A new or expanding dental office should plan its IT infrastructure before construction, equipment installation, and move-in day. The plan should cover networking, internet, computers, servers or cloud systems, cybersecurity, dental software, imaging equipment, phones, backups, and vendor coordination.
Whenever possible, begin detailed IT planning 3-6 months before opening or moving.
Use this five-part framework:
Plan → Connect → Equip → Secure → Test
1. Plan the Technology Before Construction Is Finished
IT planning should begin before walls are closed and operatories are complete.
Determine where the practice will need:
- Network connections
- Wireless access points
- Workstations
- Desktop scanners
- Phones
- Printers
- Imaging equipment
- Panoramic X-ray equipment
- Intraoral scanners
- Servers or network equipment
- Credit card readers
Early planning can help avoid last-minute cabling changes and other expensive surprises.
Your IT provider should coordinate with contractors and dental-equipment vendors where appropriate.
2. Order Internet Early
Internet installation can become a major opening-day problem if it is left until the last minute.
Determine:
- Which providers serve the location
- Required connection speed
- Installation lead time
- Where service enters the building
- Whether backup internet is appropriate
If the practice depends heavily on cloud applications, phones, payments, or online services, also consider what happens when the primary internet connection fails.
3. Plan Computers and Dental Technology Together
Don't purchase computers without considering the dental applications and equipment they need to support.
Review requirements for systems such as:
- Dentrix
- Dexis
- Open Dental
- Eaglesoft
- Imaging applications
- Panoramic X-ray systems
- Intraoral scanners
Clinical workstations may have different requirements from front-desk computers.
The IT provider and dental vendors should confirm compatibility before equipment is ordered.
4. Build Cybersecurity Into the Office
Cybersecurity is easier to design correctly from the beginning than to retrofit later.
Planning should address:
- Firewall protection
- Secure Wi-Fi
- Guest-network separation
- MFA
- Microsoft 365
- Endpoint security
- Employee accounts
- Backup and recovery
- Remote access
- HIPAA-focused IT considerations
Every employee should have appropriate access without automatically receiving access to everything.
5. Test Before the First Patient Arrives
Don't make opening morning the first full test of the technology.
Before go-live, test important workflows such as:
- Practice-management software
- Imaging
- Workstations
- Printers
- Internet
- Phones
- Backup systems
- Remote support
- Payment and other critical applications
Ideally, complete final testing with enough time to correct problems before patients arrive.
The 10-Point Dental Office IT Checklist
Before opening or expanding, verify:
- Internet is installed and tested
- Network infrastructure is complete
- Business and guest Wi-Fi are appropriately separated
- Computers meet software requirements
- Dental software works
- Imaging systems communicate properly
- Microsoft 365 and email are configured
- Cybersecurity protections are active
- Backups are working
- IT and vendor support contacts are documented
If several of these items are still unresolved shortly before opening, involve your IT provider immediately.
Why Vendor Coordination Matters
A dental office may involve numerous technology vendors:
IT provider + internet provider + phone company + dental software vendor + imaging vendor + equipment vendors + contractor
Without coordination, problems can turn into finger-pointing.
A good IT plan identifies who is responsible for each part of the environment before opening day.
Why Dental Practices Choose IT Services of Utah
IT Services of Utah has supported businesses for more than 30 years and works with dental practices throughout St. George and Washington County, Utah.
Our team understands environments using Dentrix, Dexis, Open Dental, Eaglesoft, panoramic X-ray equipment, intraoral scanners, servers, networks, Microsoft 365, and other business technology.
We can help coordinate the IT side of a dental office opening, expansion, relocation, or technology upgrade.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should IT planning begin for a new dental office?
Starting approximately 3-6 months before opening or moving provides more time for internet installation, infrastructure planning, equipment purchasing, vendor coordination, and testing. Larger or more complicated projects may require additional time.
Should the dental equipment vendor handle the network?
Dental equipment vendors may handle their own products, but the overall network affects many different systems. Your IT provider should coordinate requirements across vendors rather than assuming one vendor is responsible for everything.
When should the new office be tested?
Critical systems should be tested before the first patient day, with enough time remaining to correct problems discovered during testing.
Opening or Expanding a Dental Practice?
Don't treat IT as one of the final items on the opening checklist.
Remember:
Plan. Connect. Equip. Secure. Test.
For dental practices opening, expanding, or relocating in St. George and Washington County, Utah, IT Services of Utah can help plan the technology infrastructure and coordinate the systems your team will depend on.
Schedule a Dental Office IT Planning Consultation with IT Services of Utah before construction and equipment decisions make technology changes more difficult or expensive.
