Chicago is one of the strongest dental markets in the Midwest — home to thousands of practices, multiple DSOs, and a dental community that embraces technology and innovation. The ICD 2026 brings dental professionals together for three days of clinical education, AI and technology showcases, and cross-disciplinary collaboration in the heart of the city.
Chicago ICD 2026 At a Glance
| Dates | June 5-7, 2026 (Friday–Sunday) |
| Location | Chicago, IL |
| Region Served | Illinois, Midwest, and national attendees |
| Focus | Clinical innovation, AI in dentistry, interdisciplinary collaboration |
| CE Credits | Available across multiple tracks |
Why Chicago Matters for Dental Innovation
Chicago is already home to the CDS Midwinter Meeting — the Midwest's 20,000+ attendee flagship event. The ICD complements this by focusing specifically on dental innovation and technology, including AI-powered front desk automation, digital workflows, and practice management solutions. For dental professionals who want a deeper dive into technology without the scale of Midwinter, ICD delivers focused, high-value content.
Key Topics for 2026
- AI in dental operations — front desk automation, intelligent scheduling, patient communication
- Digital dentistry — CAD/CAM, digital impressions, 3D printing, guided surgery
- Interdisciplinary collaboration — cross-specialty treatment planning and team-based care
- Practice management innovation — staffing, efficiency, revenue cycle optimization
Practical Details
- Airport: O'Hare (ORD) or Midway (MDW)
- Transit: CTA Blue/Orange Line or rideshare
- Hotels: Downtown Chicago offers extensive hotel options at all price points
While You're at ICD, Who's Answering Your Phones?
Three days in Chicago means your front desk is short-staffed. An AI receptionist answers every call 24/7, books directly into your PMS, and keeps your schedule full — even while you're exploring AI innovations at the conference.
Attending Chicago ICD 2026?
See AI front desk automation in action before the conference — deploy it and your practice keeps booking while you learn.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between Chicago ICD and CDS Midwinter Meeting?
CDS Midwinter (February, 20,000+ attendees) is the Midwest's largest general dental meeting. Chicago ICD (June) is smaller and more focused on dental innovation, AI, and technology. Both are valuable — Midwinter for breadth, ICD for depth on emerging technology.
Is this event good for evaluating dental AI solutions?
Yes — the conference focuses on innovation and technology adoption. If you're evaluating AI receptionists, digital workflows, or practice management technology, the focused format allows deeper conversations with vendors and more hands-on demonstrations than larger general meetings.
Related Articles & Insights

TensorLinks Joins Henry Schein One API Exchange as an Authorized Integration Vendor
TensorLinks' AI FrontDesk platform now safely and securely integrates with Dentrix Ascend to help dental practices build their best platform.

AI Dental Receptionist Cost in 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown
How much does an AI dental receptionist cost in 2026? We break down pricing for every option — full-time hire, answering service, AI receptionist, and hybrid — with transparent costs, hidden fees to avoid, and ROI calculations.

Best AI Dental Receptionist Software in 2026: Complete Comparison Guide
We evaluated the top 10 AI dental receptionist platforms in 2026 — comparing channels, languages, PMS integrations, DSO support, and pricing. Here is our complete, honest comparison guide.