Curve Dental Reconciliation: Cloud-Based Best Practices

Curve Dental runs in the cloud. That changes how you think about reconciliation, access, and oversight.

Why Cloud Changes Reconciliation

Curve Dental is a cloud-based practice management system, which means your data lives on Curve's servers and you access it through a web browser. This is different from traditional on-premise systems like Dentrix or Eaglesoft.

The cloud model brings advantages for reconciliation:

Anywhere access: Check reports from home, review data remotely, enable corporate oversight without VPNs.

Real-time data: Everyone sees the same current information, no sync delays.

Automatic updates: Always running the latest version with newest features.

Simpler multi-location: Corporate can access all locations through one interface.

But cloud also brings considerations:

Internet dependency: Need reliable internet for access.

Browser-based: Reports work through web interface, may need adjustment from desktop software habits.

Data security: Understanding how Curve protects your data.

Understanding Curve Dental Payment Flow

How Payments Enter Curve

Payments in Curve are recorded through:

Patient checkout: Payments entered during checkout process.

Account module: Direct payment entry on patient accounts.

Insurance payments: Posted from EOBs or via ERA integration.

Batch entry: Multiple payments entered together.

Payment Categories

Curve uses configurable payment categories:

Default categories:

• Cash
• Check
• Credit Card
• Insurance

Customization: Configure categories in Settings to match your practice workflow.

Deposits in Curve

Curve has deposit tracking functionality.

How it works:

• Payments can be grouped into deposits
• Deposits track what goes to the bank
• Reports show deposit summaries

Essential Curve Reports

Daily Collections Report

Primary report for daily reconciliation.

Location: Reports → Financial → Daily Collections

What it shows:

• All collections for the date
• Broken down by payment type
• Patient and provider detail
• Totals by category

Use for: Reconciling to cash drawer, credit cards, and checks.

Deposit Report

Summary of deposits created.

Location: Reports → Financial → Deposits

What it shows:

• Deposits created
• Payments in each deposit
• Deposit totals

Use for: Matching to bank deposits.

Day Sheet Report

Daily summary of practice activity.

Location: Reports → Daily → Day Sheet

What it shows:

• Production summary
• Collection summary
• Adjustments
• Key daily metrics

Use for: Management overview and daily verification.

Insurance Payment Report

Insurance-specific payment detail.

Location: Reports → Insurance → Insurance Payments

What it shows:

• Payments by carrier
• Claim-level detail
• Payment dates and amounts

Use for: Reconciling insurance EFTs.

Payment Detail Report

Comprehensive payment listing.

Location: Reports → Financial → Payment Detail

What it shows:

• All payments with full detail
• Filterable by date, type, provider
• Transaction-level information

Use for: Investigating specific payments or issues.

Daily Reconciliation in Curve

Step 1: Verify Day is Complete

Before reconciling, confirm all work is entered.

Checklist:

• All patients checked out
• All payments entered
• Insurance payments posted
• Any adjustments made

Step 2: Run Daily Collections Report

Generate the day's payment summary.

Process:

1. Navigate to Reports → Financial → Daily Collections
2. Set date to today
3. Run report
4. Review totals by payment type

Step 3: Reconcile Cash

Match cash payments to drawer.

Process:

1. Note cash total from report
2. Count physical cash
3. Compare totals
4. Investigate variance over $5

Cloud advantage: Can pull report on any device to compare while counting.

Step 4: Reconcile Credit Cards

Match credit card payments to batch.

Process:

1. Note credit card total from report
2. Settle terminal batch
3. Compare totals
4. Investigate any variance

Tip: Curve's credit card integration may provide direct comparison if using their payment processing.

Step 5: Reconcile Checks

Match check payments to physical checks.

Process:

1. Note check total from report
2. List physical checks
3. Compare totals and numbers
4. Verify all accounted for

Step 6: Create Deposit

Group payments for bank deposit.

In Curve:

1. Access deposit functionality
2. Select payments to include
3. Create deposit record
4. Verify total
5. Print or save deposit slip

Physical preparation:

• Prepare cash and checks
• Complete bank deposit slip
• Verify totals match Curve

Step 7: Generate Documentation

Save required reports.

Standard documentation:

• Daily Collections Report
• Deposit Report
• Day Sheet (optional)

Cloud advantage: Reports can be saved to cloud storage, emailed, or accessed later.

Step 8: Submit and File

Complete the closeout.

Actions:

• Submit reports as required
• File documentation
• Secure physical deposit
• Note any issues

Insurance Payment Reconciliation

ERA Integration

If using Curve's ERA features:

Process:

1. ERAs download automatically or on demand
2. Post to patient accounts
3. Verify accuracy
4. Match to bank EFTs

Verification:

• Run Insurance Payment Report
• Compare to ERA totals
• Investigate discrepancies

Manual Posting

If posting from EOBs:

Process:

1. Open patient account
2. Navigate to claim
3. Post payment and adjustments
4. Verify amounts match EOB

Matching EFTs to Postings

Reconcile insurance EFTs.

Process:

1. Identify EFT in bank
2. Find matching ERA
3. Run Insurance Payment Report filtered by carrier/date
4. Verify totals match

Leveraging Cloud Advantages

Remote Access for Oversight

Cloud enables oversight from anywhere.

Use cases:

• Owner reviews daily numbers from home
• Corporate accesses all locations centrally
• Accountant reviews reports without on-site visit

Best practice: Set up appropriate user permissions for remote access.

Real-Time Visibility

Data updates immediately across all users.

Benefits:

• No waiting for sync
• Same numbers everywhere
• Immediate visibility to issues

For reconciliation: Can check status throughout day, not just at close.

Multi-Location in One Interface

For practices with multiple locations:

Capabilities:

• Switch between locations in same login
• Run reports across all locations
• Compare location performance

For reconciliation: Corporate can verify each location's closeout from one interface.

Automatic Backups

Cloud handles data protection.

Benefits:

• No local backup needed
• Disaster recovery built in
• Historical data preserved

For reconciliation: Historical reports always available.

Monthly Reconciliation

Bank-to-Curve Verification

Monthly collections verification.

Process:

1. Run Daily Collections Report for full month
2. Sum bank deposits for month
3. Compare totals
4. Investigate variance

AR Review

Verify AR accuracy.

Reports:

• Aging Report
• Insurance Aging

Review:

• Total AR reasonable
• Aging appropriate
• No unexpected balances

Adjustment Analysis

Monitor adjustment activity.

Process:

1. Run Adjustment Report for month
2. Review by type
3. Verify large adjustments documented

Common Curve Issues

Browser-Related Problems

Web interface can have quirks.

Issues:

• Reports not loading
• Data appearing incorrect
• Session timeouts

Solutions:

• Clear browser cache
• Try different browser
• Check internet connection
• Contact Curve support

Report Timing

Cloud reports are real-time, which can cause confusion.

Issue: Running report multiple times shows different numbers as data is entered.

Solution: Run final reconciliation reports after all entries are complete for the day.

Integration Delays

ERA or payment integration may have slight delays.

Issue: Posted payments not immediately visible.

Solution: Wait a few minutes and refresh, or verify directly in the integration.

Curve Configuration Tips

Payment Categories

Set up categories for clear reconciliation.

Recommendations:

• Match categories to how you deposit
• Clear, descriptive names
• Disable unused categories

User Permissions

Control access appropriately.

Recommendations:

• Limit financial functions to authorized staff
• Set up view-only access for oversight
• Enable audit logging

Report Favorites

Save commonly used report configurations.

How:

• Run report with desired settings
• Save as favorite
• Access quickly for daily use

Multi-Location Best Practices

Standardized Procedures

All locations should follow same closeout process.

Benefits:

• Comparable data
• Easier oversight
• Staff can work at any location

Centralized Reporting

Corporate can run enterprise-wide reports.

Capabilities:

• Consolidated collections
• Location comparison
• Exception identification

Location-Specific Deposits

Each location manages its own deposits.

Process:

• Location creates deposits
• Matches to location bank account
• Corporate verifies all locations

Integrating Automation

API Access

Curve provides API for data access.

Use cases:

• Automated data extraction
• Integration with other systems
• Custom reporting

Bank Feed Integration

Connect bank data for automated matching.

Requirements:

• Secure bank connection
• Curve data access
• Matching platform

Automation Benefits

What automation provides:

• Daily matching without manual work
• Exception flagging
• Historical tracking
• Multi-location dashboard

Using Curve Dental and want automated reconciliation? Zeldent integrates with Curve's cloud platform to automatically match your payments to bank deposits. Get the benefits of cloud everywhere: real-time reconciliation status, anywhere access to exception reports, and multi-location visibility. Schedule a demo to see Curve reconciliation automated.