Bay Area Dental Expo 2026: Silicon Valley's Dental Innovation Event

The Bay Area Dental Expo returns to the Santa Clara Convention Center on August 21-22, 2026 for its third year — a first-of-its-kind dental conference set in the heart of Silicon Valley and built around the technology, innovation, research, and ideas shaping the future of dentistry. Produced by the Santa Clara County Dental Society in partnership with the California Dental Association and a coalition of Bay Area dental societies, the Expo pairs forward-looking main-stage education with a hands-on exhibit hall, all just minutes from the companies driving AI and digital health. With the event still ahead this summer, now is the time to register and plan your front-desk coverage.

Bay Area Dental Expo 2026 At a Glance

Dates	August 21-22, 2026 (Friday-Saturday)
Location	Santa Clara Convention Center, Santa Clara, CA
CE Credits	Up to 11 CE units for attending every main-stage presentation across both days (issued by SCCDS)
Exhibitors	100+ companies in the exhibit hall
Registration	Register on RegFox — from $25 (students) to $259 (non-members)
Website	bayareadentalexpo.com
Organized by	Santa Clara County Dental Society, with the California Dental Association and a coalition of Bay Area dental societies

What Makes the Bay Area Dental Expo Unique

Most dental meetings are organized around clinical specialties or a state association's calendar. The Bay Area Dental Expo is organized around a different idea: the future of the profession. Now in its third year, it is described by its organizers as a first-of-its-kind conference in Silicon Valley focused squarely on technology, innovation, and the ideas that will reshape how dentistry is practiced. That focus is not accidental — the Santa Clara Convention Center sits in the same few square miles as many of the companies building AI diagnostics, 3D-printing platforms, and digital health tools, and the Expo deliberately puts dentists in the room with that ecosystem.

The format reflects that. Rather than dozens of parallel lecture tracks, the Expo runs a tightly curated Main Stage and a dedicated Teams Stage, so the program feels like a focused two-day briefing on where dentistry is heading rather than an overwhelming course catalog. The 2026 Main Stage lineup includes Glidewell CEO Stephenie Goddard, oral radiology expert Setareh Lavasani, periodontist Philip Kang, biomimetic and cosmetic clinician Bianca Clark, AI and oral surgery speaker Balazs Feher, 3D-printing company CEO Mike Yang, and geriatric house-call dentist Joy Poskozim. The Teams Stage features practice-management voices such as Lois Banta, Cheryl Calmis, Amanda Hill, Lisa Byers, Melissa Turner, and Len Tau — recognizing that adopting new technology is as much a team-and-workflow challenge as a clinical one.

Education & CE Credits

Attendees can earn up to 11 CE units by attending every Main Stage presentation across both days, with continuing education credit issued by the Santa Clara County Dental Society. Both dentists and dental team members are eligible to earn credit, and the Teams Stage is built specifically so front-office and clinical-support staff have programming aimed at their roles. Expected themes for the 2026 program include:

• Artificial intelligence in the practice — AI-assisted diagnostics, imaging interpretation, and the role of automation across the patient journey
• 3D printing and digital manufacturing — in-office and lab workflows for printed restorations, appliances, and models
• Digital imaging and CBCT — modern radiology workflows and how to apply them clinically
• Practice operations and team adoption — Teams Stage sessions on management, communication, and putting new technology to work without burning out staff

Because CE requirements vary by state, attendees should confirm exact credit reporting rules with the California dental board (or their own licensing body) and keep documentation issued at the Expo.

Exhibit Hall

The Bay Area Dental Expo exhibit hall features 100-plus companies and is built for hands-on exploration rather than passive browsing. Because the event sits in Silicon Valley and is explicitly technology-focused, the floor leans toward digital dentistry: 3D printers, AI diagnostic and imaging platforms, CBCT and digital radiography, intraoral scanners, practice-management and patient-communication software, and front-office automation tools. For a practice evaluating where to invest, the exhibit hall is one of the most efficient ways to compare multiple AI and digital solutions side by side and talk directly with the people building them. Networking breakfasts and a happy hour give attendees additional informal time with exhibitors and peers.

Practical Details

• Venue: Santa Clara Convention Center, 5001 Great America Pkwy, Santa Clara, CA 95054
• Parking: Parking at the Santa Clara Convention Center is free for Expo attendees
• Hotels: The Hyatt Regency Santa Clara — adjacent to the convention center — is the official hotel of the Bay Area Dental Expo; a booking link is provided on the Expo website
• Transit & airports: Santa Clara is served by Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC), a short drive away; San Francisco (SFO) and Oakland (OAK) are also within reach
• Seating: Main Stage seating is roughly 650 and the Teams Stage about 150, both first-come, first-served and non-reservable — arrive early for popular sessions

How to Plan Your Two Days

The Expo's tight two-day format rewards a little planning. Because Main Stage seating is first-come (about 650 seats), arrive early for the sessions you most want — particularly the AI and 3D-printing talks, which draw the biggest crowds. Use the gaps between Main Stage presentations to walk the exhibit hall while it is quieter; the networking breakfasts and happy hour are better for unhurried vendor conversations than mid-session rushes. If you are bringing team members, split coverage — send office managers to the Teams Stage while the dentist tracks clinical sessions, then compare notes afterward. And because earning the full 11 CE units requires attending every Main Stage presentation across both days, build your schedule around that if CE is your primary goal.

Who Should Attend

The Bay Area Dental Expo is ideal for dentists and practice owners who want a clear-eyed look at where the profession is heading and which technologies are worth adopting. It is equally valuable for the dental team: with a dedicated Teams Stage and team-priced registration as low as $39-$59 with the coalition discount, hygienists, assistants, and office managers can attend alongside the dentist and return aligned on the same tools. Dental tech entrepreneurs and innovators will also find it a natural gathering point. Anyone responsible for evaluating AI, 3D printing, or front-office software will get outsized value from two focused days.

While You're at the Bay Area Dental Expo, Who's Answering Your Phones?

Two days at the convention center means two days your front desk is short-staffed — and your patients do not stop calling because you are learning about the future of dentistry. Dental practices miss 30-38% of inbound calls on a normal business day, and during a conference that miss rate climbs higher as the people who would normally answer are walking the exhibit hall or sitting on the Main Stage floor. Every missed call is a potential new patient, a hygiene reschedule, or an emergency that quietly routes to a competitor.

It is a fitting problem to solve at a Silicon Valley innovation event. An AI receptionist answers every call 24/7, books appointments directly into your practice management system (Dentrix, EagleSoft, OpenDental), answers common patient questions, and texts you a summary of each call. While you are exploring AI on the exhibit floor, you can have AI already working at your own front desk — so you come back to a fuller schedule, not a voicemail backlog.

Frequently Asked Questions

When and where is the Bay Area Dental Expo 2026?

The Bay Area Dental Expo 2026 takes place August 21-22, 2026 (Friday and Saturday) at the Santa Clara Convention Center, 5001 Great America Pkwy, Santa Clara, CA. It is the third edition of the event. Full details and registration are at bayareadentalexpo.com.

How much does Bay Area Dental Expo registration cost?

Pricing varies by attendee type. ADA/CDA members pay around $139 (as low as $59 with a coalition discount), team members around $59 (as low as $39 with the coalition discount), non-members $259, and students $25. Register through the official RegFox page and confirm current pricing there.

How many CE credits can I earn at the Bay Area Dental Expo?

You can earn up to 11 CE units by attending every Main Stage presentation across both days, with credit issued by the Santa Clara County Dental Society. Both dentists and dental team members are eligible. CE requirements differ by state, so verify reporting rules with your licensing board.

Is the Bay Area Dental Expo worth it for dental teams and office managers?

Yes. The Expo runs a dedicated Teams Stage with practice-management speakers, offers discounted team registration, and focuses heavily on technology that office managers help evaluate and implement — AI tools, scheduling and communication software, and front-office automation. For practices weighing an AI receptionist or other front-desk technology, sending the dentist and key team members together is an efficient way to see options in one place and return aligned.