DSN was built for specialty practices.
CareStack wasn’t.
When your practice demands more than a one-size-fits-all dental system, DSN delivers specialist workflows, clinical precision, and support designed around surgeons — not general dentists.
See full CareStack vs DSN comparisonDozens of practices have switched for a reason
CareStack is a strong platform for general dental DSOs. But oral surgery runs on a different rhythm: surgical consults, sedation cases, medical billing, and inbound referral management. When the software isn’t built for that, you’re building workarounds every day.
The core difference is specialization
CareStack is a cloud-based, all-in-one dental platform used by over 2,500 practices, primarily general dental offices and DSOs. DSN Cloud is a cloud-based platform built exclusively for oral surgery, periodontics, and endodontics.
DSN offers a consult-to-surgery workflow, native anesthesia monitor integration, medical-first billing with automated CPT/CDT cross-coding, inbound referral analytics, AI voice charting for surgical terminology, and a support team trained on specialty workflows. CareStack offers broader general dental features and strong DSO scalability — but its OMS-specific capabilities require workarounds.
CareStack’s core workflow is built around hygiene recalls, restorative treatment planning, and general dental scheduling. Oral surgery runs on a fundamentally different rhythm: surgical consults, multi-phase treatment plans, sedation cases, medical billing, and inbound referral management. When your software’s core logic doesn’t match your core workflow, you’re constantly adapting instead of operating.
- Designed for any dental practice — general, ortho, pediatric, and specialists all on the same system
- Consult-to-surgery workflow adapted from a general dental foundation, not built natively for OMS
- Sedation documentation and inbound referral tracking are not purpose-built for oral surgery
- Medical-first billing is adapted rather than native — CDT-to-CPT cross-coding is not automatic
- Broad platform strength for general-practice DSOs, not purpose-built for surgical specialties
- No general dental module — every feature, template, and billing rule is designed for surgical specialties
- Referral hub built around inbound referrals — not repurposed from an outbound general dental model
- Billing engine auto-cross-codes CDT to CPT — claims validated before submission, fewer rejections
- Anesthesia module pulls vitals directly from your monitor — no manual entry, no third-party integrations
- EMR templates fully customizable for surgical documentation, built by people who know OMS
CareStack vs. DSN: Feature by feature
| Feature | CareStack (All-in-One Dental) | DSN Cloud (Specialty Dental) | Why DSN Wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core Workflow | Hygiene & Restorative Driven | Consult-to-Surgery Driven Specialty | Built for the surgical consult workflow, not 6-month hygiene recalls. |
| Surgical Coding | Manual Selection | Procedure-Specific Smart Kits Auto | Bundles all relevant codes (anesthesia, drugs, surgery) instantly per procedure. |
| Medical Billing | Possible but not primary | Medical-Native Billing Engine Native | Optimized for complex oral surgery claims. Auto cross-codes CPT/CDT. |
| Referral Portal | Outbound focus (sending) | Inbound Focus (receiving) Inbound | GPs submit referrals directly into DSN. Track volume and revenue per referrer. |
| Anesthesia | Third-party integration required | Native Monitor Integration Native | Vitals from Mindray and other monitors flow directly into the patient record. |
| Training | General dental trainers | Surgical Practice Trainers OMS | Trainers who understand sedation protocols, surgical scheduling, and OMS billing. |
| AI Clinical Tools | Limited | AI Voice Charting + Knowledge Base AI | Dictate operative reports using OMS terminology. Searchable AI knowledge base. |
| Implant Tracking | Basic case management | Real-Time Implant Registry Auto | Automated lot number, expiration, and usage tracking across all procedures. |
| Provider UI | Click-heavy; provider frustrations reported | Single Pane of Glass Fast | History, imaging, notes, and billing on one screen. Designed for surgeon speed. |
| Platform Focus | 2,500+ general dental practices / DSOs | 900+ specialty dental practices Specialty | DSN’s entire product roadmap is driven by surgical specialty feedback. |
How the switch from CareStack to DSN works
Switching practice management software sounds overwhelming, but DSN has migrated hundreds of practices from competing platforms. Here’s what the process typically looks like.
Frequently Asked Questions
Comparing other platforms?
Heard straight from the teams who switched
We have been using DSN for about two years now. We love it. They’re always so kind when we need help/support. They also spend a lot of time adding new features in as well.
DSN Imaging has changed how we work day to day. We can capture, view, and manage scans all in one place, whether we’re in the office or working remotely. It’s faster, more efficient, and keeps everything connected.
I have been in practice over 20 years, and tested almost all OMS EMRs. Without doubt DSN is the best software out there. Excellent functionality, useful reports and overall ease of use. Highly recommend it.
I have used DSN for 7 years now and am very happy with not only their software, but also their customer support.
I’ve been using DSN for 10 years, and honestly, my interaction with them has been minimal — but that’s a good thing. The software just works. It does what it’s supposed to do, so I don’t have to think about it.
DSN just saves us so much time. Whether it’s quickly pulling schedules or reports, every workflow has been extremely smooth. DSN’s support has been wonderful. I would recommend DSN 150%.
Ready to leave CareStack behind?
See DSN in action.
Book a personalized demo and see exactly how DSN handles the surgical workflows CareStack makes you work around — anesthesia, medical billing, inbound referrals, and AI charting, all purpose-built from day one.