DentalHQ vs Clerri: Choosing the Right Dental Membership Platform

Dental membership plans offer an alternative to traditional insurance for the millions of Americans without coverage. With 72.9 million independent workers in the U.S. labor market in 2025, the rise of gig-economy workers amplifies the need for flexible, affordable oral care solutions. Both Clerri and DentalHQ provide membership platforms that help practices offer subscription-based plans to patients, but they differ in scale, features, and approach. This comparison breaks down what each platform offers so you can determine which membership

• Clerri serves the largest network of dental practices: With 20,000+ dentists across all 50 states and partnerships with 7 of the top 10 DSOs, Clerri provides the most extensive membership platform in the industry.
• Membership plans eliminate traditional insurance barriers: No waiting periods, no annual maximums, and no claim denials. Patients pay a subscription fee for immediate access to preventive care and discounted services.
• Documented patient behavior improvements set Clerri apart: Clerri's Membership Effect research shows 76% more visits and 146% more procedures compared to when patients were uninsured.
• DentalHQ offers a straightforward approach: DentalHQ provides a platform that works well for practices seeking predictable implementation.

Dental membership plans operate differently from insurance. Patients pay a monthly or annual subscription fee directly to a dental practice in exchange for preventive care services and discounts on additional treatments. These plans function as discount medical plan organizations (DMPOs) rather than insurance products.

The membership model addresses several common frustrations with traditional dental coverage:

• Immediate access: No waiting periods before receiving care
• Predictable costs: Fixed subscription fees with transparent pricing on all services
• No claim denials: Patients receive care based on clinical need, not coverage rules
• No annual maximums: Unlimited access to preventive visits without benefit caps

For patients without employer-sponsored coverage or those who find traditional insurance too restrictive, membership plans provide a straightforward path to regular dental care.

Clerri operates as the leading dental membership platform, enabling practices to create and manage subscription-based membership plans. Patients who join these plans pay periodic fees for access to discounted dental services rendered by participating providers.

Why Clerri Stands Out

Clerri was formed through the merger of Kleer and Membersy, unifying the capabilities of the two largest dental membership platforms. Today, Clerri serves 5,000+ independent practices, 200+ group practices, and 7 of the top 10 DSOs in the United States. The platform has earned recognition on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies for three consecutive years.

Key Features

• No waiting periods: Patients receive immediate access to care upon enrollment
• No annual maximums: Preventive visits and treatments have no arbitrary caps
• Automated billing and renewals: Payments process automatically, keeping memberships active without manual intervention
• Real-time benefit tracking: Shows which services have been used and what remains available
• Comprehensive PMS integration: Connects with over 90% of practice management software, including Dentrix, Eaglesoft, and Open Dental
• Built-in compliance: DMPO, Knox-Keene, HIPAA, and PCI compliance handling across all 50 states

The Membership Effect: Quantified Results

Clerri's documented Membership Effect research quantifies how patient behavior changes after joining a membership plan. Practices experience:

• 76% more visits compared to when patients were uninsured
• 146% more procedures accepted and completed
• 172% increase in cash production versus prior cash-pay status
• New patient retention increases from approximately 40% to 90% with membership plans

These metrics represent averages across Clerri's practice network, demonstrating measurable improvements in patient engagement and practice revenue.

Clerri Bridge: Streamlined Enrollment

Clerri Bridge functions as a workflow application that overlays practice management software schedule views. This tool helps front desk staff:

• Identify uninsured and underinsured patients directly from the daily schedule
• View patient savings summaries showing full price, member price, and total savings
• Complete enrollment with one click, pulling patient information directly from the PMS
• Eliminate duplicate data entry and reduce enrollment time by 3 to 5 minutes per patient

Clerri holds authorized vendor status with Open Dental, enabling sub-second data synchronization through direct API access.

Enterprise Scalability

Clerri's architecture supports practices of all sizes. GEN4 Dental Partners implemented Clerri across 40+ locations in 14 days, immediately enrolling 500+ members. Great Lakes Dental Partners achieved a 95% increase in enrollments compared to the prior year.

Support and Training

Clerri provides comprehensive resources for practices and their staff:

• Clerri University: On-demand training covering dashboard navigation, implementation tactics, and onboarding for new team members
• Rewards Program: Built-in incentives that recognize staff members who enroll new patients
• Dedicated account management: Proactive coaching and periodic health checks comparing performance against industry benchmarks
• Bilingual support: English and Spanish assistance for both practice staff and members

DentalHQ helps dental practices create and manage in-house membership plans with automated billing and member management tools. Founded in 2017 by Dr. Brett Wells, a practicing dentist who operates a 7-location DSO, DentalHQ brings a clinical perspective to membership plan software.

Key Features

• Practice-branded enrollment pages: Custom signup portals for patient registration
• Automated renewals: 95%+ of renewals processed automatically
• PMS integration: Connects with major practice management systems
• Real-time analytics dashboard: Tracks enrollments, renewals, and revenue
• Multi-location support: Roll-up reporting for practices with multiple offices
• HIPAA compliance: Maintains healthcare data security standards

Market Position

DentalHQ serves approximately 1,000 dental practices across its network. The platform provides membership management capabilities for practices looking to implement subscription-based care models.

Practitioner-Founded Approach

Dr. Wells built DentalHQ based on his experience running his own practice. This hands-on background informs the platform's workflow design and feature set. The company has received state dental association endorsements, including a partnership with the Virginia Dental Association Member Perks program.

Scale and Network

Clerri's network spans 20,000+ dentists compared to DentalHQ's approximately 1,000 practices. For patients, a larger network means more opportunities to find participating practices offering membership plans. For practices considering which platform to adopt, Clerri's scale demonstrates proven infrastructure capable of supporting rapid growth.

Integration Depth

Both platforms integrate with major practice management systems. Clerri's authorized Open Dental vendor status enables sub-second data synchronization, while Clerri Bridge embeds enrollment workflows directly into PMS schedule views. DentalHQ provides automatic sync capabilities with major systems.

Compliance Infrastructure

Clerri automatically handles DMPO, Knox-Keene, HIPAA, and PCI requirements across all 50 states. This built-in compliance infrastructure removes administrative burden for practices operating in multiple states. DentalHQ maintains HIPAA compliance for healthcare data security.

Documented Outcomes

Clerri publishes detailed patient behavior data through its Membership Effect research, showing specific metrics on visit frequency, procedure acceptance, and revenue impact. Practices seeking data-driven ROI projections may find Clerri's granular metrics useful for planning.

When evaluating dental membership platforms, practices face a critical decision that affects patient engagement, operational efficiency, and long-term revenue growth. Clerri's combination of scale, proven outcomes, technological infrastructure, and comprehensive support makes it the platform designed for practices serious about building sustainable membership programs.

Proven at Every Practice Size

Clerri's track record spans the full spectrum of dental practice models. Whether you operate a solo practice or manage multiple locations, the platform has demonstrated success across every configuration. The merger of Kleer and Membersy created a unified platform that combines the strengths of the two largest dental membership providers, giving practices access to battle-tested technology refined across thousands of implementations.

The platform serves 5,000+ independent practices, 200+ group practices, and 7 of the top 10 DSOs in the United States, a network encompassing 20,000+ dentists across all 50 states. This scale matters because it represents thousands of practices that have evaluated their options and selected Clerri as their membership platform partner.

Data-Driven Patient Behavior Changes

Membership plans succeed when patients actually use them. Clerri's Membership Effect research quantifies exactly how patient behavior changes after enrollment, giving practices concrete projections for planning rather than generic promises.

Members complete 76% more visits compared to when they were uninsured cash-pay patients. They accept 146% more procedures. Cash production increases by 172%. New patient retention jumps from approximately 40% to 90%. These metrics represent averages across Clerri's practice network, demonstrating consistent patterns rather than isolated success stories.

For practices evaluating membership platforms, these documented outcomes provide ROI clarity. You can project enrollment targets, estimate revenue impact, and set realistic expectations for team performance based on data from thousands of similar practices.

Technology That Simplifies Rather Than Complicates

Dental membership plans fail when they create administrative burden. Clerri's technology infrastructure removes friction at every step of the membership lifecycle.

Clerri Bridge overlays your existing practice management software schedule view, enabling front desk staff to identify uninsured and underinsured patients without switching between systems. The tool displays patient savings summaries showing full price, member price, and total savings. One-click enrollment pulls patient information directly from your PMS, eliminating duplicate data entry and reducing enrollment time by 3 to 5 minutes per patient.

Integration depth determines whether a membership platform enhances your existing workflow or disrupts it. Clerri connects with over 90% of practice management software, including Dentrix, Eaglesoft, and Open Dental. The platform holds authorized vendor status with Open Dental, enabling sub-second data synchronization through direct API access rather than slower third-party connections.

Automated billing and renewals keep memberships active without manual intervention. Real-time benefit tracking shows patients and staff exactly which services have been used and what remains available. No waiting periods and no annual maximums eliminate the coverage complexity that frustrates patients about traditional insurance.

Built-In Compliance Across All 50 States

Dental membership plans operate as discount medical plan organizations (DMPOs), subject to state-specific regulations that vary significantly across jurisdictions. Clerri automatically handles DMPO, Knox-Keene, HIPAA, and PCI compliance requirements in all 50 states. This built-in compliance infrastructure protects practices from regulatory exposure while eliminating the administrative burden of tracking changing requirements across multiple jurisdictions.

For practices operating in multiple states or planning future expansion, Clerri's nationwide compliance coverage provides operational consistency regardless of location. You maintain one platform, one workflow, and one support relationship rather than managing different compliance approaches for different markets.

Support That Accelerates Success

Technology alone doesn't build successful membership programs. Clerri provides comprehensive support infrastructure designed to help practices maximize enrollment and retention.

Clerri University offers on-demand training covering dashboard navigation, implementation tactics, and onboarding for new team members. The built-in Rewards Program recognizes staff members who enroll new patients, creating internal incentives aligned with program growth. Dedicated account management includes proactive coaching and periodic health checks that compare your practice's performance against industry benchmarks. Bilingual support in English and Spanish ensures both practice staff and members receive assistance in their preferred language.

For practices ready to implement a membership plan that drives measurable patient engagement and revenue growth, Clerri provides the scale, technology, compliance infrastructure, and support required for sustainable success.