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Join your peers in learning about the latest developments in dental practice
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The dental industry is moving fast in 2025. With the rise of AI-powered diagnostics, regulation changes, and evolving patient care protocols, staying current is no longer optional—it’s essential. To stay competitive, dental professionals need real-time insights, hands-on experience, and access to the latest research.
Attending dental conferences is one of the most effective ways to stay informed. This guide covers the top dental conferences in 2025, spotlighting events that offer clinical workshops, expert panels, continuing education credits, and the chance to connect with peers and innovators. Whether you're a general dentist, orthodontist, hygienist, or office manager, these events can help you take your next step forward.
Why dental conferences are worth your time in 2025
Dental conferences do more than deliver CE credits—they offer direct access to new technologies, industry leaders, and actionable ideas that can elevate your practice.
Expand your professional network
In-person events make it easier to connect with people who understand your work. Whether you're chatting with a vendor about new tools or exchanging ideas with a fellow practitioner, conferences create opportunities to build lasting relationships. These connections often lead to valuable referrals, mentorships, or partnerships that support career and practice growth.
Watch live demonstrations
Seeing a product in action or watching a clinical technique applied in real-time brings an extra layer of understanding. Demonstrations often include hands-on practice or Q&A with experts, giving you the confidence to apply what you’ve learned when you return to your practice.
Access the latest dental tech news
The conference exhibit halls are full of solutions that can reshape workflows, from AI diagnostic platforms to new imaging tools. These events let you evaluate new systems on the spot and talk directly with company reps about implementation, pricing, and ROI.
Earn continuing education (CE) credits
Many conferences offer sessions accredited for CE hours across a range of specialties. These workshops are taught by trusted experts and help you stay compliant while expanding your clinical knowledge and business skills.
Top dental conferences to attend in 2025
The following events represent some of the most exciting dental conferences happening in 2025. Each offers something different—from pediatric innovations to leadership development—so you can choose the events that best match your goals.
American Association of Orthodontists Annual Session
The AAO Annual Session, April 25–27, 2025, in Philadelphia, is a must-attend for orthodontic professionals. This flagship orthodontic event includes scientific lectures, product showcases, and live technique demonstrations from global leaders in the specialty. From bracket innovations to aligner case studies, it's a space where clinical knowledge and future-focused orthodontic tools converge.
Australian Dental Congress
The Australian Dental Congress, the signature event of the Australian Dental Association, will take place in Perth from May 7 to 11, 2025. It features a comprehensive educational program, a large exhibition space, and input from both local and international speakers. Topics will range from digital workflow to clinical ethics and patient safety, emphasizing practical strategies for modern dental teams.
Pacific Northwest Dental Conference (PNDC)
Back in Seattle from May 8–10, 2025, the Pacific Northwest Dental Conference is known for delivering clinically relevant content in a welcoming, regional format. Hosted by the Washington State Dental Association, PNDC offers CE courses, live demonstrations, and a chance to connect with local peers and suppliers. The event’s strong mix of clinical education and practical takeaways makes it a favorite among Pacific Northwest providers.
Global Dentists and Pediatric Dentistry Annual Meeting (GDPDAM)
This conference series focuses on pediatric dentistry and practice management, offering a mix of academic insight and practical learning. The 2025 Montreal event, scheduled for May 12–13, highlights global innovations in children’s oral health and brings together experts from across specialties. While this is one of the major gatherings in the series, GDPDAM is held at multiple locations throughout the year. Dental professionals can explore alternative dates and destinations to find the most convenient option.
CDA Presents: The Art and Science of Dentistry
Hosted in Anaheim, California, from May 15–17, 2025, CDA Presents is the largest dental event on the West Coast. With a wide selection of hands-on courses, live demos, and CE-eligible lectures, this event supports both clinical excellence and business strategy. The exhibit hall showcases some of the most innovative technologies in the industry—from imaging systems to AI-based tools for diagnostics and case presentation.
National Dental Association Convention
The NDA Convention 2025 will be held July 10–13, 2025, in Kansas City. It continues to serve as a vital gathering for dental professionals committed to equity in oral healthcare. The event provides clinical education alongside sessions focused on diversity, access to care, and support for underserved communities. This conference offers inspiration and action-driven insights for practices seeking to make a broader impact.
Dykema Dental Symposium
Known for its boutique format and high-level speakers, the Dykema Symposium in Aurora, Colorado, from August 6–8, 2025, delivers business-focused programming for dental professionals. From M&A strategy to leadership and compliance, this event helps owners and executives build stronger, more scalable practices. It’s especially valuable for DSOs, practice groups, or entrepreneurial dentists looking to expand their operations.
The Dental Festival
Taking place at the ALOFT Hotel in Delray Beach, Florida, from August 21–23, 2025, The Dental Festival blends education with a high-energy, immersive environment. This event stands out for its mix of clinical CE, vendor exhibitions, and social events designed to foster networking and engagement. It’s ideal for professionals looking for a more dynamic and informal conference experience that still delivers actionable takeaways.
AADOM 2025 Annual Conference
Dental office managers and administrative professionals will benefit from attending AADOM 2025 from September 4–6, 2025, in Round Rock, Texas. Hosted at the Kalahari Resort, this event includes leadership sessions, revenue cycle management workshops, and digital workflow training tailored specifically to dental practice management teams. It’s a must-attend for those seeking to build operational excellence and team alignment.
London Dentistry Show
For professionals interested in international trends, the London Dentistry Show returns October 5–6, 2025. It offers global perspectives on clinical care, practice growth, and digital innovation. The event includes high-profile speakers from Europe and North America and allows attendees to compare approaches, technologies, and patient engagement strategies across healthcare systems.
ADA SmileCon 2025
SmileCon 2025, hosted by the American Dental Association, lands in Washington, D.C., from October 23–25, 2025. It’s one of the year’s largest gatherings of dental professionals. The agenda spans clinical breakthroughs, AI in diagnostics, hands-on CE, and wellness-focused workshops. The ADA also provides regulatory and advocacy updates, helping practices stay informed on changing compliance and policy landscapes.
International Conference on Advanced Dental Education (ICADE)
Scheduled for December 15, 2025, in Amsterdam, the International Conference on Advanced Dental Education offers a global look at dental research, education trends, and innovations in clinical teaching. It's especially relevant for academics, educators, and forward-thinking clinicians interested in shaping the future of dental training.
How to turn dental conference insights into practice success
Attending a conference is only step one. To benefit fully, teams should take a structured approach to implementing what they’ve learned.
Develop staff training programs
When returning from a conference, transform key takeaways into practical workflows. Use real examples from the event to design training modules that standardize new procedures across your team.
Create digital learning resources
Turn insights into shareable digital materials—such as short videos, slideshows, or handouts—so your entire practice can benefit. These assets also serve as long-term references for onboarding or retraining.
Host knowledge-sharing workshops
Organize team meetings where attendees present what they learned. Use these sessions to answer questions, demonstrate tools, or review vendor recommendations. This fosters a culture of continuous improvement.
Incorporate learnings into clinical case reviews
In your weekly or monthly case reviews, apply new techniques or products to real cases. Discuss outcomes, adjust approaches, and document what works. This keeps conference learnings active and measurable.
Choosing the right dental conference for your practice
Not every event will be the right fit. Choose conferences that align with your team’s skill gaps, practice goals, and patient demographics. For example, a business-focused event like Dykema may be ideal if you're scaling operations. If you're expanding pediatric services, GDPDAM events may offer more relevant insights.
Balance national events that offer broad exposure with regional conferences that support local networking and niche focus. Register early for the best pricing and send different team members to different events for broader knowledge sharing.