Planning CE attendance, coordinating team schedules, and keeping the practice running during conference season is one of the more demanding logistics challenges dental practices face each year. This guide covers six verified dental conferences and professional meetings in Texas for 2026, spanning three major metro areas and drawing dentists, hygienists, practice managers, and DSO leaders. The calendar runs from late February through September, with the heaviest concentration of dental conferences in Texas falling between May and September. Events range from the statewide TDA Meeting in San Antonio to regionally focused gatherings in Dallas, Houston, Austin, and El Paso. Every entry below has been verified against an official organizer page or a confirmed event listing.

Key Takeaways

• The 2026 TDA Meeting runs May 7–9 in San Antonio and is the state association's flagship annual conference, with TDA members able to attend free through the early-bird period.
• The Southwest Dental Conference is scheduled for August 21–22 in Dallas at the Hilton Anatole, drawing dentists, hygienists, assistants, front office staff, lab technicians, students, and guests.
• The 84th Texas Dental Hygienists' Association Conference takes place February 26 – March 1 in San Marcos, the earliest confirmed event of the year.
• The El Paso Dental Conference (64th Annual) is confirmed for September 24–25, offering up to 12 CE hours over two days.
• Most Texas dental conferences offer continuing education credits; the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners requires 24 CE hours every two years, with at least 16 in live or live-interactive format.
• Preregistering online saves time and, in the case of the Southwest Dental Conference, saves money compared to on-site registration.

2026 Texas Dental Conference Calendar at a Glance

Dates reflect confirmed 2026 editions. Always verify with the organizer before booking travel.

1. 84th Texas Dental Hygienists' Association Annual Conference

When: February 26 – March 1, 2026 (5:00 PM Thursday through 12:00 PM Sunday)

Where: Embassy Suites and Conference Center, 1001 E McCarty Ln, San Marcos, TX 78666

Who it's for: Dental hygienists and dental hygiene students; dental team members welcome.

CE credits: Published, CE credit hours available; confirm specific count with TDHA.

Cost: Early-bird registration opened October 1, 2025 and ran through December 20, 2025. Standard registration is available via the event detail page.

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The Texas Dental Hygienists' Association holds this gathering annually, and the 2026 edition marks its 84th conference. Centered on clinical education, professional development, and peer networking for hygienists across Texas, the event is held in San Marcos, a central location accessible from Austin and San Antonio. The 2026 conference theme is "Rooted in Culture, Rising in Community." The event includes CE programming relevant to hygiene licensure renewal requirements.

2. TDA Meeting 2026

When: May 7–9, 2026, exhibit hall open May 7–8; education programs May 7–9; House of Delegates May 8–9

Where: Henry B. González Convention Center, 900 E Market St, San Antonio, TX 78205

Who it's for: Dentists and full dental team members, doctors, hygienists, assistants, and front office staff, per the TDA meeting site.

CE credits: CE hours are designated per session. The TDA Meeting continuing education program spans clinical and practice management topics across the full three-day schedule.

Cost: Registration opened January 7, 2026. Early-bird rates ran January 7 through February 18; standard rates applied February 19 through March 31; full-price registration ran April 1 through May 10. TDA members and their dental team could register free through February 18, 2026.

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The TDA Meeting is the official annual conference of the Texas Dental Association and one of the largest dental conferences in Texas. The Henry B. González Convention Center sits along the San Antonio River Walk at 900 East Market Street.

Approximately 8 miles from San Antonio International Airport, the venue features four exhibit halls, multiple ballrooms, and dozens of breakout rooms. The 2026 event runs a full exhibit hall featuring hundreds of booths from dental manufacturers, labs, technology providers, and service companies.

The schedule also includes a President's Gala, networking receptions, and component society meetings alongside CE courses. TDA is a constituent society of the American Dental Association, and the annual meeting reflects that scope.

3. Southwest Dental Conference 2026

When: August 21–22, 2026

Where: Hilton Anatole Dallas, 2201 North Stemmons Freeway, Dallas, TX 75207

Who it's for: Dentists, hygienists, assistants, front office staff, lab technicians, students, and guests, all dental team roles are represented among registered attendee categories.

CE credits: CE hours available across clinical programs; confirm session-specific credits in the registration brochure.

Cost: 2026 registration is open. Pre-registering online is recommended to save time and secure lower rates compared to on-site registration.

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Organized by the Dallas County Dental Society, the Southwest Dental Conference is a two-day meeting that combines continuing education with a comprehensive exhibit hall at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas. The Infodent International calendar confirms the August 21–22 dates. The Hilton Anatole serves as the host venue. Attendee categories span the full dental team, making it relevant for practice-wide professional development planning. The Dallas County Dental Society maintains a dedicated conference website at swdentalconf.org, and registration can be completed online or by mail using the form in the registration brochure.

4. Lone Star Dental Conference 2026

When: September 18–19, 2026

Where: Renaissance Austin Hotel, 9721 Arboretum Blvd, Austin, TX 78759

Who it's for: General dentists; the event is organized by general dentists for general dentists, per the Texas Academy of General Dentistry.

CE credits: AGD-approved CE credits are available and can be applied toward Fellowship (FAGD) and Mastership (MAGD) requirements.

Cost: Not publicly listed at time of publication; check with the Texas AGD directly.

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The Lone Star Dental Conference is organized by the Texas Academy of General Dentistry as a continuing education meeting focused on general dentistry. The event returned to the Renaissance Austin Hotel in September 2025 and is listed for September 18–19, 2026 at the same venue. It includes clinical sessions and networking. This event receives less national coverage than the Southwest Dental Conference or TDA Meeting, but it provides Austin-area practitioners and AGD members with a local CE option directly tied to fellowship and mastership credit pathways.

5. El Paso Dental Conference 2026 (64th Annual)

When: September 24–25, 2026

Where: Starlight Event Center, El Paso, TX

Who it's for: Dental professionals from Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico, a cross-border regional audience.

CE credits: Up to 12 CE hours over the two-day program.

Cost: Registration is handled via an external portal; contact the organizer for 2026 pricing. Past editions used prereg.net with phone support at (915) 540-1705.

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The Starlight Event Center is located on the east side of El Paso with access to local hotels and major highways. The conference is confirmed for September 24–25, 2026, with future dates already planned: the 65th Annual Meeting is set for September 23–24, 2027. The published CE offering of up to 12 hours makes this event a viable option for practitioners in far west Texas looking to meet their biennial CE requirements close to home.

6. Star of the South Dental Meeting

When: 2026 dates not yet announced, check starofthesouth.org for updates.

Where: Norris Conference Centers – Houston CityCentre, 816 Town & Country Blvd, Houston, TX

Who it's for: Dentists, hygienists, and assistants across the Houston region and beyond.

CE credits: One all-inclusive registration fee covers 9 hours of CE, per the event's own site.

Cost: An all-inclusive fee structure is listed on the official site; 2026 pricing not yet published.

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The Star of the South Dental Meeting is organized by the Greater Houston Dental Society and includes lectures, hands-on workshops, and an exhibit hall featuring dental manufacturers and suppliers. The 2026 edition dates have not been announced as of this publication; practitioners should monitor the official event page for registration to open. The Norris Conference Centers location at Houston CityCentre places the event in a mixed-use district with hotel options nearby. Previous editions were also held at the Marriott Marquis Houston (1777 Walker St, Houston, TX).

What Are the CE Requirements for Texas Dental License Renewal?

Texas dental licensing renewal requires 24 hours of CE every two years, with at least 16 of those hours in in-person or live-interactive format; up to 8 hours may be self-study or online without live interaction.

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The Texas State Board of Dental Examiners defines acceptable CE as courses directly related to clinical care and professional responsibilities. Qualifying courses include those from national, state, and local dental associations, dental schools, and approved providers.

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The American Dental Association's Continuing Education Recognition Program (CERP) evaluates and recognizes CE providers against national standards, and most Texas dental conferences work with CERP-recognized organizers. Per the ADA, one hour of instruction equals one CE credit; a multi-day conference can offer anywhere from up to 12 to 20 CE hours depending on the number of sessions attended. UTHealth School of Dentistry notes that full-day courses commonly run six to eight CE hours, with multi-day conferences summing to the total advertised.

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Hygienists have additional incentive to attend structured CE events that support both clinical competency and workforce retention.

How Do I Choose a Dental Conference in Texas?

Which Conferences Suit Dentists Focused on CE Hours?

The TDA Meeting (May, San Antonio) runs a multi-day CE program spanning clinical and practice management topics with numerous concurrent session choices. The El Paso Dental Conference provides a published ceiling of 12 hours across two days.

Which Conferences Suit Hygienists?

The 84th TDHA Annual Conference (February, San Marcos) is organized by and for dental hygienists and includes CE programming relevant to hygiene licensure renewal. The Star of the South Dental Meeting in Houston includes hygienist-relevant programming alongside content for dentists and assistants, and also offers CE relevant to licensure renewal.

Which Conferences Suit DSO Leaders and Practice Managers?

The TDA Meeting and the Southwest Dental Conference each feature large exhibit halls with hundreds of vendors, labs, and technology providers. Both events also program sessions covering practice operations alongside clinical CE tracks.

Which Conference Suits General Dentists Pursuing FAGD or MAGD?

The Lone Star Dental Conference explicitly structures its CE credits to be applicable toward AGD Fellowship (FAGD) and Mastership (MAGD) requirements. The event is held in Austin at the Renaissance Austin Hotel in September.

Which Conference Suits Regional Attendees Near El Paso or the Texas-New Mexico Border?

The El Paso Dental Conference draws dental professionals from Texas, New Mexico, and across the Mexico border. Now in its 64th edition in 2026, the event offers up to 12 CE hours over two days at the Starlight Event Center in El Paso.

How Do I Register for a Texas Dental Conference?

Early registration consistently reduces cost and eliminates on-site registration lines. The TDA Meeting had three registration tiers with distinct pricing: early-bird (January 7 – February 18), standard (February 19 – March 31), and full-price (April 1 – May 10). The Southwest Dental Conference explicitly states that pre-registering online saves both time and money compared to registering at the door.

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The TDHA Annual Conference offered early-bird pricing from October through December 2025, nearly three months before the event date. Practices planning conference attendance for multiple team members benefit from booking hotel blocks and registration simultaneously, since conference hotels can fill quickly for multi-day events, particularly at venues like the Henry B. González Convention Center, which hosts hundreds of events annually.

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For the El Paso Dental Conference, registration is handled through an external portal (prereg.net) and phone support is available at (915) 540-1705 for registration assistance.

What Happens to Your Practice When Your Team Is at a Conference?

Dental conference season pulls key team members out of the office, and 30% of dental calls go unanswered even under normal operating conditions. For Texas practices sending staff to San Antonio, Dallas, or El Paso, that gap widens.

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Book a Demo to see how Resonate keeps your schedule full while your team is at a conference.

FAQ: Dental Conferences in Texas

What dental conferences are in Texas in 2026?

Texas has six verified dental conferences and meetings in 2026: the 84th TDHA Annual Conference (San Marcos, February), the TDA Meeting (San Antonio, May), the Southwest Dental Conference (Dallas, August), the Lone Star Dental Conference (Austin, September), the El Paso Dental Conference 64th Annual (El Paso, September), and the Star of the South Dental Meeting (Houston, date TBA).

When is the Southwest Dental Conference in 2026?

The 2026 Southwest Dental Conference is scheduled for August 21–22, 2026 at the Hilton Anatole Dallas, 2201 North Stemmons Freeway, Dallas, TX 75207.

Where is the 2026 TDHA Annual Conference held?

The 2026 84th Texas Dental Hygienists' Association Conference is held at the Embassy Suites and Conference Center, 1001 E McCarty Ln, San Marcos, TX 78666, running February 26 through March 1, 2026.

Which Texas dental conferences offer continuing education credits?

All six confirmed events on this list offer CE credits or have CE credit availability noted by their organizers. The El Paso Dental Conference publishes a ceiling of up to 12 CE hours over two days. The Star of the South Dental Meeting lists 9 CE hours in its all-inclusive fee. The TDA Meeting, Southwest Dental Conference, Lone Star Dental Conference, and TDHA Annual Conference all include CE programming, with specific hour totals determined by sessions attended.

How do I register for a Texas dental conference in 2026?

Each conference handles registration separately. The TDA Meeting registers via tdameeting.com; the Southwest Dental Conference via swdentalconf.org; the TDHA Annual Conference via texasdha.org; and the El Paso Dental Conference via an external portal at prereg.net. The Lone Star Dental Conference registers through the Texas AGD (tagd.org). Early registration is consistently recommended to reduce cost and avoid on-site lines.

Are there dental hygiene conferences in Texas in 2026?

Yes. The 84th TDHA Annual Conference takes place in San Marcos, February 26 – March 1. The Star of the South Dental Meeting and the TDA Meeting also include programming relevant to hygienists and accept hygienist registrations.

How many CE hours do Texas dentists need for license renewal?

The Texas State Board of Dental Examiners requires 24 CE hours every two years, with at least 16 hours in in-person or live-interactive format and up to 8 hours in self-study or asynchronous online formats. Acceptable courses include those from dental associations, dental schools, and board-approved CE providers.

What is the largest dental conference in Texas?

The TDA Meeting in San Antonio is the largest dental conference in Texas, organized by the Texas Dental Association, a constituent society of the American Dental Association. It spans three full days at the Henry B. González Convention Center, with hundreds of exhibit hall booths, multiple CE tracks, and programming for every dental team role.