The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) will hold its flagship continuing education course, The New Comprehensive Review: Advances in Pediatric Dentistry, on September 11 to 13, 2026 at the JW Marriott Atlanta Buckhead in Atlanta, Georgia. Registration is open now, and the discounted early registration rate ends August 11, 2026. The three day course carries 22 continuing education credits and is aimed at the dentists who care for children, so for parents it is a useful window into the training that keeps a pediatric practice current.
Most dental news that reaches families is about a new product, a policy fight, or a study. This one is different. It is a look at how children's dentists keep their skills sharp, and it arrives as pediatric dentistry is growing faster than any other dental specialty in the United States. The course is a professional event, not a public one, but the topics on its agenda, from cavity prevention to sedation safety to handling a knocked out tooth, are exactly the situations that bring your child to the chair.
What is the AAPD Comprehensive Review course?
It is a three day, in person continuing education course that packs the core of modern pediatric dentistry into one weekend of lectures for practicing dentists and residents. The program is organized by the AAPD, the national membership organization for pediatric dentists, and it covers caries prevention, orthodontics and the developing bite, pulp therapy for baby teeth, behavior guidance for anxious children, and the management of dental trauma. The 2026 edition is chaired by Amr M. Moursi, DDS, PhD, who chairs the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at the New York University College of Dentistry.
The course is often used by dentists preparing for board certification, which is why the AAPD offers optional Mock Oral Review Interviews during the weekend for an additional fee. A dentist who completes the review earns 22 continuing education credits, a meaningful share of what many states require a dentist to complete in a full licensing cycle.
Key facts, with sources
- Dates and place: September 11 to 13, 2026, at the JW Marriott Atlanta Buckhead, 3300 Lenox Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30326, according to the American Dental Association of Pediatric Dentistry event listing (AAPD, 2026).
- Credits: The AAPD designates the activity for 22 continuing education credits (AAPD, 2026).
- A growing field: The number of pediatric dentists in the United States rose from 4,213 in 2001 to 9,312 in 2024, the largest workforce increase of any dental specialty, according to the American Dental Association U.S. Dentist Workforce data (ADA, 2025), as reported by Becker's Dental Review (2026).
When is the 2026 course, and how much does it cost?
The course runs Friday to Sunday, September 11 to 13, 2026, and the price depends on whether a dentist is an AAPD member and whether they register before the August 11 cutoff. The table below lays out the published registration tiers so families can see how a practice invests in this kind of training. The early rates reward dentists who commit before August 11, 2026.
| Registrant type | Early rate (through August 11) | Standard rate (after August 11) |
|---|---|---|
| AAPD member dentist | 1,430 dollars | 1,630 dollars |
| Student or resident member | 715 dollars | 915 dollars |
| Non member dentist | 1,630 dollars | 1,830 dollars |
| Optional Mock Oral Review Interview | 200 dollars add on | 200 dollars add on |
Registration and full pricing are handled through the AAPD course page. Families do not attend, but the deadline is a useful reminder that fall is the season when many dentists refresh their training before a busy back to school stretch.
Why does a professional course matter for my child's care?
Continuing education is how the recommendations you hear in the dental chair stay current, because guidance on fluoride, sealants, sedation, and imaging changes over time. A course like this one is where a dentist absorbs the latest thinking on behavior guidance for a nervous toddler or the current standard for stabilizing a tooth after a playground fall. The timing is notable because demand for children's dental care is climbing. The pediatric dental workforce grew 121 percent between 2001 and 2024, outpacing every other dental specialty, and the global pediatric dental market is projected to top 48 billion dollars by 2033, according to Precedence Research figures cited by Becker's Dental Review in 2026.
Industry observers tie that growth to steady patient demand and to a generation of dentists drawn to the work with children.
"Most people in the industry know dentistry is almost fail proof," said John Bell, chief financial officer of Fireside Dental Co., in comments to Becker's Dental Review, pointing to "very steady patient volume, regardless of what's going on in the economy."
For a parent, the practical takeaway is simple. A practice that sends its clinicians to courses like the AAPD review is signaling that it wants to keep pace with a fast moving field, which is one of the quieter markers of quality when you are choosing where your family gets care.
How can parents tell if their dentist keeps up with continuing education?
Ask directly, because a good practice will happily tell you what conferences and courses its dentists attend and how those updates shape care. You can ask which recent courses the team completed, whether the practice follows current AAPD and ADA guidance on fluoride and sealants, and how they decide on sedation or imaging for a child. A board certified pediatric dentist has already met a high training bar, and ongoing courses like this one keep that knowledge fresh. Families searching for a practice can start with a verified pediatric office such as Oak Mountain Pediatric Dentistry in Birmingham, Alabama, or, near the Atlanta host city, a general family practice such as Drescher & Cohen in Midtown Atlanta, then ask about training at the first visit.
This course is separate from the association's larger annual meeting. For the general professional gathering later in the fall, see our coverage of the ADA Scientific Session in Indianapolis, October 8 to 10, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is the AAPD Comprehensive Review course open to the public?
No. It is a professional continuing education course for dentists, residents, and dental students, not a public event. Its value to families is indirect: it helps the pediatric dentists you rely on stay current on prevention, behavior guidance, and trauma care.
When and where is the 2026 course held?
It runs September 11 to 13, 2026 at the JW Marriott Atlanta Buckhead in Atlanta, Georgia, according to the AAPD. The reduced early registration rate ends August 11, 2026.
What is a pediatric dentist, and how is one different from a family dentist?
A pediatric dentist completes two to three years of additional residency training focused on infants, children, teens, and patients with special health care needs after dental school. A family or general dentist treats patients of all ages. Both can be an excellent choice for a child, and many children are well served in a family practice, especially one whose team pursues pediatric focused continuing education.
At what age should my child first see a dentist?
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends a first dental visit by the child's first birthday or within six months of the first tooth appearing, then a checkup every six months. Early, regular visits let a dentist catch small problems early and tailor prevention to your child.
Updated July 2026.
