How to update DentalCare safely

DentalCare supports theme updates through the method supplied with your purchase. ThemeForest or Envato customers can use the bundled Envato Market plugin when connected; other purchase channels use the update method supplied with that package. If your purchase provides the dental-care.zip, you can replace the parent theme manually after backing up and testing on staging.

Before you update#

Create a full backup of the WordPress files and database.
If your purchase includes the dental-care.zip, download the latest copy from that purchase source.
Check the release notes or changelog for major requirements and compatibility changes.
Update WordPress and required plugins only when their versions are supported by the DentalCare release you are installing.
Confirm that custom PHP, CSS, and template overrides are stored in a child theme or separate plugin.

Parent-theme edits will be overwritten#

Anything changed directly inside the dental-care theme folder can be replaced during the update. Move required customizations into the child theme before proceeding.

ThemeForest customers: Envato Market updates#

ThemeForest customers can use the bundled Envato Market plugin to receive DentalCare update notices and install available releases from the WordPress dashboard.

Install and activate the bundled Envato Market plugin from the DentalCare plugin installation prompt.
Open the new Envato Market menu in WordPress.
Follow the plugin instructions to generate and enter your Envato API personal token.
After the connection is authorized, confirm that DentalCare appears under the plugin’s Themes section.
When a new DentalCare version is available, apply the update from Envato Market, the standard WordPress updates screen, or the theme update notice.
Run the post-update checks listed later in this guide.

The Envato Market plugin connects to Envato using a secure OAuth token. It is not distributed through the WordPress.org plugin directory. DentalCare includes it as a bundled plugin for ThemeForest customers.

View the official Envato Market plugin guide

Updates for other purchase channels#

Update delivery can differ by purchase channel. Use the update method supplied with your DentalCare package.

If your purchase provides the dental-care.zip, follow the manual parent-theme replacement steps after backing up and testing on staging. If your package includes a dashboard updater, follow the instructions supplied with that package. Do not assume that a ThemeForest or Envato Market connection applies to a different purchase channel.

The update replaces the DentalCare parent-theme files; the child theme remains separate. Back up the site and test the update on staging before applying a major release.

Manual update by uploading the new ZIP#

If your purchase provides the dental-care.zip, you can use the following manual replacement procedure.

In WordPress, go to AppearanceThemesAdd ThemeUpload Theme.
If your purchase provides the dental-care.zip, select the latest dental-care.zip supplied with that purchase.
Choose Install Now.
When WordPress detects the existing theme, review the installed and uploaded versions.
Choose Replace current with uploaded.
Wait for the replacement to finish, then return to AppearanceThemes.

If the DentalCare child theme is active, leave it active. You are replacing the parent theme only.

Optional FTP or file-manager update#

If your purchase provides the dental-care.zip, you can use this replacement procedure when the dashboard upload is unavailable.

Use this method only when the dashboard upload is unavailable or your host blocks large uploads.

If your purchase provides the dental-care.zip, extract that ZIP on your computer.
Connect to the server and open wp-content/themes/.
Rename the existing dental-care folder as a temporary backup, such as dentalcare-old.
Upload the new dental-care folder.
Check the site before deleting the temporary backup folder.

Do not merge old and new theme folders#

Merging can leave deleted or outdated files behind. Replace the parent-theme folder cleanly instead.

Checks to run after the update#

Identify the layer serving stale output and clear only that relevant cache.
Open the homepage and several internal pages.
Check the header, footer, menus, widgets, and page headers.
If the site uses Elementor, edit one Elementor page and confirm the editor loads normally.
Check Services, Projects, Team, and other reusable content areas used by the site.
Review any custom PHP, CSS, or template overrides in the child theme.
Confirm that required DentalCare plugins remain active.

What the update should not remove#

A normal parent-theme update should not remove Contact Form 7 form records or Mail settings because they are stored separately from the parent-theme files.

A normal parent-theme update should also not remove pages, posts, Elementor layouts, media, menus, users, or plugin settings because those are stored outside the parent-theme files.

The real risk is custom code or edited templates stored directly in the parent theme. Those files are not update-safe.

Common update problems#

The site still looks like the old version#

Confirm the installed DentalCare version in the theme details screen. If the site still shows older output, identify the layer serving that output and clear only the relevant cache.

A customization disappeared#

The change was probably made inside the parent theme. Restore it from backup, then move it into the child theme or a custom plugin before updating again.

The site shows a critical error#

Restore the backup or temporary old theme folder, then review the PHP error log. Compatibility problems often come from outdated plugins or custom code rather than the theme replacement itself.

Success state#

The latest DentalCare version is installed.
The active parent or child theme is unchanged.
Pages, menus, widgets, and reusable content still display correctly.
Required plugins are active. If Elementor is installed and used on the site, its editor loads normally.
Customizations remain in the child theme or separate plugins.
No PHP, JavaScript, or visible layout errors appear on the site.

Support escalation#

If the update fails, provide the old and new DentalCare version numbers, WordPress and PHP versions, the exact error text, a screenshot of the failure, and any relevant server log entry. Mention whether a child theme or custom code is active. Do not send passwords.