List of Dental Events in Kansas - 2026

Planning CE for a two-year Kansas renewal cycle takes more foresight than most practitioners expect. Hotel room blocks at major conferences sell out months early. CE-heavy events cluster in April and July, and solo practitioners who skip the planning step often end up paying full hotel rates, missing capped workshops, or scrambling online to close the gap in year two. This guide removes that guesswork.

We've compiled every major dental conference in Kansas 2026 we could verify — from the UMKC Midwest Dental Conference (up to 21 CE hours in one trip) to the Wichita District Dental Society's 32-hour in-person series — with dates, locations, CE credit estimates, and registration links where confirmed.

Key Takeaways

• The UMKC Midwest Dental Conference (April 23–26, Kansas City) offers up to 21 CE hours in one trip — the single best opportunity to complete most of a dentist's biennial requirement.
• Kansas dentists need 60 CE hours per two-year renewal cycle including 2 hours of ethics; Kansas dental hygienists need 30 hours.
• The Wichita District Dental Society runs 32 in-person CE hours across the 2025–2026 season — the most consistent local CE source in the state for Wichita-area practitioners.
• The NDA 112th Annual Convention (July 10–13) is the largest national dental conference hosted in Kansas City in 2026.
• KDA Annual Meeting, MDC, and the KDA Career Mix & Mingle are all co-located at the Sheraton Kansas City at Crown Center on April 24 — one travel day covers all three.
• MDC hotel room blocks at conference rates sell out by April 1 each year — register and book early.

Dental Events in Kansas 2026 — Quick Reference

Why Kansas Dental Professionals Plan CE Early

Most Kansas dentists don't run short on CE hours because there aren't enough events — they run short because they wait until the second year of their cycle to start.

Three patterns create the year-two scramble:

1. Conference hotel blocks sell out. MDC room blocks at conference rates typically fill by April 1. The NDA Convention at the same venue in July often fills even earlier. Waiting until March to register means paying full hotel rates or commuting from a different part of the metro.
2. CE-heavy events cluster in spring and summer. April and July each host major multi-day conferences in Kansas City. Miss both, and you're left piecing together shorter local sessions and online courses to make up the difference — which works, but requires more active management across more providers.
3. Solo dental practices A two-day absence for MDC means zero staffing for inbound calls unless you've arranged coverage in advance. Practices that haven't solved this tend to skip conferences or attend distracted.

Planning your 2026 CE calendar in the first half of the year — when hotel availability is still reasonable — means better rates, more workshop seat availability, and a full-team coverage plan before you leave.

Kansas Dental Association Events in 2026

The Kansas Dental Association is the primary professional home for Kansas dentists and coordinates several events throughout the year, from advocacy days to the annual member meeting.

KDA 2026 Town Hall Meeting

Date: January 7, 2026 | Format: Virtual (Zoom) | Time: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM

The year opened with a virtual town hall on KDA's 2026 legislative priorities — including scope-of-practice discussions, KanCare dental coverage, and Medicaid reimbursement rates. No CE credit, but essential context for any Kansas dentist affected by state policy changes during the legislative session.

Who should attend: KDA members who want to stay informed on policy changes affecting their practice.

Dine & Discover Dentistry (3D)

Date: January 6, 2026 | Location: Johnson County, KS (shuttle from UMKC School of Dentistry) | Cost: Free for dental students

A KDA-organized tour of three Johnson County dental offices for UMKC dental students, with a progressive dinner at each location. Designed to connect students with dentists considering associate hires — informal enough to have real conversations, structured enough to make it productive.

Who should attend: UMKC dental students; practice owners seeking associates.

Dental Day 2026

Date: February 5, 2026 | Time: 8:30 AM – 2:00 PM | Location: Kansas Statehouse, Topeka, KS

Dental Day is the KDA's annual advocacy event at the Kansas State Capitol. Dentists, hygienists, and dental students meet with their state legislators to discuss policy priorities — Medicaid access, dental therapy scope, and infection control regulations have been recent topics.

Dental Day does not offer formal CE credit, but it is the most direct way to influence legislation that shapes your practice. Open to KDA members and dental students.

Who should attend: Practitioners interested in state-level policy; dental students building their professional network early.

For registration and updates: ksdental.org

KDA Career Opportunity Mix & Mingle

Date: April 24, 2026 | Time: 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM | Location: Sheraton Hotel at Crown Center, Kansas City | Cost: Free for D1–D4 students

This networking event connects dental students with practicing dentists who have open associate positions, co-located with MDC. If you're approaching graduation at UMKC or KU, this is a targeted opportunity to meet potential employers face-to-face in an informal setting.

Who should attend: Dental students seeking associate positions; established practitioners looking for associates or planning a practice transition.

For information: ksdental.org

KDA Annual Meeting

Date: April 24, 2026 | Time: 11:45 AM – 2:30 PM | Location: Sheraton Hotel at Crown Center, Kansas City

The KDA Annual Meeting handles formal association business — budget approvals, board elections, committee updates, and policy positions. It runs the same day as the Career Mix & Mingle and MDC, making April 24 a full day for KDA-connected dentists in the Kansas City metro.

Who should attend: KDA member dentists.

Full agenda and registration: ksdental.org

Wichita District Dental Society — 2025–2026 CE Series

The Wichita District Dental Society (WDDS) runs a structured continuing education series for the Wichita-area dental community. The 2025–2026 season offers 32 hours of in-person CE instruction — the most consistent local CE source in Kansas outside of the Kansas City metro.

WDDS holds courses at Wichita-area venues and provides lunch or snacks. Full-package members pay reduced rates; individual course registration is available at higher per-event pricing. Two confirmed 2026 dates are below; check wichitadds.net for the full series calendar.

WDDS Legislative Advocacy CE

Date: January 22, 2026 | Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Location: Watermark Books — Starry Night Room, 4701 E. Douglas, Wichita, KS 67218 | CE Credit: 2 hours | Cost: $35–$60

This evening course covers state legislative priorities from a dental professional's perspective, paired with the advocacy communication skills to deliver them effectively. Qualifies for CE credit and counts toward your biennial Kansas requirement.

Who should attend: Wichita-area dentists and hygienists; anyone looking to satisfy the ethics/advocacy requirement locally.

Contact: [email protected] | wichitadds.net

WDDS: OSHA Compliance and Infection Control

Date: February 9, 2026 | CE Credit: 6 hours

An all-day OSHA compliance and infection control refresher. Increasingly relevant given updated CDC infection control guidelines and ongoing scrutiny of sterilization protocols in dental settings. Practical for the entire dental team, including assistants and hygienists.

Who should attend: Full dental team at Wichita-area practices; especially valuable for new team members or practices that haven't done a formal OSHA review recently.

Full registration details: wichitadds.net

KMOM Manhattan 2026

Dates: January 30–31, 2026 | Time: 5:30 AM – 11:00 AM | Location: Kansas National Guard Armory, 721 Levee Drive, Manhattan, KS

The Kansas Mission of Mercy (KMOM) is a two-day free dental clinic that mobilizes volunteer dentists, hygienists, assistants, and support staff to provide care — cleanings, fillings, and extractions — to uninsured and underserved Kansas residents. Events rotate across Kansas cities annually.

Volunteers typically receive community service recognition and, in some cases, CE credit depending on role. Participating in KMOM is one of the most meaningful ways to give back while meeting colleagues from across the state.

Who should attend: Dental professionals looking to contribute to access-to-care initiatives and connect with peers statewide.

For future KMOM events: ksdental.org

UMKC Midwest Dental Conference

Dates: April 23–26, 2026 | Location: Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center, 2345 McGee St, Kansas City, MO 64108 | CE Credits: Up to 21 hours

The UMKC Midwest Dental Conference is the largest regional dental education event in the Kansas City area, drawing attendees from both Kansas and Missouri. Hosted by the UMKC School of Dentistry's Dental Alumni and Dental Hygienists' Alumni Associations, it is open to all dental professionals regardless of UMKC affiliation.

The four-day conference includes:

• Hands-on workshops with limited seating (early registration required)
• Lecture CE sessions across clinical, practice management, and technology tracks
• A dental products and equipment expo (Exhibit Hall: Friday 10 AM–6:30 PM, Saturday 8:30 AM–4 PM)
• Networking events including a reunion gala
• CE sessions scheduled 9 AM–noon and 2–5 PM daily across all four days

With up to 21 CE hours available across clinical and non-clinical tracks, many Kansas dentists use this conference to complete a majority of their biennial requirement in a single trip. The conference is open to the full dental team — dentists, hygienists, assistants, and practice managers.

Who should attend: Any dental professional needing to complete a significant portion of their biennial CE requirement; particularly valuable for rural Kansas practitioners consolidating travel into one annual Kansas City trip.

Important: Hotel room blocks at conference rates sell out by April 1. Book early at midwestdentalconference.org.

Greater Kansas City Dental Society CE Program

The Greater Kansas City Dental Society (GKCDS) serves dentists across the Kansas City metro — both the Kansas and Missouri sides — with a structured year-round CE program. GKCDS offers payment plans for CE subscriptions: first payment due January 1, 2026; second payment due June 1, 2026.

GKCDS OSHA Half-Day

Date: June 12, 2026 | Location: Blue Springs, MO (Kansas City metro) | CE Credit: ~3–4 hours

OSHA compliance CE covering workplace safety, infection control, and regulatory requirements. An annual refresher for the entire dental team — useful for practices that didn't attend the WDDS OSHA course in February.

Who should attend: Kansas City metro dental practices due for an OSHA compliance refresher; all practice staff welcome.

GKCDS Pharmacology Full-Day

Date: November 13, 2026 | Time: 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM | Location: Blue Springs, MO | CE Credit: ~6–7 hours

Full-day pharmacology CE — a required subject area for Kansas and Missouri dental licensees. Covers drug interactions, prescribing protocols, and opioid awareness in clinical practice.

Who should attend: Kansas City metro dentists who need pharmacology hours in their current renewal cycle.

GKCDS Officer Installation & Holiday Social

Date: December 4, 2026 | Location: Kansas City metro (venue TBD)

Annual end-of-year gathering for GKCDS members with incoming officer installation and holiday networking. Open to GKCDS members.

Full course listings and registration: gkcds.org/calendar

NDA 112th Annual Convention

Dates: July 10–13, 2026 | Location: Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center, Kansas City, MO

The National Dental Association brings its 112th annual convention to Kansas City in 2026. The NDA is the oldest organization of minority dental professionals in the U.S., and its convention draws attendees nationally for CE courses, an exhibit hall, leadership programming, and sessions focused on expanding oral health access to underserved communities.

Who should attend: Dentists, hygienists, dental students, and DSO professionals — particularly those focused on diversity in dentistry and serving underserved populations.

Registration: ndaonline.org

Northwest Golden Belt District Meeting

Date: October 10, 2026 | Location: Northwestern Kansas (venue TBD — check ksdental.org)

One of the KDA's regional district meetings, serving dental professionals in the northwest and Golden Belt region of Kansas. Includes CE sessions alongside association business — the most accessible CE option for practitioners in western Kansas who can't easily travel to Wichita or Kansas City.

Who should attend: Dentists and dental professionals in northwestern Kansas looking for local CE and regional networking.

Details: ksdental.org

Kansas Conference on Oral Health

Date: November 13, 2026 | Location: KU Edwards Campus, 12600 S Quivira Rd, Overland Park, KS | Organizer: Oral Health Kansas

The Kansas Conference on Oral Health is the state's premier oral health policy and advocacy conference. Organized by Oral Health Kansas, it focuses on system-level issues: access to care, Medicaid coverage, children's oral health, rural care delivery, and workforce development. CE credit availability varies by year — check the website as November approaches.

Who should attend: Practitioners working in community health, managing Medicaid-serving practices, or interested in the public health side of dentistry. This conference offers a perspective that typical clinical CE programs don't.

Registration and updates: oralhealthkansas.org | Questions: [email protected]

How Kansas Dental Practices Handle Conference Coverage

For dental groups and DSOs, rotating staff schedules covers most conference absences. For solo practitioners, the bigger challenge is phone coverage — patients still call for appointments, prescription refills, and urgent concerns whether you're in Wichita or at a four-day conference in Kansas City.

Practices using Arini's AI receptionist keep their front desk running 24/7 regardless of who's in the office. Arini answers calls in 300ms and books appointments directly into OpenDental, EagleSoft, Denticon, and CareStack and other practice management systems. It handles after-hours patient communication and flags urgent issues for your team — HIPAA compliant, without requiring a human receptionist on site. Unified Dental Care saw a 12% revenue increase after deploying Arini; Kare Mobile captured $56K in new patient appointments in the first month.

For a solo practitioner attending MDC or the NDA Convention, that means zero missed appointments and no voicemail backlog waiting on return.

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Kansas CE Requirements for 2026 — What You Need to Know

Source: Kansas Dental Board

Tracking CE across multiple providers over two years is one of the recurring administrative headaches for dental practices. Most state-approved providers issue certificates automatically — store them in a single folder (or your practice management system) and run a tally at the halfway point of your cycle, not the end of it.

For online CE to supplement in-person events, the KDHA and providers like Elite Learning and Concord Seminars offer Kansas-approved courses.

National Dental Conferences Worth Attending from Kansas

Kansas-based practitioners within range of major metro airports can reasonably attend:

• ADA Annual Meeting — Held each fall; 2026 dates and location TBD. One of the largest dental CE and trade events in the country.
• Chicago Dental Society Midwinter Meeting — Typically February/March; Chicago is a direct flight from Kansas City or Wichita. Hundreds of CE courses and one of the strongest dental equipment expos in the U.S.
• Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) Annual Meeting — Focuses on comprehensive general dentistry CE; typically June/July.

Practitioners in the Kansas City area may also want to check the dental events calendar for Illinois — Chicago is a common conference destination within easy reach of both Kansas City and Wichita.

Which Kansas Dental Event Is Right for You?

There's no single event that fits every practitioner. Here's how to decide based on your role, location, and what you actually need in 2026:

• For maximum CE hours in one trip: UMKC Midwest Dental Conference (April 23–26) — up to 21 CE hours, open to the full dental team.
• For Wichita-area practitioners: WDDS 2025–2026 CE Series — 32 in-person hours, no major travel, structured year-round.
• For Kansas City metro dentists: GKCDS CE program + MDC together can cover a full renewal cycle with minimal travel.
• For policy and advocacy: Dental Day (February 5) + Kansas Conference on Oral Health (November 13) give you the full legislative and public health picture for the year.
• For giving back and statewide networking: KMOM Manhattan (January 30–31) — no CE, but high impact.
• For dental students: Dine & Discover Dentistry (January 6) + KDA Career Mix & Mingle (April 24) are the highest-ROI networking events of the year before graduation.
• For northwestern Kansas practitioners: Northwest Golden Belt District Meeting (October 10) is the most accessible local option without a long drive to Kansas City or Wichita.

If you're a solo practitioner attending any multi-day conference, the logistical question is the same regardless of which event you choose: who covers your phones while you're away? Learn How Arini Works.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many CE hours do Kansas dentists need?

Kansas dentists must complete 60 continuing education hours per two-year renewal cycle, including at least 2 hours of ethics and up to 4 hours of CPR training. Specialists must complete 40 of 60 hours in their specialty area. First-cycle renewals require 30 hours. The Kansas Dental Board administers renewal at dental.ks.gov.

How many CE hours do Kansas dental hygienists need?

Kansas dental hygienists need 30 CE hours per two-year renewal cycle, including 1 hour of ethics. Up to 4 hours of CPR training may apply if the course includes a hands-on component. First-cycle renewals require 15 hours. Details at dental.ks.gov.

When is the UMKC Midwest Dental Conference in 2026?

The UMKC Midwest Dental Conference runs April 23–26, 2026, at the Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center, 2345 McGee St, Kansas City, MO. Hotel room blocks at conference rates sell out by April 1. Register early at midwestdentalconference.org.

Does the Midwest Dental Conference offer CE credit?

Yes. MDC 2026 offers up to 21 CE hours across clinical, practice management, and technology tracks. Sessions run 9 AM–noon and 2–5 PM daily across four days. The conference is open to dentists, hygienists, assistants, and practice managers.

When is the KDA Annual Meeting in 2026?

The KDA Annual Meeting is April 24, 2026, at the Sheraton Hotel at Crown Center in Kansas City, from 11:45 AM to 2:30 PM. It runs the same day as the KDA Career Mix & Mingle (9:30–11:00 AM) and MDC — making April 24 a full day for KDA-connected dentists.

Are there dental CE events in Wichita in 2026?

Yes. The Wichita District Dental Society runs a CE series with 32 in-person hours during the 2025–2026 season. Confirmed 2026 dates include a 2-hour legislative advocacy CE on January 22 and a 6-hour OSHA and infection control course on February 9. Full calendar at wichitadds.net.

What is the Kansas Conference on Oral Health?

An annual statewide conference organized by Oral Health Kansas focused on oral health equity, Medicaid coverage, rural care delivery, and workforce development. The 2026 conference is November 13 at KU Edwards Campus, Overland Park. It draws practitioners, hygienists, public health advocates, and policymakers from across Kansas. Details: oralhealthkansas.org.

What Is the NDA Convention and Why Is It in Kansas City?

The National Dental Association's 112th Annual Convention comes to the Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center, July 10–13, 2026. The NDA is the oldest organization of minority dental professionals in the U.S., and hosting the convention in Kansas City gives Midwest-based practitioners direct access to a national event without cross-country travel.

Where can I find updated Kansas dental event listings?

The most current listings are maintained by the Kansas Dental Association, the Wichita District Dental Society, the Kansas Dental Hygienists' Association, and the Greater Kansas City Dental Society. For national conference schedules, check the ADA and AGD websites directly. For event guides in neighboring states, see our dental events in Tennessee calendar.

This list reflects confirmed and announced events as of April 2026. Some details — including dates, venues, and CE credit totals — may change. Always verify directly with the organizing association before registering.