PaySec + Open Dental: Eliminate Processing Fees in Your Dental Practice
How dental practices using Open Dental are integrating PaySec's Network Offset Pricing to stop paying 2-3% on every patient payment.
Open Dental is the open-source dental practice management software trusted by thousands of dental offices for scheduling, charting, imaging, billing, and patient communication. Its flexibility and no-monthly-fee model make it the choice for cost-conscious practices that value transparency and control over their technology stack. With a passionate community of users and developers, Open Dental has grown to power practices ranging from solo general dentists to multi-location DSOs.
But payment processing through integrated solutions (OpenEdge, PayConnect, etc.) still costs 2.3-3.0% per transaction. For a dental practice collecting $50,000-$200,000+ in patient payments monthly, that's a substantial operating expense. PaySec eliminates it.
How Network Offset Pricing Works with Open Dental
Network Offset Pricing (NOP) presents patients with two transparent payment options at the point of collection. Whether paying at the front desk, through the patient portal, or via a statement payment link, patients see both a cash/check price and a card price. The card price includes a small offset that covers the cost of card processing.
For example, on a $1,200 crown:
- Cash/check: $1,200.00
- Credit/debit card: $1,248.00
The patient chooses their preferred method. Either way, your practice receives the full $1,200. NOP is legal in all 50 states, fully compliant with Visa and Mastercard rules, and PaySec requires no contracts or volume minimums. HIPAA compliance is built in, with a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) available for all healthcare merchants. Approval takes 3-5 business days.
Dental Practice Processing Fees
Dental practices have high patient-payment volumes due to:
- High deductibles on dental plans
- Significant out-of-pocket costs for major procedures
- Cosmetic dentistry (100% patient-pay)
- Orthodontics installment payments
- Limited insurance coverage on many procedures
| Practice Type | Monthly Patient Payments | Annual Fees (2.5%) |
|---|---|---|
| Solo general dentist | $40,000 | $12,000 |
| 2-dentist general practice | $75,000 | $22,500 |
| Cosmetic/implant focused | $120,000 | $36,000 |
| Orthodontic practice | $80,000 | $24,000 |
| Multi-location DSO (3 offices) | $200,000 | $60,000 |
How PaySec Integrates with Open Dental
Payment Bridge
PaySec connects to Open Dental through the payment bridge framework:
- Front desk initiates payment from Open Dental
- PaySec terminal displays dual pricing
- Patient chooses cash/check or card
- Payment amount posts back to Open Dental patient account
- Ledger entry created automatically
Treatment Plan Payments
When patients accept treatment plans and pay deposits or full amounts:
| Procedure | Cash/Check | Card |
|---|---|---|
| Crown | $1,200 | $1,248 |
| Implant | $3,500 | $3,640 |
| Veneer (per tooth) | $1,500 | $1,560 |
| Root canal | $900 | $936 |
| Invisalign (down payment) | $2,000 | $2,080 |
Recurring Payment Plans
For orthodontics and large treatment plans split into installments:
- Monthly payments processed with NOP
- Patient informed at plan setup
- Auto-pay runs on schedule with card pricing applied
- ACH alternative offered at exact installment amount
Insurance Copay Collection
Standard workflow:
- Insurance pays its portion
- Patient responsibility calculated
- Statement sent or collected at next visit
- PaySec processes with dual pricing
Dental-Specific Scenarios
Cosmetic Dentistry
100% patient-pay procedures represent the highest-value transactions in dentistry:
| Cosmetic Case | Cost | Processing Fee (2.5%) |
|---|---|---|
| Full-mouth veneers (10) | $15,000 | $375 |
| Smile makeover | $25,000 | $625 |
| Implant-supported denture | $20,000 | $500 |
With PaySec: $0 processing on all of it.
Orthodontics
Monthly payment plans × 18-24 months × processing fees = significant:
| Monthly Payment | Duration | Total Fees | With PaySec |
|---|---|---|---|
| $250/month | 24 months | $150 | $0 |
| Across 100 active patients | — | $15,000 | $0 |
Emergency/Walk-In
Emergency dental patients almost always pay by card. High per-visit costs ($200-$500+) processed at zero cost.
Open Dental Compatibility
| Feature | Status |
|---|---|
| Payment Bridge | Supported |
| Payment Plans module | Integrated |
| Patient Portal | Payment links available |
| Statements | Include PaySec payment option |
| Reporting | Transaction data syncs |
| Multi-Clinic (Enterprise) | Supported |
| eServices | Compatible |
| Open Dental Cloud | Supported |
Practice Savings
| Practice Type | Monthly Volume | Annual Savings |
|---|---|---|
| Solo general | $40,000 | $12,000 |
| General group | $75,000 | $22,500 |
| Cosmetic/implant | $120,000 | $36,000 |
| Ortho | $80,000 | $24,000 |
| DSO (3 locations) | $200,000 | $60,000 |
| DSO (10 locations) | $600,000 | $180,000 |
Who Benefits Most?
While any Open Dental practice collecting patient payments will save with PaySec, certain profiles see the most significant results:
- DSOs and multi-location groups where aggregate processing fees across several offices become a five- or six-figure annual expense
- Cosmetic and implant practices collecting large, 100% patient-pay fees on veneers, implants, and full-mouth restorations
- Orthodontic practices managing hundreds of active monthly payment plans where fees accumulate on every recurring charge
- Practices with high-deductible patient populations where out-of-pocket costs are larger and card payments are the default
- Pediatric dental practices with high patient volume and consistent daily copay collections
If your Open Dental practice collects more than $30,000/month in patient payments, the annual savings with PaySec will be immediate and meaningful.
Getting Started
- Contact PaySec for a dental merchant account
- Install PaySec payment bridge in Open Dental
- Deploy NOP terminal(s) at checkout
- Configure patient portal payment links
- Process first patient payment at zero cost
Setup takes under 1 hour for most Open Dental practices. PaySec is PCI Level 1 compliant and HIPAA compliant with a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) available for every healthcare merchant. No contracts, no volume minimums, and approval typically takes 3-5 business days.
PaySec + Open Dental: the open-source dental software that saves you on licensing fees, now paired with payment processing that saves you on everything else.