Location access restrictions FAQ

Location access restriction is feature built in to Dentrix Ascend in response to customer requests for limiting employee access to the practice management system while giving an administrator unlimited access. Refer to the following questions and answers regarding how this feature works and how it is implemented:

Why should I use this feature?

• To add an additional layer of security to your practice. This feature will restrict access so that users in your practice location can only log in to Dentrix Ascend from specific IP addresses--for example, the IP address of the internet gateway (router) in your office. This means that, when this feature is enabled, team members won't be able to access Dentrix Ascend from home or outside of your office (unless you allow connection into your office using a remote desktop solution or virtual private network).

How does it work?

• In the location settings in Dentrix Ascend, you have the option to add the specific trusted (public) IP addresses. Under the settings for user roles you can specify if a user role should be able to bypass these restrictions. This could be useful for the owner of the practice or other trusted employees that need to access Dentrix Ascend from outside the office while simultaneously enforcing these rules for other users.

What is an IP address?

• Internet Protocol (IP) address is a unique set of numbers used to identify a device on a network, just like a street address is used to route a letter to the right destination.

What is a static IP address?

• Static IP addresses don't change, they remain the same. Dynamic IP addresses are more common and they can change over time. To use the Location Access Restriction feature in Dentrix Ascend, you'll need to have a static IP address.

How do I get a static IP address?

• Your internet service provider (Comcast, AT&T, Cox, etc.) can provision a static IP address for you and generally they're inexpensive. If you have questions our Support team and Tech Central team can provide more information.

What if I want to access Dentrix Ascend from home as well as work?

• Option 1: If there are only a small number of locations where Dentrix Ascend will need to be accessed, such as in your dental office, in a central office, at the home of the office manager, and at the home of the practice owner, then add the static IP addresses of the Internet gateways for those locations to your list of trusted addresses. This will allow you to connect to Dentrix Ascend from only those addresses. Note that you will not be able to connect from your mobile device on your mobile network with this setup.

• Option 2: For trusted users that will need to access Dentrix Ascend from anywhere, such as home, a hotel room, an airport terminal, a coffee shop, etc., select the option in user roles to "bypass IP address restrictions." This will allow users who have that specified user role to access Dentrix Ascend without being restricted by IP address limitations.

• Option 3: Do not specify any IP addresses and continue to allow any users in your practice to access Dentrix Ascend from anywhere. Without any IP addresses specified, the Location Access Restrictions feature will be disabled.

Are the IP addresses assigned to a single location in our Dentrix Ascend practice or all of our locations?

• Trusted IP addresses are designated per Dentrix Ascend location. A general rule to follow is that at least one unique static IP address needs to be listed for every place that has a unique physical street address where you would like to access Dentrix Ascend. If you have multiple locations, you'll want to list all trusted IP addresses per location.