--- title: Deleting or deactivating a patient chart description: Deactive or delete a patient chart --- [Skip to content](https://help.niermanpm.com/dentalwriter-desktop/knowledge/deleting-or-deactivating-a-patient-chart#main-content) English Show submenu for translations [More support](https://help.niermanpm.com/dentalwriter-desktop/kb-tickets/new?hsLang=en) ![DW Logo (1).png\]](https://help.niermanpm.com/hs-fs/hubfs/DW%20Logo%20(1).png?height=40&name=DW%20Logo%20(1).png) Open main navigation Close main navigation - English Show submenu for translations - [More support](https://help.niermanpm.com/dentalwriter-desktop/kb-tickets/new) - Go to DentalWriter.com Go to DentalWriter.com Welcome to the DentalWriter Desktop Knowledge Base. Let's Find an Answer. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [DentalWriter Desktop/Server](https://help.niermanpm.com/dentalwriter-desktop?hsLang=en) 2. [Software Guides & Tutorials](https://help.niermanpm.com/dentalwriter-desktop/software-guides-tutorials?hsLang=en) 3. [Miscellaneous How-To's](https://help.niermanpm.com/dentalwriter-desktop/software-guides-tutorials?hsLang=en#miscellaneous-how-tos) # Deleting or deactivating a patient chart ## Deactive or delete a patient chart You can delete a patient chart in DentalWriter only if there are no visits, forms or payment items existing in the chart. If those forms exist and you either do not wish to delete them from the chart or cannot delete them because they are locked due to age, then you can instead deactivate a patient chart. **To delete a patient chart:** From the main screen of DentalWriter, right click on the patient's name you wish to delete, and choose "Delete Patient Record" ![deleting pt chart](https://help.niermanpm.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/deleting%20pt%20chart.gif?width=688&name=deleting%20pt%20chart.gif)   As long as there are no visits, forms or payment items existing in the chart, you will receive a prompt to confirm delete: ![](https://help.niermanpm.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/blob-Jun-24-2020-09-10-53-20-PM.png) If there are visits, forms or payment items existing in the chart, you will receive the following prompt: ![](https://help.niermanpm.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/blob-Jun-24-2020-09-10-54-45-PM.png) If you wish, you can open the chart and delete any existing visits, forms and payments items, then delete the patient chart. If you are unable or do not want to delete items, you can deactivate the patient chart instead. **To deactivate a patient chart:** From the main screen of DentalWriter, open the patient chart you wish to deactivate, and click to uncheck the "Active Patient" checkbox, then click "Save & Close" in the upper left hand corner. You will receive a prompt confirming. Once the patient chart is set as inactive, you can set the default view for your patient list to "Active Only". To do this, select the "Current View" dropdown box in the upper right hand corner on the main screen of DentalWriter and choose "Active". You will receive a prompt asking if you would like that to be the default view for the workstation you are on.   ![deavtivating pt chart](https://help.niermanpm.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/deavtivating%20pt%20chart.gif?width=688&name=deavtivating%20pt%20chart.gif)   - [Getting Started](https://help.niermanpm.com/dentalwriter-desktop/getting-started?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Installation](https://help.niermanpm.com/dentalwriter-desktop/getting-started?hsLang=en#installation) - [The 4 Step Process](https://help.niermanpm.com/dentalwriter-desktop/getting-started?hsLang=en#the-4-step-process) - [Software Guides & Tutorials](https://help.niermanpm.com/dentalwriter-desktop/software-guides-tutorials?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Ledger/Accounting/Patient Statements](https://help.niermanpm.com/dentalwriter-desktop/software-guides-tutorials?hsLang=en#ledger-accounting-patient-statements) - [Patient Visits/Forms](https://help.niermanpm.com/dentalwriter-desktop/software-guides-tutorials?hsLang=en#patient-visits-forms) - [Medical Claims & Codes](https://help.niermanpm.com/dentalwriter-desktop/software-guides-tutorials?hsLang=en#medical-claims-codes) - [Miscellaneous How-To's](https://help.niermanpm.com/dentalwriter-desktop/software-guides-tutorials?hsLang=en#miscellaneous-how-tos) - [Nierman Medical Billing Service](https://help.niermanpm.com/dentalwriter-desktop/software-guides-tutorials?hsLang=en#nierman-medical-billing-service) - [Hosted Cloud DentalWriter](https://help.niermanpm.com/dentalwriter-desktop/software-guides-tutorials?hsLang=en#hosted-cloud-dentalwriter) - [QuickLetter Templates](https://help.niermanpm.com/dentalwriter-desktop/software-guides-tutorials?hsLang=en#quickletter-templates) - [DentalWriter Update Summaries](https://help.niermanpm.com/dentalwriter-desktop/software-guides-tutorials?hsLang=en#dentalwriter-update-summaries) - [Recall/Treatment Plans](https://help.niermanpm.com/dentalwriter-desktop/software-guides-tutorials?hsLang=en#recall-treatment-plans) - [Online Patient Questionnaires](https://help.niermanpm.com/dentalwriter-desktop/software-guides-tutorials?hsLang=en#online-patient-questionnaires) - [Customizing DentalWriter](https://help.niermanpm.com/dentalwriter-desktop/customizing-dentalwriter?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Customization](https://help.niermanpm.com/dentalwriter-desktop/customizing-dentalwriter?hsLang=en#customization) - [Configuration](https://help.niermanpm.com/dentalwriter-desktop/customizing-dentalwriter?hsLang=en#configuration) - [Reporting](https://help.niermanpm.com/dentalwriter-desktop/reporting?hsLang=en) - [Troubleshooting](https://help.niermanpm.com/dentalwriter-desktop/troubleshooting?hsLang=en) [![Chill listening crop-3](https://help.niermanpm.com/hs-fs/hubfs/NPM%20logo.png?width=61&height=24&name=NPM%20logo.png "Chill listening crop-3")](https://www.NiermanPM.com) DentalWriter Desktop/Server Help Center Copyright © 2026, Nierman Practice Management