Connecting your PMS with the Bridge

The Rebrief Bridge is a small Windows app you install on the same computer as your practice-management software (PMS). It quietly links your PMS to Rebrief so you can pull in your patients and today's schedule without re-typing anything.

This guide walks you through connecting your PMS for the first time.

What the Bridge does

The Bridge runs locally on your Windows machine, right alongside your PMS. When you ask Rebrief to import, the Bridge reads your patients and schedule and sends them to your clinic's Rebrief workspace over a secure connection, using the same Rebrief account you're already signed in with.

It works with these systems:

• Open Dental
• Dentrix
• Eaglesoft
• AbelDent

Note: The Bridge is Windows-only, because that's where these systems run. Install it on the computer where your PMS is already set up.

Before you start

• You're signed in to Rebrief with an admin account.
• Your PMS is installed and you can open it normally on this computer.
• You have the Rebrief Bridge installer (your Rebrief contact provides this).

Connect your PMS

1. Install the Bridge. Run the installer on the computer that has your PMS, then open the Bridge. Sign in with your Rebrief account when prompted — this ties the Bridge to your clinic's workspace.
2. Open your PMS. Launch Open Dental, Dentrix, Eaglesoft, or AbelDent and leave it open and on screen (not minimized).
3. Let Rebrief detect it. Rebrief automatically checks which PMS is running. You'll see a brief "Checking which PMS is open…" message, then a confirmation such as "Open Dental is open." If it doesn't appear right away, click Re-check.
4. Import. Click the Import from [your PMS] button. Rebrief brings in your patients and today's schedule. A typical import takes about 30 to 90 seconds, and the button reads "Importing…" while it runs.
5. Confirm. When it finishes, you'll see how many records were imported. Your patients and schedule are now available in Rebrief.

Tip: Some imports work by gently driving your PMS on screen — you may see the mouse move and type on its own. While that's happening, don't touch your keyboard or mouse, and keep the PMS window visible and not minimized. It finishes in about a minute or two.

If more than one PMS is open

If you have more than one supported system running at the same time, Rebrief shows "Multiple PMSs are running" and gives you a button for each one. Click the one you want to import from.

Optional: a faster Open Dental connection

If your clinic uses Open Dental, you can set up a direct database connection for quicker imports. In the Bridge's Local PMS Connection settings, fill in the Host, Port, Database, Username, and Password for your Open Dental database, then:

• Click Test Connection to confirm the details work.
• Click Save to store them securely on this computer.

Once saved, the status changes from "Not configured" to "Credentials saved." Your saved credentials never leave this workstation, and future imports can use this faster path.

Note: These database details are your Open Dental settings, not your Rebrief login. If you're not sure what to enter, ask whoever set up your Open Dental server.

If no PMS is detected

If Rebrief shows "No PMS detected on this machine":

• Make sure your PMS is actually open on this computer.
• Make sure the window isn't minimized.
• Click Re-check to look again.

If it still doesn't connect, reach out to Rebrief support so we can help you get set up.