Arkansas dental professionals seeking continuing education, networking opportunities, and practice growth strategies have an exceptional lineup of events scheduled for 2026. From the premier statewide conference to specialized surgical training and community service clinics, these events offer valuable opportunities to enhance clinical skills, optimize practice operations, and connect with industry leaders. For practices attending these events or managing staffing during conference season, the Arini AI Receptionist ensures you never miss patient calls or booking opportunities, even when your team is away learning and networking.

Key Takeaways

• 10 major dental events are scheduled across Arkansas in 2026, offering 100+ hours of CE credits
• Premier statewide event: Arkansas State Dental Association Annual Session (March 13-14, 2026) offers 20+ CE hours and 50+ vendor booths
• Community service opportunity: Arkansas Mission of Mercy (April 10-11, 2026) provides free dental care to 500+ underserved patients while offering volunteer CE credits
• Specialized training: Rasner Institute offers hands-on live surgery courses in extractions, grafting, and implants throughout 2026
• Cost-effective options: ArDHA quarterly webinars provide free CE for members, while district society events cost $125-175
• Practice management focus: Multiple events include sessions on operational efficiency, making them ideal for integrating solutions like Arini's call answering services

1. South District Dental Society Spring CE Course

The South District Dental Society kicks off Arkansas's 2026 dental education calendar on Friday, February 6, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hot Springs Convention Center. This established event, now in its 6th year, provides essential continuing education for dental professionals across southern Arkansas.

Event Details

• Time: 7:30 AM - 3:30 PM CST
• Location: DoubleTree by Hilton Hot Springs Convention Center, 4813 Central Ave, Hot Springs, AR 71913
• CE Credits: 6-8 hours (pending ADA CERP approval)
• Cost: $125 early bird (until Jan 15, 2026) / $175 regular
• Target Audience: General dentists, dental specialists, hygienists, and assistants

Educational Focus

The course covers critical topics including clinical skills updates, practice management strategies, and regulatory compliance. With historically 100+ attendees from southern Arkansas districts, this intimate setting provides excellent networking opportunities with regional peers.

Practice Management Connection

While attending this event, practices can ensure their phones remain covered with Arini's call answering, which books appointments directly into practice management systems and handles routine patient inquiries.

2. Arkansas State Dental Association Annual Session

The Arkansas State Dental Association represents the premier dental event in the state, offering the most comprehensive educational and networking experience for Arkansas dental professionals. Scheduled for March 13-14, 2026, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Little Rock, this 125+ year tradition draws 300-500 attendees annually.

Event Details

• Time: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM both days
• Location: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Little Rock, 424 W Markham St, Little Rock, AR 72201
• CE Credits: 20+ hours available across multiple tracks
• Cost: ASDA Members: $395 early bird / $495 regular; Non-members: $595 early bird / $695 regular; Students: $150
• Early Bird Deadline: January 15, 2026

Comprehensive Programming

The annual session features multiple educational tracks including:

• Restorative dentistry and periodontics
• Orthodontics and dental technology/digital dentistry
• Practice management and infection control (mandatory CE)
• Keynote speakers (TBA)
• Hands-on workshops (limited capacity)

Exhibition and Networking

With 50+ vendors in the exhibit hall and networking receptions both evenings, this event provides unparalleled opportunities to discover new technologies and connect with industry leaders. The hotel room block at $129/night (expires Feb 13, 2026) ensures convenient accommodation.

Technology Integration Opportunity

The digital dentistry track makes this an ideal venue to explore AI solutions like Arini's integration module, which seamlessly connects with OpenDental, Dentrix, EagleSoft, and Denticon practice management systems.

3. Arkansas Mission of Mercy (ARMOM) 2026

The Arkansas Mission of Mercy stands as the state's largest volunteer dental clinic, providing free dental care to underserved Arkansans while offering valuable community service experience and CE credits for volunteer professionals. This impactful event takes place April 10-11, 2026, at the Conway Expo Center.

Event Details

• Clinic Days: Friday-Saturday, April 10-11, 2026
• Time: 6:00 AM - 4:00 PM (patient triage begins at 2:30 AM)
• Location: Conway Expo Center, 2505 East Oak St, Conway, AR 72032
• Cost: FREE for patients; volunteers donate time
• Volunteer Registration: rsvpBOOK

Community Impact

ARMOM historically serves 500+ patients over two days, providing free dental cleanings, fillings, extractions, and basic health screenings. The event requires 800-1,000 total volunteers, including 100+ licensed dentists, hygienists, assistants, and 400+ lay volunteers for non-clinical roles.

Volunteer Requirements

• Licensed dental professionals should bring their own instruments if possible
• Color-coded t-shirts provided (orders finalized end of March)
• Early registration essential to secure preferred shifts
• Interpreters needed for Spanish and Marshallese speakers

Practice Coverage Solution

For practices participating in ARMOM, Arini's FAQ module ensures consistent patient communication during volunteer shifts, answering common questions about office hours, insurance, and directions without staff involvement.

4. Arkansas Dental Hygienists Association (ArDHA) Events

The Arkansas Dental Hygienists Association offers multiple educational opportunities throughout 2026, catering specifically to dental hygienists' professional development needs. From virtual conferences to quarterly webinars and an annual fall conference, ArDHA provides flexible, cost-effective continuing education.

2026 Event Schedule

• March: AR Cancer Coalition Virtual Conferences (Clearing the Air in Communities of Color Conference and Arkansas Cancer Summit)
• April: ArMOM Volunteer Participation (coordinated with ARMOM event)
• Quarterly: ArDHA CE Webinars (typically March, June, September, December)
• October 2026: ArDHA Annual Fall Conference (dates TBA, likely Northwest Arkansas)

Educational Offerings

• Virtual conferences provide free CE for ArDHA members
• Quarterly Zoom webinars offer 1.5 CE hours per session
• Annual Fall Conference provides up to 7 CE hours
• Topics include clinical skills, practice management, and specialized training

Cost Structure

• Virtual conferences: Free for ArDHA members
• Quarterly webinars: Free for members / $10 non-members
• Annual conference: Early bird pricing typically available until August

Front Desk Optimization

Since hygienists often handle patient communication and scheduling, these events are ideal for learning about Arini's scheduling module, which reduces staff burden by automatically booking appointments and answering routine calls.

5. Rasner Institute Dental CE Events

The Rasner Institute provides Arkansas dental professionals with unique hands-on surgical training opportunities throughout 2026. These intensive courses focus on live extractions, grafting, and implant surgery, offering practical clinical experience that's difficult to find elsewhere in the state.

2026 Course Schedule

• March: Live Extractions & Grafting Course (Spring)
• May: Live Implant Surgery Course (Spring)
• September: Live Extractions & Grafting Course (Fall)
• November: Live Implant Surgery Course (Fall)

Course Details

• Format: Hands-on clinical training with live patients
• CE Credits: 12-16 hours per course
• Cost: $2,500-3,500 per course (estimated)
• Target Audience: Dentists seeking advanced surgical training
• Registration: Required well in advance as courses fill quickly

Unique Educational Value

Rasner Institute courses provide rare opportunities for Arkansas dentists to gain practical surgical experience under expert supervision. The pre-course workshop dinners facilitate networking with peers and instructors, enhancing the learning experience.

Practice Revenue Protection

During these intensive multi-day courses, Arini's analytics module ensures practices don't lose revenue opportunities by tracking call volume, booking appointments, and providing real-time notifications for new patient appointments.

6. Arkansas State Dental Association Fall Seminar

The Arkansas State Dental Association provides a second major educational opportunity in 2026, scheduled for September 10-12 at a Little Rock area venue (TBA). This three-day event complements the annual session with focused training on essential practice requirements.

Event Details

• Date: September, 2026
• Time: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
• Location: TBA (historically Little Rock area)
• CE Credits: 15+ hours available
• Cost: TBA (typically $200-400 for members)
• Registration: Opens approximately 3 months prior

Educational Focus

The fall seminar typically includes:

• Expanded duty training for dental assistants
• Infection control certification (mandatory CE requirement)
• Opioid prescribing guidelines and compliance
• Practice management updates

Target Audience

• General dentists needing mandatory CE credits
• Dental specialists
• Dental team members requiring expanded duty certification

Operational Efficiency Connection

The practice management content makes this seminar ideal for learning about Arini's workflow integration, which supports multi-location DSOs with customizable routing rules and seamless PMS integration.

7. Central Arkansas Women's Expo 2026

The Central Arkansas Women's Expo offers dental practices a unique marketing opportunity to connect directly with female patients and showcase their services. Scheduled for Saturday, August 16, 2026, at the Arkansas State Fairgrounds, this health and wellness expo attracts women interested in healthcare services.

Event Details

• Date: Saturday, August 2026
• Time: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
• Location: Arkansas State Fairgrounds - Hall of Industry, 2600 Howard St, Little Rock, AR 72206
• Format: Health and wellness expo with vendor booths
• Parking: Free fairgrounds parking

Marketing Opportunities

• Booth space available for dental practices
• Showcase cosmetic dentistry, family care, and orthodontics
• Direct patient engagement and lead generation
• Networking with other healthcare providers

Target Audience

• Dental practices serving female patients
• Women interested in healthcare and wellness services
• Local businesses seeking community visibility

Patient Communication Enhancement

Practices participating in the expo can use Arini's communication module to handle increased call volume from expo-generated leads, ensuring consistent information delivery about services and appointment availability.

8. Arkansas Family Dental Gives Back Event

The Arkansas Family Dental provides another community service opportunity on Friday, September 26, 2026. This annual event offers free dental services to adults 18 and older at Arkansas Family Dental locations in Little Rock.

Event Details

• Date: Friday, September 2026
• Time: 7:00 AM start (first-come, first-served)
• Location: Arkansas Family Dental locations (Little Rock)
• Services: Free dental cleanings and basic restorative services
• Patient Eligibility: Adults 18+ (no insurance or income verification required)
• Cost: FREE for patients

Community Impact

This event demonstrates corporate social responsibility while addressing dental care access issues in the Little Rock community. High demand requires early arrival, as services are provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

Volunteer Opportunities

Local dentists can volunteer their services by contacting Arkansas Family Dental directly. This provides valuable community service experience and potential referral relationships.

Operational Support

For practices volunteering at this event, Arini's 24/7 coverage ensures call coverage, preventing missed appointments and maintaining patient satisfaction during volunteer hours.

9. Northwest District Dental Association Meeting

The Northwest District Association serves dentists practicing in Northwest Arkansas, providing regional networking and educational opportunities. Scheduled for October 2026 in the Fayetteville area, this meeting addresses local practice issues and regulatory concerns.

Event Details

• Date: October 2026 (specific date TBA)
• Location: Fayetteville area
• Format: Regional meeting with networking focus
• Target Audience: Dentists practicing in Northwest Arkansas

Regional Focus

This meeting addresses issues specific to Northwest Arkansas dental practices, including:

• Regional regulatory updates
• Local referral network development
• Area-specific practice challenges
• Northwest Arkansas dental community building

Professional Development Value

Regional meetings provide intimate settings for meaningful professional relationships and collaborative problem-solving among area practitioners.

Practice Management Application

Attendees can explore how Arini's analytics tracking helps track regional marketing effectiveness and patient acquisition from local referral networks.

10. AGD Arkansas Study Clubs & Local CE

The AGD Arkansas Study Clubs provide monthly continuing education opportunities in Little Rock, Fayetteville, and Jonesboro throughout 2026. These regular sessions offer convenient, ongoing professional development for general dentists.

Program Details

• Frequency: Monthly study clubs
• Locations: Little Rock, Fayetteville, Jonesboro
• CE Credits: 2-4 hours per session
• Cost: Usually $50-150 per session for members
• Topics: Practice management, clinical techniques, new materials and technologies

Flexible Learning

Monthly sessions provide convenient, ongoing education without requiring extended time away from practice. The local format reduces travel costs and time commitment.

Peer Learning Environment

Study clubs foster collaborative learning among local general dentists, facilitating knowledge sharing and professional relationship building.

Practice Efficiency Connection

The practice management focus makes these sessions ideal for learning about Arini's labor cost reduction, which can free staff to focus on in-person patient care.

Benefits of Attending Dental Events in Arkansas

Participating in Arkansas dental events provides multifaceted advantages that extend far beyond the CE credits required for license renewal. These gatherings represent strategic investments in practice growth, professional development, and community engagement.

Clinical Excellence and Knowledge Updates

Dental science evolves rapidly, with new materials, techniques, and technologies emerging constantly. Arkansas events provide access to evidence-based updates that improve patient outcomes. The American Dental Association mandates continuing education to ensure practitioners maintain competency, and Arkansas requires dentists to complete 50 CE hours every two years while hygienists need 40 hours.

Networking and Referral Relationships

Face-to-face connections at conferences and study clubs build the professional relationships that drive successful practices. Whether establishing specialist referral networks, finding mentors, or collaborating with peers on complex cases, these relationships prove invaluable throughout a career.

Practice Growth and Operational Efficiency

Many Arkansas dental events feature practice management tracks that address revenue optimization, staff development, and operational efficiency. Learning about solutions like Arini's call handling during these sessions helps practices capture more revenue from every marketing dollar invested.

Regulatory Compliance and Risk Management

Events like the ASDA Fall Seminar provide mandatory training on infection control, opioid prescribing, and regulatory compliance. The Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners establishes these requirements to protect patient safety and practitioner licenses.

Community Service and Social Responsibility

Events like Arkansas Mission of Mercy demonstrate dentistry's commitment to serving underserved populations. These experiences provide perspective, build community goodwill, and often prove professionally rewarding in ways that extend beyond clinical practice.

Why Arkansas for Dental Education

Arkansas offers a distinctive environment for dental professional development that combines Southern hospitality, affordability, and growing healthcare infrastructure investment.

Central Location and Accessibility

Arkansas's geographic position in the South-Central United States makes it accessible from surrounding states. Little Rock, the state capital, serves as the primary hub for major dental events, offering modern convention facilities and convenient airport access.

Strong Professional Community

With over 1,200 licensed dentists serving Arkansas's 3 million residents, the state maintains a tight-knit professional community where meaningful relationships develop naturally. This creates collaborative learning environments at study clubs and regional meetings that larger states often lack.

Commitment to Rural Healthcare Access

Arkansas faces significant rural healthcare challenges, with many counties designated as dental health professional shortage areas by the CDC's Oral Health Division. This creates unique educational opportunities around providing care in underserved communities and practice models adapted to rural settings.

Cost-Effective Professional Development

Arkansas dental events typically cost significantly less than comparable conferences in major metropolitan areas, while hotel, dining, and travel expenses remain affordable. This makes comprehensive continuing education accessible to solo practitioners and small group practices with limited budgets.

Integration of Academic and Community Practice

UAMS's dental residency program connects academic research with community practice, ensuring Arkansas dentists benefit from cutting-edge protocols while maintaining practical, real-world perspectives.

Planning Your 2026 Dental Event Calendar

Strategic planning ensures you maximize the value of Arkansas's 2026 dental event offerings while managing practice operations effectively.

Prioritize by Practice Needs

Begin by identifying your specific educational priorities for 2026. New practitioners might prioritize clinical skills courses like Rasner Institute's surgical training, while established practice owners may focus on practice management and technology integration at ASDA events.

Balance CE Requirements with Specialty Interests

Arkansas dentists need 50 CE hours every two years. Structure your event attendance to meet mandatory requirements (infection control, opioid prescribing) while pursuing specialized interests. The ASDA Annual Session's multiple tracks allow efficient satisfaction of diverse requirements.

Schedule Around Peak Practice Periods

Avoid major events during your practice's busiest seasons. For many Arkansas practices, summer months see reduced patient volume, making July's ACDA Conference or August's Women's Expo ideal timing.

Leverage Technology for Coverage

When attending multi-day events, ensure your practice maintains patient access. Solutions like Arini's AI receptionist provide 24/7 call coverage, book appointments directly into your PMS, and answer routine patient questions, preventing revenue loss during educational travel.

Combine Events with Team Development

Consider bringing team members to events with relevant programming. The ASDA Fall Seminar's expanded duty training for assistants creates team-building opportunities while improving practice capabilities.

Budget for Professional Development

Allocate specific budgets for CE costs, travel, and lost production time. Early bird registration discounts (typically offered 60-90 days before events) can significantly reduce expenses.

Track CE Credits Systematically

Maintain organized records of CE attendance, certificates, and credits earned. The Arkansas State Board may audit CE compliance, making thorough documentation essential.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of continuing education credits are typically offered at Arkansas dental events

Arkansas dental events offer extensive CE opportunities, with the ASDA Annual Session providing 20+ hours, the Fall Seminar offering 15+ hours, and Rasner Institute courses delivering 12-16 hours each. Most events are ADA CERP recognized, ensuring credits meet Arkansas State Board requirements. Arkansas dentists need 50 hours every 2 years, while hygienists require 40 hours.

Are there any free or low-cost dental CE opportunities available online for Arkansas dentists

Yes, the ArDHA quarterly webinars provide free CE for members (1.5 hours per session), while non-members pay only $10. The AR Cancer Coalition Virtual Conferences in March 2026 are also free for ArDHA members. These virtual options provide flexible, cost-effective continuing education without travel expenses.

How can attending dental events help my practice increase revenue and operational efficiency

Dental events offer practice management tracks that teach revenue optimization strategies, operational efficiency techniques, and technology integration. While attending these events, solutions like Arini's call answering ensure you don't miss patient calls or booking opportunities, maintaining revenue streams during educational time away from the office.

What are the benefits of integrating AI solutions like Arini into my dental practice

Arini's AI receptionist answers 100% of inbound calls 24/7, books appointments directly into practice management systems, and handles routine patient questions about insurance, billing, and office hours. This reduces staff burden, increases monthly revenue by capturing missed call opportunities, and ensures HIPAA-compliant patient communication. Case studies show practices achieving $56K+ in new revenue in 30 days and 24% profit increases.

How does Arini ensure patient data privacy and compliance with regulations like HIPAA

Arini maintains HIPAA compliance through secure PMS and telecom integrations, role-based access controls, data minimization practices, and ongoing security reviews. The platform's Trust Center provides transparency about data handling practices, and development toward SOC 2 and ISO 27001 certifications demonstrates commitment to healthcare security standards.