Indianapolis high schoolers explore dental careers at Discovering Dentistry Symposium

ADA hosts immersive event during Scientific Session

More than 50 high schoolers gathered Oct. 10 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, ready to explore the careers that could await them in dentistry.

Hosted by the American Dental Association during the ADA 2026 Scientific Session, the Discovering Dentistry Symposium provided a one-day immersive experience for students to learn more about career paths in dentistry, dental hygiene and dental assisting. Earlier this year, the ADA Council on Dental Practice had approved hosting a workforce recruitment event geared toward high school students and their parents.

During the symposium, the high schoolers — some of whom were members of HOSA, a student-led organization that helps prepare students to become future health professionals — rotated through hands-on learning modules developed by Planet Smilez, a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding access to oral health education and creating early pathways to dental careers.

The modules involved addressing dental trauma, applying resin restorations, and learning about hygiene and prevention. Dental and dental hygiene student volunteers from the Indiana University School of Dentistry assisted the high schoolers at each module.

Students also scanned a QR code on their personal devices to access interactive 3D simulations from Immersify on types of teeth, tooth numbering, and oral and maxillofacial anatomy. The ADA and Immersify, an artificial intelligence-powered learning technology company, launched an online course for dental assistants this summer that uses interactive simulations and branching scenarios to reflect real decisions new assistants face on the job.

During the symposium, participants received white coats and heard from ADA and Planet Smilez leaders about their own dental paths, as well as prerequisites for dental school, shadowing and extracurricular considerations, dental specialties, community water fluoridation, oral hygiene recommendations and oral-systemic connections.

“Many of you come from different ways to get here, but dentistry is an incredible profession. I obviously love this profession deeply,” then-ADA President Richard Rosato, D.M.D., told the students. “I’ve dedicated my life to try to shape it and be a part of leading it, and I just want to make sure I share that with you: Catch that vision, catch that love to go out there and serve your community and serve people.”

Jennifer Thompson, D.D.S., then-chair of the ADA Council on Dental Practice, shared how she practices alongside her mom in a small town in New Mexico and teaches dental hygiene students at a local community college.

“One of the best things I love about dentistry is not just being able to see patients, changing their lives, like Dr. Rosato talked about, but we have really wonderful friends in dentistry,” Dr. Thompson said. “Not only do I get to practice with my mom, but I’m able to have friends within my practice, my dental team — like Dr. Rosato also talked about — and then also friends in my community.”

Hana Alberti, D.D.S., vice president of dental practice for the ADA Practice Institute, asked the students if any of them wanted to share why they were interested in becoming dentists. Sanjit Kuncham, 17, raised his hand.

“I like working with people, and one day I’d like to own my own practice too because I like the business part of it,” said Mr. Kuncham, a senior at Plainfield High School in Plainfield, Indiana.

The high schooler is no stranger to the dental profession. He has already shadowed dentists at two different practices, with plans to shadow one of them again next semester. He also attended another Planet Smilez event last spring.

Mr. Kuncham said he is drawn to dentistry because of the opportunity to lead a dental team, enjoy a healthy work-life balance and spend his days doing hands-on tasks instead of sitting in a cubicle. To his peers who may be considering dental careers, he recommended they see for themselves whether dentistry is the right path for them.

“Shadow dentists, make sure it’s what you want to do, because I feel like you really have to see in person rather than just believe in someone’s word,” he said. “If you go in person, see what they’re doing, if you really like it. If you’re an extrovert, like talking to people and making your own schedules, I feel like it’s a good field to go into.”

For the parents who attended the symposium, Academic Clinical Engaged Solutions, or ACES, a consulting firm that helps dental schools develop community-based clinical education programs, led a session on supporting their children as they pursue oral health careers.

The ADA also took students on a tour of the Scientific Session exhibit hall and provided a networking lunch with Indiana Dental Association volunteers and Indiana University School of Dentistry students.

Colgate, Crest + Oral-B, Glidewell and the ADA Store contributed items to gift bags the participants received upon completion of the event.

Attendees were also invited by Planet Smilez, which is sponsored by the Delta Dental Foundation, to participate in a six-session virtual mentorship program after the symposium to further explore dental career pathways and receive resume and shadowing guidance.