SmileCon FAQ

SmileCon® is the ADA’s reimagined annual meeting, offering continuing education, networking opportunities, hundreds of exhibitors, social events and fun!

SmileCon 2025 will take place on Oct. 23–25 in Washington, D.C. at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

Registration opens June 11 at SmileCon.org.

There are three pass options to meet your needs. Packages can be viewed on the Registration page beginning on May 21.

Kick things off at the Opening Session at 8 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 23. Celebrate this year's Changemakers 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, and get your party on at the Friday Night Fest 7-9 p.m. Wrap up your SmileCon experience 1-2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25 with a college football-style Tailgate in Dental Central.

Learn more on the Meet and Play pages.

Yes, there will be alumni receptions and affiliate group meetings in conjunction with SmileCon. View alumni events and affiliate meetings on the Meet page starting June 11.

Oct. 25–28. Learn more about the House of Delegates here.

SmileCon is an in-person event and there is not a virtual attendance option.

Yes, there is a mobile app for SmileCon. The mobile app will be available to download in early October.

Food and beverage offerings vary by pass type. Breakfast will be served before the Opening Session, food and drinks will be provided at the Friday Night Fest and lite bites will be available at the Saturday Tailgate.

Registration opens at 9 a.m. CT on June 11 at SmileCon.org. Compare pass options and rates on the Registration page on May 21.

Registrations are not accepted over the phone, via fax or by mail.

No, registration materials will not be sent by mail. All badges must be picked up onsite at the Walter E.  Washington Convention Center. We recommend stopping by Registration between 1-5 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 22 to avoid long lines on Thursday morning, Oct 23.

Registration and badge pickup will be in the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Level 1, Grand Lobby.

Main registration will be available on the following dates and times:

• Wednesday, Oct. 22 – 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• Thursday, Oct. 23 – 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Friday, Oct. 24 – 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 25 – 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Yes, however we recommend pre-registering to get your first choice of continuing education and to avoid long lines onsite. A photo ID is required for all onsite registrations. If applicable, please bring your student ID.

Pre-registration is required for all CE.

Please log back into your account using the Registration ID you received in your confirmation email from ADA SmileCon Meeting Customer Service. Once you are logged back in, you can update your information, add or change courses and events and complete your registration again. You will then receive a new confirmation email showing the changes you made.

Yes, you can add additional dentists, dental team members, students and guests to your registration in the online registration system. Log back into your account and select the appropriate registration category on the dashboard.

Yes, dental staff can register and attend SmileCon without being connected to a registered dentist. When registering, please select “Dental Team” as your registration category.

Yes, we would love to have your family join you in Washington, D.C.! Once you complete your registration, you will have the option to add friends and family. Friends and family can register with a Guest Pass, which will grant access to Dental Central, Opening Session and other aspects of SmileCon. Or, you can register your friends and family for any of our social events. Friends and family are not eligible to attend continuing education. If your friends and family are also office staff members, they will need to register in the correct dental team category.

Children are also permitted in course rooms without a ticket; however, they may not register for a course or occupy a seat. Strollers are not permitted inside course rooms.

The ADA does not provide childcare. However, some official ADA hotels do offer childcare services. Please check with your booked hotel’s concierge for recommendations of these services.

SmileCon 2025 will offer a variety of CE sessions led by expert speakers covering the latest trends and techniques in dentistry. The full course listing can be viewed in Agenda Builder.

Pre-registration is required for all Presentations, Hands-On Activities and Master Classes. You can register for courses in the registration system when registration opens June 11.

Pre-registration for Presentations guarantees your seat until 5 minutes before the start time of the course. After that, available seats will be offered to walk-in attendees. Pre-registration for all paid sessions guarantees your seat for the duration of the course.

Maximize your learning with the CE All-Access Pass—a great value if you plan to attend multiple Hands-On Activities or Master Classes. For one flat fee, you’ll unlock all paid education. Must be added to a Smile Pass.

Courses are worth 1.0 CE credit hour for each clock hour, unless otherwise indicated. An additional half hour is worth half a CE credit. Please see course details in the Agenda Builder or on the SmileCon registration site. It is the attendee’s responsibility to check with their state board to determine if chosen courses will be accepted for credit.

You can switch to another course of equal or higher value at no additional processing fee if seats are available. Credit from your original course can be applied toward the new course. However, any remaining credit after the change will incur a $25 processing fee. Course changes must be completed with the removal and addition happening in a single transaction.

Children are permitted in course rooms; however, they may not register for a course or occupy a seat. Strollers are not permitted inside course rooms.

After you attend a complete course, it will appear in your account on the Verify CE website. (The site “knows” you attended because your SmileCon badge is scanned at the door.) At the end of the course, you will be able to go to Verify CE website at ADA.org/verifyCE. To log in, you will need to know your Registration ID and the email address with which you registered.

You can verify your CE for SmileCon 2025 in the CE Verification site when it goes live in October.

You can verify your CE at ADA.org/verifyCE. To log in, you will need to know your 2024 Registration ID, which you can find in your confirmation email from ADA SmileCon Meeting Customer Service, and the email address with which you registered. More information can be found on the Verify CE page.

Following is the schedule for CE Courses at SmileCon 2025 (subject to change):

• Thursday, Oct. 23 – 9:15 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Friday, Oct 24 – 9:15 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 25 – 8:30 a.m.-Noon

You can earn up to 17 CE Credits.

Yes! SmileCon attendees enjoy hotel, air and rental car discounts. Details can be found on the Travel page.

Discover why there is only one D.C. and explore restaurants, museums, family-friendly events, other fun activities and so much more.

Please view the official ADA hotels and discounts on the Travel page.

The ADA House of Delegates hotel is the Marriott Marquis, Washington, D.C.

The hotel rates listed on the map are exclusive of any taxes and fees.

You must be registered for SmileCon to make a reservation at an official ADA SmileCon hotel. The final step in the online registration process is the selection of your hotel.

Please note that reservations must be made through the SmileCon registration system to book rooms at the rates shown. These rates are not available by contacting the hotel directly.

No. To secure rooms in the ADA hotel room block, you must be registered for SmileCon.

To see a hotel block, you must enter your Group Code on the hotel search page. If you have entered your code correctly, your group block hotel should be at the top of the list.

All properties within the SmileCon hotel block are located within half a mile of the convention center. There is no shuttle service to hotels for SmileCon 2025. Please contact smilecon@ada.org if you need special assistance.

Information about the official ADA hotels can be found on the Travel page or in the registration system when registration opens June 11.

Hotel changes and cancellations must be sent to Maritz Global Events, ada@maritz.com by Oct. 3, 2025. Beginning Oct. 9, 2025, all hotel changes and cancellations must be made directly with the hotel and are subject to one night’s room and tax charge direct from the hotel.

Please consult your local U.S. consulate to determine if you need a visa. U.S. applications can take some time to process. We recommend applying as soon as possible.

Applying 4–6 months in advance for a U.S. visa is strongly recommended. To get started, please visit the U.S. State Department website.

When you register for the meeting, you can request an official Letter of Invitation through the online registration system. You can download the letter as a PDF when you complete your registration – no waiting! This invitation is intended to facilitate travel and visa arrangements but does not extend financial support. If you pay for registration but your visa request is denied, we will issue a full refund.

If you require a letter before you register, please contact smilecon@ada.org.

Any additional questions for international attendees can be addressed by ADA International Relations. Please call 312.440.2726 or email international@ada.org.

Upon careful consideration, the ADA made the difficult decision to sunset SmileCon in 2026 and beyond. This decision was made after careful deliberation by the Board of Trustees with the long-term interests of the ADA and its members at heart. Learn more at https://www.ada.org/education/smilecon/smilecon-future-meetings.

The ADA recognizes the importance of community, continuing education and connection throughout the profession. In addition, the Governance and Organizational Manual of the ADA requires that the ADA hold an annual scientific session. We are exploring new meeting possibilities and programs to keep members and their teams up to date on the latest scientific guidelines and technical innovations.

Please visit ADA.org/CE for upcoming continuing education opportunities.