Dolphin provides imaging and practice management software for orthodontists and dental professionals. They offer dozens of solutions to accommodate practices of all sizes.
One unique standout of Dolphin Practice Management is that it supports integrated payment processing—allowing dental specialists to accept card payments directly within the particular software they’re using.
Since we have so many clients in the orthodontics and dental industries, our team here at MCC is extremely familiar with Dolphin and its various integrated payment options.
So whether you’re currently using Dolphin or thinking about setting up integrated payments within your orthodontics practice management software, this review has everything you need to stay informed and save money.
Our Take on Dolphin Practice Management
While our focus is on payment processing, it’s clear from chatting with our clients that Dolphin has an extensive product offering. So it should come as no surprise that they’re an industry leader in this space—even edging out competitors like OrthoFi/OrthoBanc.
Dolphin is one of the few solutions on the market that offers imaging solutions, patient management, integrated payment processing, and other standard practice management tools all under one roof.
In terms of payment processing, Dolphin doesn’t actually handle this in-house. Payments are handled by one of two third-party providers (with a third coming soon) that integrate with the software.
Pros
- Robust software with extensive features to accommodate all types of dental practices.
- Supports multiple integrated processors, giving you options to choose from.
- Expanding its integrated processor list, which encourages competition to help you get a better rate.
- Integrates with DentalXChange for claims processing and management.
Cons
- Complex setup, especially for practices utilizing multiple solutions.
- Steep learning curve that often requires paid training to fully understand.
- While the software is powerful, the interface feels outdated and clunky.
- Inconsistent customer support.
Overall, Dolphin stands out from the crowd because it’s truly an all-in-one solution. You can get everything you need from imaging to treatment planning, financial tracking, and beyond, from a single provider. But the tradeoff here is the cost and complexity.
Dolphin Practice Management Highlights and Key Features
Before we dive deeper into the payment-specific features of Dolphin Practice Management, here’s a quick overview of the software’s top capabilities:
- Imaging: A complete suite of tools for X-rays, pictures, 3D surgery software, treatment simulations, and more, from an FDA-Cleared Class II medical device.
- Patient Management: Handles everything from pre-appointment scheduling and questionnaires through post-visit surveys and relationship tracking.
- Integrated Payment Processing: Ability to accept card payments in-person, online, and over the phone from a payment processor that integrates with Dolphin.
- Patient and Case Presentation: Part of Dolphin’s “Aquarium” suite, this is a dynamic communication system that uses 3D graphics to visually educate patients about procedures and how to use various equipment.
- Claims Management: Ability to submit, track, and manage all insurance claims, including built-in ways to make adjustments and reconcile balances using both printed and electronic claims (via DentalXChange).
- Integrations: Integrates with over 25+ different tools for things like dental RCM, lab preparation software, business intelligence dashboards, patient communication systems, video consultations, electronic consent forms, and more.
Dolphin can be deployed locally on your own servers or through a hosted cloud solution. There’s also a robust Dolphin mobile app, giving you access to the software from anywhere.
Dolphin’s Payment Processing Options
If you want to accept card payments within Dolphin, you need to use a payment processor that integrates with the software. Currently, you have two options—Global Payments and Breeze.
But Dolphin will soon integrate with Rectangle Health’s payment bridge, providing a third option for orthodontics and dental practices to consider.
Here’s an overview of each one so you know what to expect.
Global Payments
Global Payments is one of the world’s largest payment processors. While this may initially sound like a good thing, it’s actually the exact opposite.
Global uses its size and market position to take advantage of merchants. We’ve caught them padding assessments on multiple occasions and charging outrageous fees to clients. This is all standard practice for Global.
And that’s all for their basic payment processing services. When it comes to integrated processing, they charge even more.
Your payments will be secure, and Global will automatically update lost, stolen, and expired card credentials to help reduce decline rates. You’ll also have access to a range of different terminals, plus payment gateways for accepting cards online and over the phone.
But Global’s costs are tough to justify. So if you haven’t set up integrated payments within Dolphin just yet, then I strongly recommend using another provider.
For those of you who are already using Global to accept payments within Dolphin, you need to audit your statements ASAP because it’s basically a guarantee that you’re being overcharged. Our team here at MCC can handle this on your behalf and even negotiate a better rate directly with Global, so you can save money without having to switch anything.
Check out our Global Payments review for more information.
Breeze
Breeze is a unique payment processor that only works with businesses in the dental and orthodontics space.
It’s owned by OrthoFi/OrthoBanc and handles all of the “in-house” processing for these providers. So if you’re using either of these tools for your practice and want an integrated payments provider, you can use Breeze, and it’s all part of the same organization.
That said, Breeze also integrates with Dolphin software.
It’s a great option to consider if you want to accept payments within your Dolphin—without having to worry about getting ripped off by Global.
Breeze definitely isn’t the cheapest processor on the market. But for such an industry-specific solution that provides integrated processing, you can justify the higher-than-average rates.
One drawback of Breeze is that they try to push flat-rate contracts. While it sounds simple, flat-rate processing crushes your profits.
If you process enough volume, you’ll be eligible for an interchange-plus contract, and that’s definitely what I recommend going with. We typically see markups around 40 basis points here. But even 50 basis points (0.50%) isn’t terrible.
For those of you currently using Breeze with Dolphin and paying more than a 0.50% markup, you’re leaving money on the table. There’s room for negotiation, and our team can help you save money.
Read our Breeze review to learn more about Breeze’s pricing, fees to look out for, and how it stacks up against similar processors.
Rectangle Health
Rectangle Health is a branded practice management solution. Unlike Dolphin and Breeze, which are specific to orthodontics and dental, Rectangle supports a much wider range of health practices (including orthodontics and dental).
This integration is currently on Dolphin’s “coming soon” list. So we haven’t actually seen any Rectangle Health statements specifically tied to Dolphin clients.
However, we have dozens of other healthcare clients that are using Rectangle Health to process payments. So I have a firm grasp of how this provider operates, and I expect everything to be the same when Dolphin integration is officially live.
Similar to Breeze, Rectangle also tries to push clients on a flat-rate pricing plan—typically in the 2.60% to 3.08% range. This is high and should be avoided if possible. But interchange-plus pricing is not available on every Rectangle account. It all depends on your volume.
Rectangle is also notorious for trying to lock merchants into a 36-month contract. This definitely isn’t ideal, especially if you’re on a high, flat-rate plan.
One interesting note about Rectangle Health is that they use Vantiv as their backend processor. Vantiv is owned by Worldpay, and Worldpay recently got bought out by Global Payments, so Global will effectively have a hand in setting these rates at some point.
For more information, including fees, statement examples, pros, and cons, check out our Rectangle Health review.
How to Lower Your Payment Processing Rates With Dolphin Practice Management
Dolphin practice management is expensive. So don’t let your payment processing fees cost your business even more money.
Regardless of which integrated processor you’re using, your rates are 100% negotiable, and you can save tens of thousands with just a little bit of effort. Here’s what you need to know:
- Don’t contact Dolphin about your processing rates. Go straight to the processor handling your payments (either Global or Breeze).
- If you’re on a flat-rate contract, demand that you be moved to an interchange-plus deal.
- Anything above a 0.50% markup is too high and should be negotiated. We know for a fact that Breeze will go down to 0.40% and potentially lower for higher-volume practices.
- Audit your statements to look for hidden fees, bogus charges, and anything that doesn’t quite look right—this stuff can be removed and refunded to your account.
This is the bare minimum that you should be doing.
Expect some pushback from your processor. That’s totally normal. But don’t accept “no” for an answer. You actually have the leverage here because they don’t want to lose your business.
If you’d rather spend time focusing on your practice and patients, our team here at MCC can handle all of this stuff on your behalf. We’ll give you a free statement audit to find out how much you can save, and then negotiate your rates directly with your processor—so you can continue using Dolphin without having to change any of your backend systems or equipment.
Final Thoughts on Dolphin
Dolphin is an industry leader in the orthodontics practice management space for a reason. It can do a lot more than similar tools, and it supports a range of integrations for the things it can’t handle in-house.
As for integrated payments, Breeze is probably the best option to consider. So if you haven’t actually set up an integrated processing account via Dolphin yet, that’s what I’d recommend.
But for those of you currently using Global with Dolphin, don’t switch to Breeze just yet.
There’s actually more room for savings by negotiating directly with Global instead of switching providers altogether, which can be messy, particularly within such a complex integrated setup.