---
title: "What Is Standard operating procedure? Dental Practice Glossary"
description: "A standard operating procedure, or SOP, is a written, step-by-step description of how a routine task is done so that different people carry it out the same way."
url: https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/standard-operating-procedure
publisher: Copeland Consulting Services
email: drcopeland@joncopelanddds.com
contact: https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/contact
---

Practice management

# Standard operating procedure

A standard operating procedure, or SOP, is a written, step-by-step description of how a routine task is done so that different people carry it out the same way.

A standard operating procedure writes down a routine job so it does not depend on one person's memory. A paper in the National Library of Medicine's PMC archive describes SOPs for clinical practice as a specific set of practices that are required to be initiated and followed when specific circumstances arise. In a dental office, an SOP might cover opening the office, sterilization steps, insurance verification or closing the day. Good SOPs are short, current and easy to find. They support [practice systems](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/practice-systems) and give a new hire a clear reference. The same paper cautions that SOPs are not standardized across all practices, so each office writes its own.

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

## Related terms

-   [Practice systems](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/practice-systems)
-   [Workflow](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/workflow)
-   [Team meeting](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/team-meeting)
-   [Practice culture](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/practice-culture)

## Sources

1.  [PMC, Standard operating procedures for clinical practice](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3056180/)
2.  [PMC, Standard operating procedures for clinical practice](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3056180/)

## Talk with Dr. Copeland

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