---
title: "What Is Chief dental officer? Dental Practice Glossary"
description: "A senior dentist who sets clinical standards and oversees clinical operations at a dental group or support organization, with duties that vary from one employer..."
url: https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/chief-dental-officer
publisher: Copeland Consulting Services
email: drcopeland@joncopelanddds.com
contact: https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/contact
---

Dental service organizations

# Chief dental officer

A senior dentist who sets clinical standards and oversees clinical operations at a dental group or support organization, with duties that vary from one employer to the next.

Chief dental officer, or CDO, is a title for a senior clinical leader inside a dental organization. One industry guide to DSO structure says many practices keep a lead dentist or chief dental officer who sets clinical standards and oversees clinical operations.

Duties vary by employer, and no national rule defines the role. Titles and tasks may cover clinical policy, quality review, training and advice to management. The title is also used outside private groups, such as in government health agencies, where the duties are different.

The role relates to [clinical leadership](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/clinical-leadership) and to [clinical autonomy](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/clinical-autonomy) in group settings. See also [dental service organization](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/dental-service-organization). This entry gives a general definition only.

[Next stepIndustry work with Dr. Copeland](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/contact?topic=industry)

## Related terms

-   [Clinical leadership](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/clinical-leadership)
-   [Clinical autonomy](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/clinical-autonomy)
-   [Dental service organization](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/dental-service-organization)
-   [DSO](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/dso)

## Sources

1.  [Weave, Dental Service Organization Structure: How DSOs Operate](https://www.getweave.com/dental-service-organization-structure/)
2.  [ADA News, ADA unites coalition to support CMS chief dental officer role](https://adanews.ada.org/ada-news/2025/march/ada-unites-coalition-to-support-cms-chief-dental-officer-role/)

## Talk with Dr. Copeland

[Contact Dr. Copeland](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/contact)[Email](mailto:drcopeland@joncopelanddds.com)