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.
See the AI dental receptionist 100+ practices use to never miss a call
TensorLinks answers every patient call 24/7, books directly into Dentrix, EagleSoft, Open Dental, Curve and Denticon, verifies insurance, and handles recall campaigns — replacing both your traditional dental answering service and your after-hours voicemail. From $399/mo.
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