Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about using Alara, connecting vendors, and managing your orders.
General
Alara connects to your existing dental supplier accounts and aggregates pricing in one place. When you search for a product, you see prices from all your connected vendors, so you can choose the best deal. Your negotiated pricing is automatically applied.
Yes! Alara is completely free for dental practices. We partner with vendors in our Alara Partner Network who offer competitive pricing, but you're never required to purchase from them. You can continue using your existing vendor relationships.
We support all major dental supply vendors including Patterson Dental, Henry Schein, Benco Dental, Darby Dental, Net32, Dental City, and many more. We're constantly adding new vendor integrations.
Absolutely. We use industry-standard encryption to protect your credentials. Your login information is encrypted at rest and in transit. We never store or have access to your payment information.
No! Alara works with your existing vendor accounts. You keep your negotiated pricing, preferred vendors, and established relationships. We simply make it easier to compare and order.
Most practices are up and running in under 5 minutes. Simply create an account, connect your vendor logins, and start searching. No contracts, no lengthy onboarding process.
Using Alara
Go to the Vendors page and click "Connect" on any supported vendor. You'll enter your existing vendor login credentials, and we'll securely link your account. Your negotiated pricing carries over automatically.
We analyze your recent orders and compare the prices you paid against our partner network. If we find the same product at a lower price from another vendor, we'll show you the potential savings so you can switch on your next order.
Absolutely. Alara doesn't replace your vendor relationships — it enhances them. You can continue ordering directly from any vendor. Orders placed through Alara are fulfilled by the vendor you choose.
All orders placed through Alara appear on your Orders page with real-time status updates. You'll see when orders are confirmed, processing, shipped, and delivered — all in one place across every vendor.
Yes. We use industry-standard encryption for all data at rest and in transit. Your vendor credentials are encrypted and never exposed. We never store or access your payment information.