Three Reasons You Should Regularly Update Your Dental Software 

Updating your dental software may seem like something that you only need to do infrequently, such as when there is a major new feature or capability in an update.  There are, however, incredibly important reasons for updating your software (and, in some cases, hardware) as new updates become available. From protecting your valuable practice data with security patches to running more efficiently with new features and bug fixes, here are three crucial reasons for keeping your dental software and hardware regularly up to date. 

1 – Crucial Security Updates 

One of the most important reasons for regularly keeping your software updated is security. (Read: One Key Reason to Always Keep Your Software Up to Date). Outdated versions of software are more vulnerable because, as time passes, malicious actors discover and find ways to exploit weak points in a software program. Updating your software can patch any such vulnerabilities to keep your software protected.  

Neglecting software updates can leave your dental practice exposed to potential breaches, data theft, and other cybersecurity risks. Updating your software helps you stay one step ahead of evolving threats and ensures that you have the necessary defenses in place to protect your patients’ confidential information. 

2 – Improved Software Performance 

Updating your software provides you with an overall better experience. Updates not only fix issues such as bugs and prevent program crashes. They also provide you with new features and enhancements that make using the program easier and more beneficial. Staying on top of software updates ensures you never miss an enhancement that could improve your practice.  

Software updates not only enhance the performance of your dental software but also maintains its compatibility with other devices and software. This means that you can share data across different platforms and make your workflow more efficient. Keeping your integration with other devices and programs your practice uses up-to-date uses also avoids potential problems with data accuracy and completeness.  

3 – Better, Faster Support 

When you call tech support for help with a program, one of the first things support personnel may recommend is updating your software to the current version. This is because updates usually include fixes that resolve known issues, which may include the very issue you are calling about. Additionally, if your program is fully up to date, your support representative can better assist you, often more quickly.  

To reiterate, if you use outdated software, it might be the cause of an issue you are experiencing and may make it more difficult to identify the issue. Up-to-date software saves everyone’s time when identifying and mitigating technical difficulties. 

Automatic Updates 

Automatic updates make it easier to stay on top of changes. Automatic updates ensure that your software is updated when new updates are available, and the process is usually fairly quick and trouble-free. 

Choosing dental software that includes automatic updates saves you from having to worry about manually keeping all your systems up to date. Current ABELDent versions (ABELDent 14.8.2, Cloud and Local+) offer automated updates to help keep your practice as secure as possible, as well as keeping you equipped with new time-saving enhancements. 

If your office is using an outdated version of a program, we urge you to contact your software provider and update your software today. If you are using ABELDent and are interested in updating your software to our current version, please visit MyABEL or call us and our team will be happy to help you update your ABELDent software.