---
title: "What Is Practice manager? Dental Practice Glossary"
description: "A manager who oversees the operations, people and finances of a practice, often with wider duties than an office manager."
url: https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/practice-manager
publisher: Copeland Consulting Services
email: drcopeland@joncopelanddds.com
contact: https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/contact
---

Team and HR

# Practice manager

A manager who oversees the operations, people and finances of a practice, often with wider duties than an office manager.

A practice manager oversees how a practice runs. Many own a mix of operations, people, finances and systems. The Bureau of Labor Statistics describes the broader group of medical and health services managers as people who plan, direct and coordinate the business activities of healthcare providers.

In dentistry the title is not standard. Some offices use it for the same job as an [office manager](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/office-manager). Others use it for a role with more authority over budgets, hiring and policy. A larger group may employ a [practice administrator](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/practice-administrator) above this level.

A clear [job description](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/job-description) removes the guesswork. This entry gives a general definition and does not set a standard for any office.

[Next stepPractice consulting with Dr. Copeland](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/contact?topic=consulting)

## Related terms

-   [Office manager](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/office-manager)
-   [Practice administrator](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/practice-administrator)
-   [Job description](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/job-description)
-   [Dental practice management](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/dental-practice-management)

## Sources

1.  [BLS, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Medical and Health Services Managers](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/medical-and-health-services-managers.htm)

## Talk with Dr. Copeland

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