA-Cleared CBCT Tools in Endodontic Practice

 

As AI continues to make progress into clinical dentistry, we're going to see more and more tools become available.  A few years ago I become aware of Diagnocat, an AI system that can analyze CBCT.  At the time it was not yet available in the US, but I had a chance to spend some time with the system.  It was pretty impressive and performs some pretty amazing analysis.  In October 2025, Diagnocat received FDA clearance and is now available for US dentists to use.

I recently became aware of a case report the company has released from Dr. Jayati Pandey, BDS, MDS who is an endodontist.  It contains info on how a difficult endodontic case was made easier and communication better through the use of AI.  Visual communication is a huge benefit in dentistry.  Most humans only retain about 10% of what they hear, but around 85% of what they see.  Helping patients understand their situation by using images makes a tremendous difference.

Today's post is short because the real info is in the case report.  It's an interesting read and can be found at this link.  Enjoy!

Solventum’s Filtek™ Composite Warmer Wins 2026 Red Dot Award

 

As regular readers know, I'm a huge fan of warm composite.  Even 3M (before renaming the dental division Solventum)  came out publicly with a downloadable pdf titled :  (I could not link to the pdf directly so the link is to a Google search that lists it)  Busted!  6 Myths of Composite Warming.  I remember reading it when it was first available and being happy that a company with such a good reputation was in support of the concept.

I also wondered at the time how long it would be before the company came out with a warming device.  The concept of warm composite has been around for at least two decades and there are several products on the market created to warm composite.  Addent, a small company in Danbury, CT has sold the Calset device for a long time... in fact they were the reason I started using warm composite all those years ago.  The concept has even expanded into composite delivery devices.  Addent also sells the Compex HD dispensing gun and Vista Apex Solutions  has two products, the Therma-Flow composite warming system as well as a dispenser gun called Phasor.  I've tested and used all of those products and they work well.

The one point I want to get across is that warming composite has a lot of benefits, both in handling during placement and long term by providing better polymerization of the material.

Today I want to let you know that Solventum has brought a warmer to market as well.  It's called the Filtek™ Composite Warmer and should be available now.  Read on for all of the info that Solventum has provided in its press release:

Solventum has officially been awarded the prestigious 2026 Red Dot Award for Product Design for its groundbreaking Filtek™ Composite Warmer.  Celebrated for its human-centered design that helps simplify composite warming in everyday dental workflows. 

The Clinical Problem:

Dental restoratives offer a flexible solution to help clinicians enhance the natural beauty of their patients’ smiles with ease and precision, whether they require a touch-up or a comprehensive restoration.  

Composite warming during direct restoration reduces the viscosity of dental restorative materials, helping improve flow, enhance adaptation and decrease the extrusion force required during application. Solventum offers the first dental composite cleared by the FDA for warming.

The Solution:

• Rapid Warming : Achieves a full system heat-up in 10 minutes. From there, it warms composite capsules in just two minutes and flowable syringes in five minutes—lowering viscosity to deliver better flow1,2,less air inclusion3, and superior adaptation3.
• True Point-of-Care Mobility: Features a first-of-its-kind removable holder. Instead of forcing clinicians or assistants to walk back and forth to a stationary heating base, the holder can be brought directly to the chairside to streamline treatment.
• High-Capacity Staging: Simultaneously accommodates up to six capsules and one flowable syringe to keep multi-step procedures moving smoothly.
• Infection Control & Safety: Includes a heat-safe silicone sleeve to protect fingers during handling. The entire top portion is completely autoclavable to easily integrate with standard clinical sterilization protocols.

"This recognition reflects what's possible when our R&D teams design around the realities clinicians face every day," said Ellen Bosl, Vice President of R&D for Dental Solutions at Solventum. "We started by listening to the everyday challenges in restorative workflows, then engineered a solution that addresses those clinical needs.”

Episode 47 - Dr. Bill Simon

 

One of the things I really enjoy about doing The Technology Evangelist Podcast is the unexpected turns many of the conversations have.  It's fairly common for the conversation to take off in a direction I hadn't anticipated and those conversations are often some of the best.  That was definitely that case with Dr. Bill Simon.  I've known Bill through his work with the Chicago MidWinter meeting and we've gotten to have some nice conversations in the past... but nothing like we had for the podcast.

My original plan was to discuss how meetings and continuing education are changing in dentistry, but what I got from Bill was more... much more. His journey in the profession has had more twists and turns than a road through the Swiss Alps, and it made for an amazing conversation.

Starting out in any profession can be daunting, especially in the field of dentistry where the stakes are high, and the learning curve is steep. In this brief summation, I'll delve a bit into the journey of Dr. Bill Simon, an incredibly successful practitioner, who shares his experiences, challenges, and insights for younger professionals navigating their careers in dentistry.  If you are a younger dentist and are looking for someone to mentor you through the profession, I *highly recommend* contacting Dr. Simon!!!

About Dr. Bill Simon

Dr. Bill Simon has spent years building a successful dental practice in Chicago. With a background in both biology and dentistry, his journey is chock full of valuable lessons learned from both successes and obstacles. His experience makes him a credible figure in the field, and his insights are particularly helpful for new dentists. Add to this that he also works to mentor younger dentists needing career guidance.

The Early Decisions: Choosing Dentistry

Like many of us, Dr. Simon's career began with a tough choice during high school—whether to pursue accounting, a field he excelled in, or follow his passion for biology and helping people through dentistry. He recalls, "I decided to go down the biology route, thinking it would provide more opportunities to work with and help people." This decision ultimately shaped his career path, leading him to dental school at Southern Illinois University. As a little sidelight, I love SIU's mascot, the Salukis!

Learning Through Challenges

One of the most significant hurdles Dr. Simon faced early on was navigating the complexities of dental practice ownership. After graduation he decided to work in a practice owned by an older dentist. Shortly into his professional career, he was stunned to receive a letter from the dental board telling him the office owner didn't have a license and he found himself under investigation for aiding unlicensed practice. This experience taught him a crucial lesson: "You don't learn a lot from your successes; you learn more from your challenges and failures."

When faced with the decision to either buy the practice, clean up the litigation, or leave, Dr. Simon chose to establish his own practice just four doors down. "I built out a two-operatory clinic in the dark of night. The next week, I opened with my entire patient schedule filled," he recalls. This daring move not only salvaged his career but also laid the foundation for his future success.

Resilience in Crisis: The Fire Incident

In 2002, tragedy struck when Dr. Simon's practice suffered a fire. He vividly describes driving down the highway, hearing the news on the radio that the street to his office was closed due to a major fire. "I pulled up to find fire trucks outside my building, and we were essentially burned out of our space," he recounts.

Despite this setback, Dr. Simon showed remarkable resilience. He and his team adapted quickly, sharing space with other dental practices and continuing to serve their patients. This experience taught him about the importance of networking and community, as he connected with other dentists who had faced challenges and were willing to help him continue to see patients and recover from the disaster.

It also shows a lot about Dr. Simon as an employer. During the process of working from multiple locations his dedication to his employees fueled their dedication to him and the practice. What for many might be a business ending tragedy, fueled their desire to support each other while continuing to help their patients. They came out of the situation even stronger... as an office and a team.

Key Takeaways for Aspiring Dentists

• Follow Your Passion: Choosing a career path aligned with your interests can lead to greater satisfaction and success.
• Learn from Challenges: Embrace failures as learning opportunities; they often teach you more than successes.
• Be Resilient: Adaptability is crucial in overcoming unexpected hurdles.
• Build a Network: Connecting with others in your field can provide support and resources in difficult times.

Conclusion

Dr. Bill Simon's journey is a testament to the power of resilience, adaptability, and passion in the world of dentistry. His experiences remind aspiring dentists that while the road may be fraught with challenges, it is also filled with opportunities for growth and success. For those looking to embark on a similar path, remember to embrace your journey, learn from your experiences, and connect with your community.

Oh, and we did actually discuss continuing education as well. His insights will give you a look at where the world of professional conferences is headed.

Want to hear the whole story from Dr. Simon? Listen to the complete episode (Episode 47) of the Technology Evangelist Podcast for deeper insights!