2026 ACP Research Symposium

2026 ACP Research Symposium

May 8 & 9 | Boston University

This event is made possible by generous donors of the ACP Education Foundation.

The 2026 ACP Research Symposium is intended to expose prosthodontic residents to high-quality, impactful research, and to the academic careers that drive advancement in prosthodontics. The symposium is intended not only to highlight scientific findings, but also to provide insight into how sustained research engagement shapes clinical practice, education, and professional leadership.

Course Objectives:

• Showcase influential prosthodontic research that has contributed meaningfully to the field and to dentistry more broadly.
• Illustrate the connection between scientific inquiry and evidence-based clinical decision making.
• Introduce residents to diverse academic career paths and demonstrate how research evolves over time.
• Emphasize the importance of mentorship, collaboration, and persistence in academic development and research. Explain current and emerging digital technologies, including 3D printing, AI, intraoral scanning, and ceramic materials. 

Registration for this course will first be open to prosthodontic program directors, and a PG-1 resident of their choice. There is a support package available for the first 25 programs that register on a first-come, first-served basis. More information on this has been emailed directly to program directors.

Registration will then open to any interested individuals! If you would like to learn more or have any questions, please contact mmixon@prosthodontics.org.

Agenda & Speakers

Sessions will kick off at 1:00 p.m. ET on Friday, May 8, and the education will run through 4:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 9, on site at Boston University. 
 

Friday, May 8

12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Registration
1:00 – 1:05 p.m. Welcome, Presented by: Drs. Kenneth Kurtz & Hesham Nouh
1:05 – 1:10 p.m. Introduction, Presented by: Drs. John Sorensen & Sang Lee
1:10 – 1:55 p.m. Implant Design Optimization Using Artificial Intelligence and Genetic Algorithms, Presented by: Jason A. Griggs, PhD, FADM
1:55 – 2:05 p.m. Q & A
2:05 – 2:50 p.m. Presentation by Thomas Hill, PhD
2:50 – 3:00 p.m. Q & A
3:00 – 3:15 p.m. Zirconia Full-Arch Implant-Supported Prostheses: A Retrospective Fracture Analysis of 506 Arches, Presented by: Virginia Hogsett Box, DMD, MS, FACP
3:15 – 3:25 p.m. Q & A
3:25 – 4:10 p.m. The Future of Ceramic Prosthodontics: Redefining Precision and Efficiency, Presented by: Yu Zhang, PhD
4:10 – 4:25 p.m. Q & A
4:25 – 4:35 p.m. Translating Science into Policy and Practice, Presented by: Christopher Fox, DMD, DMSc
4:35 – 5:00 p.m. Panel Discussion, Moderated by: Drs. John Sorensen & Sang Lee
5:00 – 6:00 p.m. Reception for all attendees and presenters
 

Saturday, May 9

7:30 – 8:00 a.m. Coffee
8:00 – 8:05 a.m. Welcome Back, Presented by: Drs. John Sorensen & Sang Lee
8:05 – 8:50 a.m. Updates on Dental Hard Tissue Regeneration, Presented by: Hai Zhang, DMD, PhD
8:50 – 9:00 a.m. Q & A
9:00 – 9:45 a.m. Modern Implantology, Presented by: Dr. Renaud Noharet
9:45 – 9:55 a.m. Q & A
9:55 – 10:10 a.m. Influence of Preparation Design and Remaining Tooth Volume on Tooth Survival Using Lithium Disilicate Restorations, Presented by: Carlos Castro, DDS, FACP
10:10 – 10:20 a.m. Q & A
10:20 – 10:30 a.m. Break
10:30 – 11:15 a.m. Artificial Intelligence in Restorative Dentistry, Presented by: Mateus G. Rocha, DDS, MSc, PhD
11:15 – 11:25 a.m. Q & A
11:25 – 11:35 a.m. Problems with Manuscript Submission, Presented by: Radi Masri, BDS, MS, PhD
11:35 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Panel Discussion featuring A.M. Presenters
12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Lunch
1:00 – 1:45 p.m. Oral Function and Cognitive Longevity: The Importance of Prosthodontics Through a Nationwide Case–Control Study, Presented by: Shigemi Nagai, DMD, PhD, MSD
1:45 – 1:55 p.m. Q & A
1:55 – 2:10 p.m. Presentation by Robert W. Berg, DMD
2:10 – 2:20 p.m. Q & A
2:20 – 2:30 p.m. Break
2:30 – 3:15 p.m. Impacts of Artificial Intelligence in Dental Practice and Research, by Dr. Sompop Bencharit
3:15 – 3:30 p.m. Q & A
3:30 – 4:00 p.m. Panel Discussion featuring P.M. Presenters
4:00 p.m. Concluding Remarks, Presented by: Drs. Sorensen, Lee & Kurtz

Please note this schedule is subject to change. The official agenda, including session descriptions, will be available ahead of the meeting.

Course Information

Course Format
This course will take place live, in-person at Boston University. 

Course Price
The first 25 programs to register one program director or designee, plus one PG1 resident will receive a support package that covers the registration fee. Once all support packages are claimed, ACP will offer the following registration rates:

ACP Members: $300
Residents/Graduate Students: $199
Non-Members: $495
 

Hotel Information
AC Hotel, Boston Downtown
Rate: $329 plus applicable taxes/night
Reservation information will be available shortly.

Support Program

Thanks to the generosity of several ACP sponsors and members, in addition to support from the ACP and the ACP Education Foundation, we are pleased to provide a registration support package to a limited number of prosthodontic program directors and residents on a first-come, first-served basis.

The support package will include:

• ACP Research Symposium registration fee waiver for up to three individuals:
  • Prosthodontic program director at a CODA-accredited institution (or other faculty member designated by the program director).
  • One or two PG-1 residents from that institution, as selected by the program director.
• One night of hotel accommodations for the program director and one night of hotel accommodations for the resident selected. Reservations will be for May 8 at the AC Hotel by Marriott Boston Downtown and made by the ACP. If travel option limitations mean you will need an additional hotel night before the symposium (May 7) or after (May 9) in order to attend the full symposium, please contact us as soon as possible so that we can review your situation. 
• Travel reimbursement for each individual, following the listed guidelines in this link.

There are additional qualifications and requirements to receive this support package. More information can be found through this link. If you have any questions please reach out to mmixon@prosthodontics.org.

FAQs

Q: Will residents be presenting their research at this event?
A: No, residents in attendance will not be presenting their own research at this event. This will be an opportunity for them to focus on learning and networking, rather than presenting.

Q: I am not an Educator or a PG-1 Resident, can I still attend?
A: Registration will first be open to prosthodontic programs, and then will be open to all interested in attending. If you have any questions please reach out to mmixon@prosthodontics.org.

Q: Will this meeting be for CE?
A: At this time there will not be continuing education (CE) offered for this event.

Q: What is included in my registration fee?
A: Attendees will receive refreshments during breaks, a reception on Friday evening, lunch on Saturday, and access to session recordings.

Q: Will recordings of the presentations be available on demand after the event?
A: Yes, recordings of the presentations will be available after the event.

Sponsors & Contributors

The ACP and ACP Education Foundation would like to thank the following individual and corporate donors, who made this course possible:

Diamond $5,000+

Dr. Kenneth Kurtz
Dr. Carlos Castro
Georgia Section of the ACP

Platinum $1,000+

Research Symposium Planning Committee

Dr. Kenneth Kurtz
Dr. Sang Lee
Dr. John Sorensen

ACP Meetings Code of Conduct Policy

The ACP is committed to providing a safe, productive, and welcoming environment for all meeting participants and ACP staff. All participants, including, but not limited to, attendees, speakers, volunteers, exhibitors, ACP staff members, service providers, and all others are expected to abide by this Virtual Programs Code of Conduct. This policy applies to all ACP meeting-related events, including those sponsored by organizations other than ACP but held in conjunction with ACP events, on public or private platforms.

ACP has zero-tolerance for any form of discrimination or harassment, including but not limited to sexual harassment by participants or our staff at our meetings. If you experience harassment or hear of any incidents of unacceptable behavior, ACP asks that you inform either Executive Director Chris Welber or ACP President Dr. Kenneth Kurtz so that we can take the appropriate action.

Unacceptable behavior is defined as:

• Harassment, intimidation, or discrimination in any form.
• Verbal abuse of any attendee, speaker, volunteer, exhibitor, ACP staff member, service provider, or other meeting guest.
  • Examples of verbal abuse include, but are not limited to, verbal comments related to gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, religion, national origin, inappropriate use of nudity and/or sexual images in public spaces or in presentations, or threatening or stalking any attendee, speaker, volunteer, exhibitor, ACP staff member, service provider, or other meeting guest.
• Disruption of presentations during sessions, in the exhibit hall, or at other events organized by ACP throughout the virtual meeting. All participants must comply with the instructions of the moderator and any ACP virtual event staff.
• Presentations, postings, and messages should not contain promotional materials, special offers, job offers, product announcements, or solicitation for services. ACP reserves the right to remove such messages and potentially ban sources of those solicitations.
• Participants should not copy or take screen shots of Q&A or any chat room activity that takes place in virtual space. 

ACP reserves the right to take any action deemed necessary and appropriate, including immediate removal from the meeting without warning or refund, in response to any incident of unacceptable behavior, and ACP reserves the right to prohibit attendance at any future meeting, virtually or in person.