Illinois is home to one of the largest dental meetings in the United States and at least six verified recurring events in 2026, spanning dental professional education at every level.

This list covers dental events in Illinois for 2026, organized from the largest national-scale conferences down to ongoing regional and university-based CE programs, with dates, venues, audience details, and registration guidance drawn from official organizer pages.

Key Takeaways

• The CDS Midwinter Meeting is the anchor event of the Illinois dental calendar, running February 19–21, 2026 in Chicago and described by Dental Tribune as one of the largest dental meetings in the United States.
• The Illinois State Dental Society holds its Annual Session each fall, combining CE courses, a House of Delegates meeting, and networking for practice owners and organized dentistry leaders.
• CE credit availability varies by event. Major meetings typically offer multiple CE hours across clinical, practice management, and technology tracks. Check organizer pages for specific credit counts, as these are not published in advance for all events.
• The Illinois Academy of General Dentistry and the Illinois Dental Hygienists Association each maintain ongoing course calendars, making them key resources for practitioners seeking smaller, role-specific CE throughout the year.
• University-based CE through UIC and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville provides accredited programs outside the conference circuit, useful for filling specific clinical credit gaps.
• The busiest period for in-person dental events in Illinois runs from February through October, plan travel and registration accordingly, particularly for the Midwinter Meeting where hotel availability in Chicago tightens early.

1. CDS Midwinter Meeting 2026

When: February 19–21, 2026

Where: Chicago, Illinois

Who it's for: General dentists, specialists, dental hygienists, practice managers, and dental industry exhibitors

CE credits: Multiple CE sessions offered; specific credit counts are published on the official CDS program schedule

Cost: Registration pricing is published on the Chicago Dental Society's official website

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The Chicago Dental Society Midwinter Meeting is an annual three-day scientific dental meeting that combines CE courses, an exhibit hall, and networking events for dentists and dental professionals.

Infodent International's calendar entry confirms the 161st edition of the Chicago Midwinter Meeting takes place February 19–21 in Chicago, organized by the Chicago Dental Society. Dental Tribune classifies the event under dental conferences and trade shows, noting it draws a broad audience of general dentists, specialists, and clinicians.

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The exhibit hall component gives practice owners and DSO leaders direct access to dental technology vendors and practice management solutions alongside CE programming.

2. Illinois State Dental Society Annual Session

When: Held annually in fall; 2026 dates not yet announced at time of publication

Where: The ISDS Annual Session page lists the venue address as 1777 Isle Pkwy, Bettendorf, IA 52722, serving Illinois dentists at the Isle Casino Hotel Bettendorf

Who it's for: ISDS member dentists, practice owners, and organized dentistry leaders

CE credits: Scientific sessions and CE courses are confirmed as a key feature of the event

Cost: Registration pricing published by the Illinois State Dental Society; check the official events page for current details

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The ISDS Annual Session is the Illinois State Dental Society's flagship continuing education meeting, providing CE opportunities and networking for member dentists. The event also includes a House of Delegates, making it particularly relevant for practice owners and leaders active in organized dentistry. The Illinois State Dental Society maintains a full events calendar listing upcoming meetings, CE offerings, and society activities across Illinois throughout the year.

3. Illinois Academy of General Dentistry: Continuing Education Events

When: Ongoing throughout the year; specific course dates listed on the ILAGD course calendar

Where: Various locations in Illinois; Oak Brook has been used for prior annual conference editions

Who it's for: General dentists seeking AGD-accredited CE credit

CE credits: Courses are structured to deliver CE credit aligned with AGD requirements

Cost: Varies by course; registration details available through the ILAGD calendar

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The Illinois Academy of General Dentistry is an officially recognized constituent chapter of the Academy of General Dentistry, organized to provide continuing education and networking events for general dentists within Illinois. The AGD's national scientific session, AGD2027, is confirmed for July 8–10, 2027 in Chicago. This makes Illinois a recurring host for general dentistry education at both the state and national level. For 2026, the ILAGD course calendar is the authoritative source for current seminar and workshop listings; the calendar should be checked directly, as individual course schedules are updated throughout the year.

4. Illinois Dental Hygienists Association: Local Events

When: Ongoing; specific events listed on the IDHA local events page

Where: Chicago, Illinois (IDHA office: 400 E. Randolph St., Suite 3115, Chicago, IL 60601) and other Illinois locations

Who it's for: Dental hygienists in Illinois seeking professional education and networking

CE credits: Events are structured around hygiene-specific professional education; credit details listed per event

Cost: Varies by event; published on the IDHA events listing

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The Illinois Dental Hygienists Association maintains a dedicated local events page listing upcoming educational and professional events for hygienists. Events are grouped under "local events" and target hygienists seeking CE and networking opportunities specific to their role and licensure requirements. The IDHA is a relevant resource for hygienists planning their 2026 CE calendar independently from the major state dental society meetings.

5. UIC College of Dentistry Continuing Education

When: Ongoing throughout 2026; specific course schedule published on the UIC CE courses page

Where: University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois

Who it's for: Dentists, dental hygienists, and dental professionals seeking accredited CE in a university setting

CE credits: Published per course on the UIC program schedule

Cost: Varies by course; listed on official UIC program pages

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The University of Illinois Chicago College of Dentistry offers continuing education courses and events for dental professionals through its CE program. The UIC College of Dentistry also maintains an events calendar listing academic and professional events, including community programs held at the college. UIC's CE programming provides a structured, accredited alternative to conference-based learning, particularly useful for Chicago-area practitioners filling specific clinical credit requirements between major meetings.

6. Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine: CE and Events

When: Ongoing; specific course schedule published at SIUE Dental CE

Where: Alton, Illinois campus (Southern Illinois University Edwardsville)

Who it's for: Dentists and dental professionals, particularly those in the southern Illinois region

CE credits: Accredited CE programs offered; credit details listed per course

Cost: Published per course on SIUE program pages

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Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine offers continuing education programs for dentists and dental professionals, including courses and conferences held at its Alton, Illinois campus. SIUE also provides a news and events calendar covering academic, continuing education, and community dental activities associated with the school. For practitioners in central and southern Illinois, SIUE's CE program is a practical option that reduces travel compared with attending major Chicago-based conferences.

7. ADA SmileCon: National Context for Illinois Practitioners

When: Annual; 2026 dates and location listed on the ADA SmileCon page

Where: Varies annually; Chicago has hosted prior editions

Who it's for: Dentists, dental hygienists, and dental professionals nationwide

CE credits: Multiple CE hours available across clinical and practice management tracks

Cost: Published on the ADA meetings page; member and non-member rates apply

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The American Dental Association hosts SmileCon annually, offering CE, exhibits, and networking for dental professionals. The ADA Health Policy Institute reported that national dental care expenditures reached $189 billion in 2024, up 3.6% in real terms from 2023. This growth reflects the scale of the profession these national meetings serve. Illinois practitioners who attend Chicago-based state events often coordinate SmileCon attendance in years when travel logistics align. They use the ADA's national platform for CE categories not covered by local programming.

8. ISDS Foundation Mission of Mercy

When: Held periodically; the organizer's Mission of Mercy page lists event information

Where: Varies by edition; Peoria Civic Center has been used in prior years

Who it's for: Dental volunteers providing free care; open to dentists, hygienists, and dental assistants willing to volunteer

CE credits: Not a CE-credit event; structured as a community service event

Cost: Free to volunteer participants; the event provides free dental treatment to patients

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The ISDS Foundation Mission of Mercy is a large-scale community dental care event organized by the Illinois State Dental Society Foundation, providing free dental treatment to underserved populations over two days. The event is not a continuing education conference, but it is a significant professional gathering for Illinois dental professionals active in community service and organized dentistry. Practitioners seeking to contribute to dental access initiatives in Illinois should check the ISDS Foundation page for upcoming editions, as scheduling varies by year.

How Do I Choose the Right Illinois Dental Event?

The right event depends on your role, CE requirements, and whether you are prioritizing clinical education, practice management, community service, or professional networking.

Which Events Suit General Dentists Pursuing CE Credits?

The CDS Midwinter Meeting provides the widest range of accredited CE topics across a three-day program in Chicago. The ISDS Annual Session offers a fall option with CE courses alongside organized dentistry business.

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For practitioners needing specific clinical credits, the UIC College of Dentistry and SIUE dental programs offer accredited courses throughout the year without conference registration costs. Illinois AGD members should monitor the ILAGD course calendar for AGD-credit courses aligned with Fellowship and Mastership requirements.

Which Events Are Best for Dental Hygienists?

The Illinois Dental Hygienists Association maintains a dedicated event calendar for hygienists in the state. The CDS Midwinter Meeting also serves hygienists with dedicated programming. Hygienists prioritizing clinical CE should cross-reference IDHA's local events with the UIC CE schedule to build a full-year credit plan.

Which Events Suit Practice Managers and DSO Leaders?

The CDS Midwinter Meeting combines scientific programming with an exhibit hall where practice management technology vendors exhibit directly, giving practice managers and DSO leaders direct access to operations and technology solutions. The ISDS Annual Session's House of Delegates component is relevant for practice owners active in organized dentistry governance. DSO leaders planning multi-location workforce development should also review the ISDS events page for any specialty or leadership programming published throughout the year.

Which Events Work for Practitioners Balancing Budget and Travel?

University-based CE through UIC and SIUE offers accredited programming without the hotel and registration costs associated with major conferences. For Illinois practitioners outside Chicago, SIUE's Alton campus reduces travel for those in the central and southern regions. The Illinois AGD calendar lists seminars that are typically lower in cost than national conference registrations.

How Can I Track Illinois Dental Events Throughout the Year?

Dental professionals should monitor several sources in parallel rather than relying on a single calendar to get a complete picture of Illinois dental events in 2026.

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For state society events, the Illinois State Dental Society events page is the primary authoritative source, covering the Annual Session and additional CE or society programming. The Chicago Dental Society publishes Midwinter Meeting registration and program details on its own site. Dental Tribune maintains an independent listing for the CDS Midwinter Meeting 2026. For hygiene-specific events, the IDHA local events page is updated with upcoming programs.

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University-based CE schedules at UIC and SIUE are published directly on their respective dental school websites. For national events with Illinois relevance, the AGD national meeting page and the ADA SmileCon page provide forward-looking dates and location announcements.

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Checking these sources quarterly ensures practitioners do not miss early-bird registration windows or late-added programming.

Final Verdict

For Illinois dental professionals building their 2026 CE calendar, the events in this list span the full range from large national-scale conferences to university-based courses and role-specific hygiene programming. Managing registrations, coordinating staff schedules, and keeping the practice running while your team attends conferences are real operational challenges. These compound across multiple events in a single year.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the major dental conferences in Illinois in 2026?

The two largest dental events in Illinois in 2026 are the CDS Midwinter Meeting (February 19–21, Chicago) and the Illinois State Dental Society Annual Session (dates to be announced). Both offer CE credits, exhibits, and networking for dentists and dental professionals statewide.

When and where is the CDS Midwinter Meeting 2026?

The CDS Midwinter Meeting 2026 is scheduled for February 19–21, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. It is organized by the Chicago Dental Society and listed globally as the 161st edition of the meeting.

Is the CDS Midwinter Meeting a national or regional dental conference?

Dental Tribune describes the CDS Midwinter Meeting as one of the largest dental meetings in the United States, which places it in the national category despite being organized by a city-based dental society. It draws attendees from across the country and internationally, alongside Chicago-area practitioners.

What continuing education opportunities are available at Illinois dental conferences?

Illinois dental events in 2026 span clinical technique courses, practice management sessions, technology showcases, and specialty tracks. The CDS Midwinter Meeting offers the broadest CE program in the state in a single event. University-based CE through UIC and SIUE provides accredited credits on a rolling basis throughout the year. The ILAGD course calendar lists AGD-specific credit courses for general dentists.

How can Illinois dentists find official listings of dental events?

The most reliable sources are the ISDS events page, the CDS Midwinter Meeting page, the UIC CE courses page, the SIUE Dental CE page, the IDHA local events page, and the ILAGD course calendar. These organizer-direct sources publish verified dates and registration information.

What topics are typically covered at Illinois dental meetings and conferences?

Illinois dental events cover clinical dentistry (restorative, periodontics, oral surgery, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry), practice management, dental technology, infection control, and patient communication. The CDS Midwinter Meeting's exhibit hall adds a technology showcase component where dental suppliers present current products directly to attendees.

Are there dental meetings in Chicago specifically in early 2026?

Yes. The CDS Midwinter Meeting takes place February 19–21, 2026 in Chicago, making it the primary early-year dental event in Illinois. UIC College of Dentistry in Chicago also offers continuing education programming throughout the year, including the first quarter.

Do Illinois dental conferences offer CE credits that count toward license renewal?

Yes. Major Illinois dental events, including the CDS Midwinter Meeting, ISDS Annual Session, and university-based programs at UIC and SIUE, offer accredited CE credits. Illinois dentists and hygienists should verify that specific courses meet Illinois IDFPR licensure renewal requirements by checking organizer course listings before registering.