AO 2026
By Buzzbox Media · Last reviewed August 3, 2026
What is AO?
The most implant-focused meeting in the US, every attendee is either placing or restoring implants. Higher international attendance (25%+) than most US dental meetings gives global exposure. The academic/research orientation means early adopters and KOLs are in the audience.
What are the key facts about AO?
- Host organization: Academy of Osseointegration
- Primary specialty: dental implants
- Scale: mid
- Geography: US National + International
- International attendance: ~25%
- See all Dental conferences
Which device categories fit AO?
Which buyer stages does AO fit?
What does AO charge for booth space?
AO publishes an exhibitor prospectus, and the figure below is an estimate read from it rather than a quote. View the prospectus ↗
What does an all-in 10×10 inline booth cost?
| Estimated all-in total | $5,000-$10,000 |
Buzzbox Media estimate covering space rental plus standard show services. Not a quote and not the organizer's number. Does not include travel, staffing, booth display, or marketing materials. Confirm current pricing with the organizer.
Planning the AO booth itself? Read our guide to medical conference booth design for booth types, union labor rules, and the corner upgrade.
Who attends AO?
The world's leading dental implant organization, founded 1985. AO Annual Meeting is the premier international educational conference for dental implant clinicians, researchers, and auxiliary professions. 2025 expected 1,500+ attendees. Historical peak attendance varies by year. Strong international representation (45+ countries). Heavy focus on implant clinical education and research.
- Purchasing authority: ~55% of attendees
- Effective buyers: ~1,375
- Cost per effective buyer: $5.45 ($7,500 all-in ÷ 1,375 buyers)
- International attendance: ~25%
Where is AO held?
- Venue: Washington, DC (Walter E. Washington Convention Center)
- Management company: AO (in-house)
Who else exhibits at AO?
Exhibitor data coming soon for AO.
Is AO worth exhibiting?
Why Exhibit
The most implant-focused meeting in the US, every attendee is either placing or restoring implants. Higher international attendance (25%+) than most US dental meetings gives global exposure. The academic/research orientation means early adopters and KOLs are in the audience.
Why Skip
Smaller than the other dental implant meetings (AAID is larger, CDS/GNYDM have more implant exhibitors by volume). If you need high foot traffic to justify exhibit costs, the 1,500-2,500 attendance range may not be enough.
What should exhibitors know before AO?
Prospectus PDF exists but is image-based (not text-searchable). Washington DC venue keeps costs moderate. Same convention center as ACS Clinical Congress, potential scheduling adjacency for multi-show strategy.
What is the Buzzbox Score for AO?
7.4 / 10 (Strong)
7.4 out of 10. A solid, dependable show for the right exhibitor. Carried by data transparency (8.5: booth pricing published and exhibitor prospectus available). The lightest dimension is growth trajectory (7.0, mid-size with room to grow). The most implant-focused meeting in the US, every attendee is either placing or restoring implants.
How we score
Six weighted factors, each scored on a 0 to 100 rubric then normalized to a 7.0 to 10.0 band. Every show on this list cleared a relevance bar to be included, so 7.0 is the floor; the number tells you how far the leaders pull ahead.
Strong (8.2): 55% purchasing authority.
Strong (8.4): $40/sqft, right at the dataset median and cost per qualified buyer runs ~$5.5.
Strong (8.5): booth pricing published, exhibitor prospectus available, and exhibitor count disclosed.
Solid (7.7): society-run exhibits (in-house), non-union venue (simpler, cheaper move-in), and purpose-built convention venue.
Solid (7.2): honest "who should skip" guidance, ~100 exhibitors to scout, and broad device-category relevance.
Solid (7.0): mid-size with room to grow and some uncertainty around the event.
When are the AO exhibitor deadlines?
Detailed deadlines not yet published for AO. Check the official site for the application window.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a booth cost at AO?
AO publishes an exhibitor prospectus, and read from it an all-in 10×10 booth works out to roughly $5,000-$10,000, covering space rental plus standard show services. Travel, staffing, and booth display are additional. This is an estimate read from a published prospectus, not a quote, so confirm current pricing with the organizer.
How many people attend AO?
AO draws approximately 2,500 attendees. The world's leading dental implant organization, founded 1985. AO Annual Meeting is the premier international educational conference for dental implant clinicians, researchers, and auxiliary professions. 2025 expected 1,500+ attendees. Historical peak attendance varies by year. Strong international representation (45+ countries). Heavy focus on implant clinical education and research.
When and where is AO 2026?
AO 2026 takes place March 5-7, 2026. The venue is Washington, DC (Walter E. Washington Convention Center). Academy of Osseointegration hosts the meeting.
How many AO attendees have purchasing authority?
About 55% of AO attendees hold purchasing authority, which works out to roughly 1,375 effective buyers out of approximately 2,500 attendees. Effective buyers multiplies total attendance by the share of attendees who hold purchasing authority. Both inputs are estimates drawn from organizer reporting and our own exhibitor research, so read the figure as directional rather than exact.
How does Buzzbox Media score AO?
AO carries a Buzzbox Score of 7.4 out of 10 (Strong). The score weighs six factors: audience quality, cost efficiency, data transparency, exhibitor experience, editorial value, and growth trajectory. Each factor is scored on a 0 to 100 rubric then normalized to a 7.0 to 10.0 band, and every conference in our index cleared a relevance bar to be listed, so 7.0 is the floor. On this record the highest is data transparency at 8.5 and the lowest is growth trajectory at 7.0.