List of Dental Events in Indiana - 2026

Indiana dental professionals shouldn't need to check five different websites to build their CE calendar. The Indiana Dental Association, American Dental Association, Indianapolis District Dental Society, IU School of Dentistry, and assorted specialty organizations each publish their own event pages — and none of them give you the complete picture. This guide does. For a full multi-year calendar of Indiana dental events, see our dental events in Indiana overview.

Below is every dental event in Indiana 2026 we could verify, organized chronologically, with dates, locations, CE credit counts, and registration links. Dental events in Indiana 2026 span the full year — and 2026 in particular is the most event-dense year in recent Indiana dental history.

Key Takeaways

• The ADA 2026 Scientific Session comes to Indianapolis (October 8–10) — Indiana's most significant dental event in years, drawing thousands of dental professionals to the Indiana Convention Center
• Indiana dentists must complete 20 CE hours before March 1, 2026 (license renewal deadline), with at least 10 hours from live presentations or workshops
• The Midwest Dental Assembly (May 13–16, Fort Wayne) is the Indiana Dental Association's flagship annual CE conference, covering the full dental team — dentists, hygienists, assistants, and practice managers
• 2026 is the final year the ADA's annual conference runs under any form of the SmileCon brand — it transitions to a new Scientific Session format starting in 2027
• Indiana dental hygienists face a separate 19-hour CE requirement with its own live-hours minimum, a BLS recertification, and a 5-hour cap on practice management topics
• Indiana hosts 13 verified dental events in 2026 — more than any recent year on record

Why 2026 Is a Big Year for Indiana Dental Events

Two things make 2026 unusual for Indiana dental professionals.

First, Indianapolis is hosting the ADA 2026 Scientific Session — the American Dental Association's national annual conference — from October 8–10 at the Indiana Convention Center. This is the equivalent of the ADA Annual Meeting coming to your backyard: thousands of dental professionals, a full exhibit hall with leading dental vendors, hands-on wet labs, and multi-day CE tracks across every major specialty — without the cost of out-of-state travel.

Second, this is the last year the ADA's annual conference carries any form of the SmileCon identity. The ADA announced in May 2025 that SmileCon would end after 2026, transitioning the event back to its original Scientific Session format starting in 2027. Indiana practitioners who attend this year are part of a transition moment in the ADA's conference history.

Add the Midwest Dental Assembly in Fort Wayne, multiple IDA Center for Excellence seminars, IU CE programs, and Indianapolis District Dental Society component events, and 2026 is the most event-dense dental calendar Indiana has seen in recent memory.

Quick Reference: Dental Events in Indiana 2026

Dental Events in Indiana 2026: IDA Programs

The Indiana Dental Association is the professional home for Indiana dentists and coordinates the state's largest dental conferences in Indiana 2026, advocacy days, and continuing education programming. Indiana Dental Association events in 2026 span the full calendar year, from Dental Day at the Capitol in January to the co-located IDA CE seminar during the ADA Scientific Session in October. IDA membership provides access to reduced CE registration rates, the full IDA event calendar, and the Center for Excellence course series.

Dental Day at the Capitol

Date: January 29, 2026 | Time: Breakfast at 9:00 a.m., program begins at 9:30 a.m. | Location: Indiana State Capitol, Indianapolis, IN | CE Credits: None

Best For: Dentists, hygienists, and practice owners who want direct access to state legislators on issues that affect how Indiana dental practices operate — Medicaid dental reimbursement, scope-of-practice regulations, and dental workforce pipeline funding.

Dental Day at the Capitol is the IDA's annual legislative advocacy event at the Indiana Statehouse. Participants meet directly with legislators to advance dental profession priorities. There are no CE credits — the value is access and influence. For dentists who want to shape the policy environment they operate in, this is the most targeted opportunity of the year.

Open to IDA members, dental students, and Indiana dental professionals. More information at indental.org/advocacy/dental-day/.

IDDS New Dentist CE Series

Date: February 11, 2026 | Location: Indianapolis, IN | CE Credits: TBD | Organizer: Indianapolis District Dental Society

Best For: Dentists within the first five years of practice who are building clinical and business foundations, seeking peer networking in the Indianapolis area.

The Indianapolis District Dental Society runs a component CE series targeted at new practitioners — the kind of practical, skill-building programming that fills gaps between dental school and full clinical independence. Specific topics and credit counts are confirmed closer to the date. Component society events like this are often overlooked in broad event lists but deliver focused CE and peer time in a smaller setting than major conferences.

Registration and details: indydentalsociety.org

IDDS Women in Dentistry

Date: February 26, 2026 (Thursday evening) | Location: Indianapolis, IN | CE Credits: TBD | Organizer: Indianapolis District Dental Society

Best For: Women dental professionals in the Indianapolis area looking for peer community, mentorship connection, and CE credits in a focused evening format.

The IDDS Women in Dentistry event is an evening CE and networking gathering run by the Indianapolis District Dental Society. These component-society events are frequently absent from broader event roundups — but they offer high-value peer time and continuing education credits in a more personable format than the Midwest Dental Assembly or ADA Scientific Session.

Registration and details: indydentalsociety.org

Midwest Dental Assembly 2026

Dates: May 13–16, 2026 | Location: Grand Wayne Convention Center, Fort Wayne, IN (adjacent to the Hilton Hotel) | CE Credits: Multiple sessions across 4 days | Organizer: Indiana Dental Association

Best For: Indiana dental practices that want to send the full team — dentists, hygienists, assistants, and practice managers — to earn CE, evaluate equipment, and connect with peers at the state's largest annual dental gathering.

The Midwest Dental Assembly is the Indiana Dental Association's annual state dental conference, one of the state's premier CE events. The 2026 edition runs four days in Fort Wayne at the Grand Wayne Convention Center, organized around three themes: CONNECT, ENVISION, and IGNITE.

What makes the Midwest Dental Assembly stand out from standalone CE seminars is its scope. Every member of the dental team has a reason to attend:

• Dentists: Clinical CE across general dentistry, specialty updates, and technology
• Dental hygienists: Hygiene-specific CE tracks covering periodontics, patient communication, and preventive care
• Dental assistants: Hands-on workshops including nitrous oxide and laser courses (limited seating — these fill quickly and 2026 is no exception)
• Practice managers and front desk staff: Business operations, patient experience, and practice management sessions

The Indiana Dental Assistants Association (INDAA) joins for May 14–16, and the Indiana Dental Hygienists' Association (IDHA) General Assembly is held May 15 — making this the single event where Indiana's major dental organizations convene under one roof.

The Marketplace at the Midwest Dental Assembly brings dental suppliers, technology vendors, equipment representatives, and service providers together for hands-on evaluation. Hotel options include the Hilton Fort Wayne at Grand Wayne Convention Center (official event hotel) plus the adjacent Courtyard Marriott and Hampton Inn & Suites — check indental.org for current availability.

For sole practitioners and small group practices in Indiana, the Midwest Dental Assembly offers the most cost-effective combination of CE credits, team training, and peer networking available in the state.

Registration: indental.org/register/

IDA Center for Excellence — 2026 CE Seminars

The Indiana Dental Association's Center for Excellence in Continuing Education runs dental CE events Indiana dental professionals rely on throughout the year at venues across Indiana. IDA CFE courses are ADA-CERP and AGD PACE-approved and count toward Indiana's CE licensure requirement. Each seminar typically offers five LIVE CE credits — a meaningful contribution toward the 10-hour live requirement within Indiana's 20-hour dentist renewal.

IDA CFE: Comprehensive Overview of Oral Pathology

Date: March 27, 2026 | Time: 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. | Location: Embassy Suites Conference Center, Plainfield, IN | Presenter: Dr. Ashley Clark | CE Credits: 5 LIVE

Best For: General dentists and dental hygienists who conduct clinical screenings and want to strengthen diagnostic accuracy — particularly the recognition and documentation of oral lesions for appropriate referral.

Dr. Ashley Clark leads a full-day seminar covering oral pathology fundamentals: early recognition of lesions, differential diagnosis, and systematic clinical decision-making. Oral pathology skills directly affect early cancer detection outcomes, and this course addresses both the clinical identification process and the documentation needed to support appropriate referrals. Five LIVE credits from a single session fills a quarter of Indiana's 20-hour CE requirement for dentists.

Registration: indental.org/ce/calendar/

IDA CFE: Dental Radiology Review

Date: October 9, 2026 | Location: Indiana Convention Center, Indianapolis, IN | Presenter: Dr. Barett Andreasen | CE Credits: 5 LIVE

Best For: Indiana dentists already attending the ADA Scientific Session who want to stack five additional LIVE CE credits on the same trip — particularly relevant given increasing CBCT adoption in general practice settings.

The October IDA CFE session runs inside the Indiana Convention Center on October 9 — the same day and venue as the ADA 2026 Scientific Session. Dr. Barett Andreasen covers dental radiology: a structured review of 2D imaging fundamentals followed by an introduction to 3D cone beam CT interpretation. Scheduling this course co-located with the ADA Scientific Session is deliberate — Indiana dental professionals attending the national conference can earn five additional LIVE CE credits without adding travel.

Registration: indental.org/ce/calendar/

Indiana University School of Dentistry CE Programs

The IU School of Dentistry Office of Continuing Education is one of Indiana's primary CE providers, accredited by both ADA-CERP and AGD PACE. Credits from IU CE programs count toward Indiana's dental licensure renewal requirement. The office can be reached at 317-278-9002 or [email protected].

IU Dental Hygiene Day

Date: March 7, 2026 | Time: 8:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. | Location: Indiana University School of Dentistry, Indianapolis, IN | CE Credits: Limited

Best For: Dental hygienists interested in connecting with IU researchers working on clinical advances in periodontics, oral cancer screening, and preventive care — and prospective students exploring IU hygiene programs.

Dental Hygiene Day gives current dental hygienists and prospective students a half-day look at IU School of Dentistry programs, faculty, and clinical facilities. The event includes lab tours, faculty presentations on practice advances, and Q&A sessions covering education pathways and career development.

Registration: dentistry.iu.edu/academics/plan-a-visit/dental-hygiene-day/

IUSD Maynard K. Hine Scholarship & Ethics Lectures

Date: April 24, 2026 | Location: Indiana University School of Dentistry, Indianapolis, IN | CE Credits: Ethics CE (applicable toward 2-hour ethics requirement)

Best For: Dentists who need to fulfill Indiana's mandatory 2-hour Ethics, Professional Responsibility, and Indiana Statutes & Administrative Rules CE — and dental students at any stage of their training.

The Maynard K. Hine Scholarship and Daniel M. Laskin Professional Ethics Lectures is an annual IUSD event covering dental ethics, professional responsibility, and Indiana regulatory context. For dentists tracking their 20-hour CE requirement, ethics-specific CE can be harder to find than clinical topics. This event specifically addresses that credit type, with the added credibility of an academic institution.

Registration and details: dentistry.iu.edu/ce-professional-services/continuing-education/

IU JFJ Refresher Course

Date: June 12–13, 2026 | Location: Indiana University School of Dentistry, Indianapolis, IN | CE Credits: Multiple credits across 2 days

Best For: Both recent graduates who want to consolidate clinical knowledge quickly and experienced practitioners looking for a structured multi-specialty update — periodontology, endodontics, oral surgery, orthodontics, and prosthodontics in two days.

The JFJ Refresher Course is a two-day CE intensive that covers a broad range of dental specialties with an emphasis on cross-disciplinary integration and how specialty knowledge applies in a general practice context. IU's dual ADA-CERP and AGD PACE accreditation means credits apply directly to Indiana's licensure CE requirement.

Registration and course details: dentistry.iu.edu/ce-professional-services/continuing-education/

IU Fort Wayne Expanded Functions Workshop

Dates: Summer 2026 (Wednesday evenings, Fridays, and select Saturdays — approximately late June through early August) | Location: IU Fort Wayne Campus, Fort Wayne, IN | CE Credits: CE credits for expanded functions (restorative)

Best For: Dental assistants and allied dental professionals in the Fort Wayne area who want to earn expanded-functions credentials in restorative procedures — particularly those in practices transitioning toward expanded-function team models.

The IU Fort Wayne Expanded Functions Workshop is run by IU Fort Wayne's Dental Assisting Program and provides hands-on training for expanded restorative functions. The flexible schedule (evenings and select Saturdays) makes it accessible for working dental assistants who cannot take extended time away from the practice.

Registration: fortwayne.iu.edu/dental-education/assisting/continuing-education.html

CONVERGE 2026 — Dental Benefits Industry Conference

Dates: September 28–October 1, 2026 | Location: JW Marriott Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN | CE Credits: None (business and leadership focus) | Organizer: National Association of Dental Plans (NADP)

Best For: Dental practice owners and group practice business leaders who work extensively with dental insurance plans and want direct access to dental benefits industry executives and decision-makers.

CONVERGE 2026 is the National Association of Dental Plans' annual conference — 2.5 days of sessions, networking, and an innovation showcase focused on the dental insurance and benefits industry. This is not a clinical CE event; it is a business intelligence event for practice operators who want to understand the dental plans landscape. For practices participating in multiple insurance networks or navigating insurance-heavy patient populations, CONVERGE provides a rare opportunity to meet dental plan decision-makers directly.

Registration: nadp.org/event/converge-2026/

ADA 2026 Scientific Session — Indianapolis

Dates: October 8–10, 2026 (ADA House of Delegates: October 10–13) | Location: Indiana Convention Center, 100 S Capitol Ave, Indianapolis, IN | CE Credits: Multiple across all clinical and specialty tracks | Organizer: American Dental Association

Best For: Indiana dental professionals who have historically skipped the ADA Annual Meeting due to travel cost — 2026 is the rare year the national conference is in your backyard, and registration opens May 27, 2026.

The ADA 2026 Scientific Session is the largest of all dental events in Indiana 2026 — and for Indiana-based dental professionals, it is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to attend the ADA's flagship annual conference without the cost of out-of-state travel.

Previously branded as SmileCon, this is the ADA's final year running the event under that identity. Indianapolis hosts the event at the Indiana Convention Center in the heart of downtown.

What to expect at the ADA 2026 Scientific Session:

• Multi-day clinical education tracks covering all major dental specialties and general practice topics
• Major exhibit hall with leading dental technology, equipment, and service vendors
• Hands-on workshops and wet labs (limited seats — early registration is essential; registration opens May 27, 2026)
• ADA House of Delegates (October 10–13) — the ADA's policy-making and governance assembly, open to elected delegates
• Student programs and networking events for dental students and recent graduates
• IDA Center for Excellence co-programming — including the October 9 dental radiology CE seminar for Indiana attendees

The 2026 event is held in collaboration with the Indiana Dental Association, meaning Indiana-based practitioners have direct local support and IDA-organized programming integrated into the national conference experience. For Indiana dental practices, having a national event of this scale in Indianapolis removes the travel barrier that has historically made the ADA Annual Meeting a once-every-few-years trip.

Registration: ada.org/education/scientific-session

Indiana Dental CE Requirements: What You Need to Know

Indiana dental professionals approaching the March 1, 2026 license renewal deadline need to plan their CE carefully. Here is the full breakdown by license type:

For Indiana Dentists:

• 20 total CE hours per 2-year licensure period
• Minimum 10 hours must be live presentations or workshops (not online or home study)
• Maximum 10 hours may be home study or online CE
• 2 hours must cover Ethics, Professional Responsibility, and Indiana Statutes & Administrative Rules
• Dentists with DEA registration must complete 8 additional hours of opioid-related CE (MATE Act requirement)

For Indiana Dental Hygienists:

• 19 total CE hours per license period
• Minimum 9.5 hours must be live presentations or workshops
• 2 hours must cover Ethics, Professional Responsibility, and Indiana Statutes & Administrative Rules
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required each renewal period
• Maximum 5 hours may be in practice management topics
• Renewal deadline: March 1, 2026

Every event listed in this article is offered by an ADA-CERP or AGD PACE-approved provider and counts toward Indiana's CE licensure requirement. For the full approved provider list and current requirements, visit the Indiana Dental Association CE requirements page or the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (IPLA).

How Indiana Dental Practices Can Prepare for Conferences

Attending three or four dental events in 2026 — the Midwest Dental Assembly in May, a June IU CE intensive, and the ADA Scientific Session in October — means multiple days when your front desk is away from the practice. For solo practitioners and small dental groups, those are days when patient calls go unanswered, new patient inquiries hit voicemail, and scheduling opportunities are lost.

Indiana dental practices using Arini's AI receptionist keep their phone coverage running without adding headcount. Arini answers in 300ms, books appointments directly into OpenDental, EagleSoft, Denticon, and other practice management systems, and collects insurance information on the first call. It handles after-hours patient inquiries and flags urgent issues for follow-up — whether the team is in Fort Wayne for the Assembly or in downtown Indianapolis for the ADA Scientific Session. Arini is fully HIPAA compliant with encryption and role-based access controls, and patients interact naturally throughout every call without knowing they are speaking with AI. Unified Dental Care increased revenue 12% after deploying Arini, and Normandy Lake Dentistry relies on Arini for exactly this kind of consistent coverage during team absences.

Which 2026 Indiana Dental Events Should You Prioritize?

Indiana's 2026 dental calendar is strong enough that attending every event is not realistic. Here is how to prioritize based on your situation:

• For solo practitioners with a March CE renewal deadline: The IDA CFE Oral Pathology seminar (March 27, 5 LIVE credits) is the most time-efficient single-day option; the JFJ Refresher Course in June delivers multiple credits across specialties in two days.
• For full dental teams: The Midwest Dental Assembly (May 13–16, Fort Wayne) is the best value in the state — four days of multi-track CE, a dental marketplace, and programming for every team role in one trip.
• For Indiana dentists who have skipped the ADA Annual Meeting due to travel cost: The ADA 2026 Scientific Session (October 8–10) is the one to attend — Indianapolis hosting this event is a genuine anomaly; it will not be back for years.
• For dental assistants in northern Indiana: The IU Fort Wayne Expanded Functions Workshop is a rare opportunity for expanded-function credentials on a schedule built around working practitioners.
• For practice operators navigating dental insurance: CONVERGE 2026 (September 28–October 1, JW Marriott Indianapolis) provides direct access to dental plan executives and the benefits industry — a different audience than clinical CE events.

Whatever events your team attends, plan your call coverage before you leave. Book a Demo → to see how dental practices keep their phones answered 24/7 during conference weeks.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the major dental events in Indiana in 2026?

The two largest dental events in Indiana 2026 are the Midwest Dental Assembly (May 13–16, Fort Wayne) and the ADA 2026 Scientific Session (October 8–10, Indianapolis). Both offer CE credits across multiple clinical and practice management tracks for dentists, hygienists, and the full dental team.

When is the IDA annual meeting in 2026?

The Indiana Dental Association's Midwest Dental Assembly is scheduled for May 13–16, 2026 at the Grand Wayne Convention Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana. It is the IDA's primary annual member event, featuring CE sessions, a dental marketplace, and the co-hosted INDAA and IDHA General Assembly on May 15.

Where is the ADA 2026 Scientific Session being held?

The ADA 2026 Scientific Session will be held at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Indiana, from October 8–10, 2026. The ADA House of Delegates meets at the same venue October 10–13. Registration opens May 27, 2026.

Is the 2026 ADA annual conference still called SmileCon?

No. The ADA announced in May 2025 that it would end the SmileCon brand after 2026. The 2026 event is branded as the ADA Scientific Session, returning to the format and name used before SmileCon launched. Starting in 2027, the ADA's annual conference will run under a new structure entirely.

How many CE credits do Indiana dentists need?

Indiana dentists must complete 20 continuing education credit hours per 2-year licensure period, with a renewal deadline of March 1, 2026. At least 10 hours must come from live presentations or workshops. Two hours must cover ethics and Indiana statutes. Dentists with DEA registration need an additional 8 hours of opioid-related CE under the MATE Act.

What are Indiana dental hygienist CE requirements?

Indiana dental hygienists must complete 19 CE hours per license period by March 1, 2026. At least 9.5 hours must be from live presentations or workshops. Two hours must cover ethics and Indiana statutes. A current BLS certification is required, and practice management CE is capped at 5 hours of the total.

Are there other dental CE events in Indiana?

Yes. The Indiana Dental Association's Center for Excellence runs multiple live CE seminars throughout the year — including the March 27 Oral Pathology seminar and October 9 Dental Radiology seminar. IU School of Dentistry offers the JFJ Refresher Course in June and the Ethics Lectures in April. The Indianapolis District Dental Society runs component-society events in February. The full IDA CE calendar is at indental.org/ce/calendar/.

Can hygienists and assistants attend the Midwest Assembly?

Yes. The Midwest Dental Assembly is designed for the full dental team — dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, and practice managers all have dedicated CE tracks. The Indiana Dental Assistants Association (INDAA) co-participates May 14–16, and the Indiana Dental Hygienists' Association (IDHA) holds its General Assembly on May 15. Specialty workshops like nitrous oxide and laser courses fill quickly for assistants. Practices sending multiple team members should also prepare ahead for managing high call volumes in busy dental offices during conference weeks.

Is the ADA 2026 Scientific Session open to dental students?

Yes. The ADA Scientific Session includes student-specific programming, networking events, and sessions relevant to dental students and recent graduates. Student registration rates are typically available through the ADA. Details at ada.org/education/scientific-session.

Indiana dental professionals tracking dental events in Indiana 2026 have an exceptional calendar — a major national conference in their own backyard, a strong regional assembly in Fort Wayne, IDA-led CE seminars spread throughout the year, and IU School of Dentistry programming accessible from both Indianapolis and Fort Wayne. Register for workshops before they fill (the ADA wet labs and Midwest Dental Assembly hands-on courses sell out months in advance), and build your CE plan around the March 1 renewal deadline.

For practices sending team members to conferences this year, Learn How Arini Works →.

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