Dentally or EXACT: how the practice software differs

Same and different

• Hosting: Dentally runs in the web browser with data on remote servers; EXACT is licensed software installed at the practice.
• NHS claims: Dentally describes claims for all four UK nations. For EXACT the guide found no public description of NHS claims.
• Price: Dentally publishes a monthly starter price. For EXACT the guide found no public price.
• Data when you leave: both describe what happens to your data after the contract ends, in different terms. See the section on moving your data.

Who is behind Dentally and EXACT?

• Dentally: Dentally states it is designed for NHS practices across England, Wales and Scotland and for HSC practices in Northern Ireland³¹Provided by the vendor
• EXACT: Software of Excellence states that EXACT launched in the UK in 1994³²Provided by the vendor

Both are sold in the UK by Henry Schein One UK Ltd, so the contract terms below come from the same group terms.

Cloud or practice server

• Dentally: Cloud-based practice management software that runs entirely in the web browser, with all data stored on remote servers rather than on local computers²Provided by the vendor Dentally is hosted on servers owned and operated by Amazon Web Services that reside within the European Union¹⁴Provided by the vendor
• EXACT: Under the group terms EXACT is licensed practice software, and support covers the practice software installed at the practice¹⁹Provided by the vendor

For EXACT the guide found no public description of where data is stored when it searched on 19 October 2026. With software installed at the practice, ask who runs the server, who takes the backups and what IT support you need. See setting up a practice for the IT support comparison.

NHS claims and mixed NHS and private work

A practice that usually submits its NHS claims from EDI software in its practice system can also submit FP17 forms through NHSBSA’s Compass. Can I submit an FP17 claim through Compass even though I usually submit my claims by an EDI software system? (NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA))³³ How each system describes claims:

• Dentally: England and Wales: simple claim submissions with exemptions handled; Scotland: GP17 digital signing and prior approvals are supported; Northern Ireland (HSC): claims are submitted in a few clicks¹⁶Provided by the vendor
• EXACT: not found. The guide found no public description of NHS claims for EXACT when it searched on 19 October 2026. For NHS contract tracking: Predictive UDA Manager tracks NHS contracts and reports on the practice and individual practitioners²⁶Provided by the vendor

For neither system did the guide find a public description of how mixed NHS and private courses of treatment and NHS charge bands are handled. If you have both NHS and private patients, ask for a demonstration of a mixed course of treatment.

Online booking and patient forms

• Dentally: Dentally Portal lets patients book appointments online through the practice's own patient booking system⁴Provided by the vendor Dentally Portal lets patients book appointments, complete forms and check in, and changes appear in Dentally in real time¹¹Provided by the vendor
• EXACT: Online appointment booking lets patients book an appointment at a time that suits them while the practice keeps control of its diary²¹Provided by the vendor Patient Portal lets patients complete and sign forms from their own device, with SMS two-factor authentication²⁷Provided by the vendor

Reminders:

• Dentally: Dentally sends automated SMS and email reminders, with recall insights⁵Provided by the vendor
• EXACT: Automated Reminders give patients a reminder to attend their next appointment²²Provided by the vendor

See also online booking and patient communication.

Data security and the DSPT

• Dentally: The security policy lists an NHS DSP Toolkit submission under certificates (page last updated 23 June 2020)¹⁷Provided by the vendor
• EXACT: not found. The guide found no public statement about the Data Security and Protection Toolkit for EXACT when it searched on 19 October 2026.

Price

• Dentally: £134 per practice per month ex VAT¹
• EXACT: no public price found as of 19 October 2026¹⁸

Ask both for a quote on the same set-up: number of sites and surgeries, users, online booking, text reminders, imaging, training and support, each as its own line, ex VAT and inc VAT.

Moving your data if you switch

When you leave:

• Dentally: After termination, the terms say content may be provided on written request at the vendor's sole discretion, and all content of a subscription is irrevocably deleted 90 days after cancellation or termination³Provided by the vendor
• EXACT: The data processing terms say all personal data is deleted or returned to the practice at its written request after the SaaS or support services end²⁰Provided by the vendor

When you move in:

• Dentally: Data can be migrated from the practice's current dental software to Dentally¹²Provided by the vendor
• EXACT: On request, a data conversion process may be provided to import practice data from other practice management systems or clinical software²⁸Provided by the vendor

Get the export terms in writing before you sign: which data you get back (records, X-rays, appointment book, accounts), in what format, within what time and at what cost.

Contract and support

• Dentally: Under the group terms, a cancelled SaaS subscription keeps access until the end of the current subscription period, and a subscription cancelled before the end of its billing cycle is not charged again in the next cycle¹³Provided by the vendor An AI support agent is available 24/7, and a query that needs the team can be passed to a human agent in the support team¹⁵Provided by the vendor
• EXACT: Under the group terms, a practice software licence runs for the minimum initial term set in the sales agreement; ending it early means paying the fees that would have been payable to the end of that term²⁹Provided by the vendor The support service level agreement gives access to the support team by chat and phone, with software updates scheduled out of hours³⁰Provided by the vendor

What to check before you choose

• Does the system send FP17 and FP17O claims for the nation you work in, and how does it handle mixed NHS and private courses?
• Cloud or server: where is the data stored, who takes the backups, and what happens when the internet connection drops?
• What is in the price: sites, surgeries, users, online booking, text reminders, training and support?
• Which data do you get back if you leave, in what format, how soon, and at what cost?
• What is the minimum term, and what does it cost to leave early?
• What does the vendor provide for your Data Security and Protection Toolkit?

See all the systems in the guide’s comparison of dental practice management software.