You do not need a developer account, and there is no URL to paste into Open Dental. QR Rx issues a Customer API Key for your office, you add it in Open Dental's own Setup screen, and QR Rx subscribes to appointment changes for you. After one test appointment, completed visits appear as drafts in Care Feed.
Who should do thisSomeone who can open Setup in Open Dental
Typical setupAbout 10 minutes once you have the key
Open Dental costNone for the access QR Rx uses
Safe starting modeEvery visit waits in Care Feed for review
How the Open Dental connection works
Open Dental issues one developer key to QR Rx. Using it, QR Rx generates a separate Customer API Key for each office in Open Dental's developer portal. Your office adds that key under Setup → Advanced Setup → API. Once the key verifies, QR Rx creates an Open Dental API Subscription that watches the Appointment table and sends changes to QR Rx. Open Dental signs each delivery with your Customer API Key, and QR Rx also checks for completed appointments on a schedule as a backup.
Version and cost
Open Dental 22.4.35 or newer is required so events carry their event type. Open Dental's free API tier covers everything QR Rx reads, at one request every five seconds, so there is no Open Dental charge for this connection. Open Dental's own reference is its API Developer Setup page.
1. Create the connection in QR Rx
You are working in QR Rx for this step.
- Open Settings → Integrations, choose Show more systems, and select Open Dental.
- Click Start Open Dental setup, name the connection, and choose the QR Rx location it belongs to.
- QR Rx issues your Customer API Key from Open Dental's developer portal and sends it to you securely. Keep it in your password manager.
2. Add the key in Open Dental
You are working in Open Dental for this step.
- In Open Dental, open Setup → Advanced Setup → API.
- Click Add Key in the lower left.
- Paste the Customer API Key QR Rx sent you and make sure it is enabled.
The key belongs to your office only. Do not share it with another practice, and do not email it or paste it into a support ticket.
3. Test the connection in QR Rx
You are back in QR Rx for this step.
- Paste the same Customer API Key into the Open Dental connection form and click Create Open Dental setup.
- Click Test connection. QR Rx confirms Open Dental accepts the key, then subscribes to Appointment table changes for you.
- Read the line under the endpoint. Appointment events: subscribed means real-time delivery is on. If it says the subscription is not confirmed yet, QR Rx still picks up completed appointments on its scheduled check; run the test again later.
4. Complete one test appointment
- Create a test patient using contact details controlled by your clinic.
- Schedule a recognizable procedure at the connected clinic.
- Mark the appointment Complete in Open Dental.
- Open Care Feed in QR Rx and review the new draft.
- Confirm the patient, procedure, tooth or surface if shown, clinic, and matched instructions.
- Change the appointment once more. QR Rx should not create a duplicate draft.
Go-live checklist
- Test connection passes and the appointment subscription reads subscribed.
- A completed test appointment creates exactly one draft.
- The procedure maps to the expected care plan or aftercare card.
- No message is sent while review mode is on.
- Your team knows where to check connection health.
If something does not arrive
Test connection says the key was rejected
Check that the key is added and enabled under Setup → Advanced Setup → API, and that you pasted the same key in QR Rx. Ask QR Rx to reissue it if you are unsure.
The subscription is not confirmed
QR Rx keeps checking for completed appointments on a schedule, so nothing is lost. Run Test connection again after a few minutes. If it still does not confirm, contact QR Rx support with the clinic name and connection name.
An appointment was completed but no draft appears
Confirm the appointment status is Complete, not scheduled or broken, and that a workstation or the Open Dental API Service was running. Then check Care Feed for an unmatched procedure waiting for a template.
Need setup help?
Open QR Rx support and tell us the clinic and connection name. Never send the Customer API Key or patient information in a support message.