Dental Discovery Day
High School students learn about dental professions― including dentist, dental hygienist, dental assistant, dental therapist, and dental lab technician―in this one-day workshop.
The agenda includes: hands-on activities, information on the prerequisites needed to apply to dental training programs and admissions preparation, and additional opportunities for furthering their interest in a dental career.
2026-27 Dental Discovery Day Workshops
| Workshop Date | Location | Application deadline | Application Link |
| Wednesday, October 28, 2026 9:15 – 2:00pm | Milwaukee Area Technical College – Milwaukee | Apply by Thursday, October 1 | Application closed |
| Tuesday, November 24, 2026 10:30 – 3:30pm | Chippewa Valley Technical College – Eau Claire | Priority deadline is Friday, October 30 | Students – Apply here |
| Thursday, December 10, 2026 12:30 – 3:00pm | Online virtual experience | Registration ends November 10, 2026 or at 100 students, whichever comes first. | Educators – Register your students here |
| Thursday, March 4, 2027 8:30 – 2:00pm | Northwood Technical College – Rice Lake | TBD | TBD |
| Thursday, April 8, 2027 TIME TBD | Blackhawk Technical College – Janesville | TBD | TBD |
| Monday, April 26, 2027 time TBD | HOSA – Future Health Professionals State Leadership Conference | TBD | TBD |
Virtual Dental Career Chat Series
These informal sessions are a great way to learn about different dental careers, what a typical day looks like, and the paths that led professionals to where they are today.
| Dental Career Chat Topic | Featured Guest | On-demand video link |
| Careers in Public Health & Community Dentistry | Tara Skar, Registered Dental Hygienist & Director of Regional Operations at NorthLakes Community Clinic | Careers in Public Health and Community Dentistry Virtual Career Chat |
| Dental Assistant | Brooke Walters, Certified Dental Assistant & Expanded Function Dental Auxiliary & Dental Assistant Educator at Chippewa Valley Technical College | Virtual Career Chat – Dental Assistant – YouTube |
More ways to explore oral health careers
Oral Health Career Connections
The Wisconsin Oral Health Program (OHP) has created a learning experience for those interested in oral health careers! Connect to dental profession students or dental professionals throughout Wisconsin. There are four different levels of connection opportunities:
- Meet a dental profession student (for example, dental assistant, dental hygiene, dental lab tech, or dental students).
- Meet a dental professional (for example, dental assistant, dental hygienist, dental lab tech, or dentist).
- Shadow a dental professional.
- Employment opportunities.
Connection opportunities provides an opportunity for students from all backgrounds and lived experiences to learn about oral health careers. These opportunities are self-paced, where students are expected to facilitate their learning experience with a dental professional.
Complete the Oral Health Connection Opportunities Form by clicking the image above and the OHP staff will connect you with a dental profession student or dental professional based on the information you provide in your form.
Past Future Oral Health Workforce Day Workshops
Since 2023, Wisconsin AHEC has hosted Future Oral Health Workforce Day workshops reaching over 620 high school students participants at the following partner sites and communities:
- Black River Falls: Ho-Chunk Nation Health Center
- Cashton: Scenic Bluffs Community Health Center
- Eau Claire: Chippewa Valley Technical College
- Fennimore: Southwest Technical College
- Green Bay: Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
- Janesville: HealthNet of Rock County & Blackhawk Technical College
- Keshena: Menominee Tribal Clinic
- Lac Du Flambeau: Peter Christensen Dental Clinic
- Milwaukee: Milwaukee Area Technical College
- New Richmond: Northwood Technical College
- Rice Lake: Northwood Technical College
- Sheboygan: Lakeshore Community Health Care
- Wausau: Northcentral Technical College
Click the image below to learn more about our past Future Oral Health Workforce Day Workshops!
Explore Oral Health Careers
Wisconsin Dental Youth Apprenticeship
A Youth Apprenticeship (YA) is a 1–2 year earn-while-you-learn program for high school juniors and seniors. Students gain paid, on-the-job training with an employer plus related classes, preparing them for success after high school.
Dental Assistant
Dental assistants help dentists by increasing productivity, safety, and efficiency.
Dental Hygienist
Dental hygienists work with patients to provide preventive oral health care.
Dental Lab Technician
Dental lab technicians work in a dental lab, using detailed written instructions and molds or scans of the patient’s teeth and/or soft tissues to create dental devices.
Dental Therapist
Dental therapists work as part of a dentist-led team to provide dental care to patients.
Dentist
Dentists are doctors who provide oral health care through evaluation, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases of the mouth.
This program is supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $1,000,000 with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government.