Transitioning from Pediatric to Adult Dental Care for Adolescents with Special Health Care Needs: Adolescent and Parent Perspectives--Part One.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to understand transitions from pediatric dental care to adult dental care for adolescents with special health care needs (ASHCNs) from parental and adolescent perspectives.

Methods: Focus groups and interviews were conducted with 59 parents and 13 adolescent-parent dyads to identify factors associated with transitions to adult-centered dental care for ASHCNs.

Results: Most parents believed ASHCNs were at risk for caries, but ASHCNs were not concerned about tooth decay. Parents of adolescents with complex SHCN believed it would be acceptable to continue seeing a pediatric dentist. Parents of Medicaid-enrolled ASHCNs reported lower efficacy in transitioning. ASHCNs desired personalized, adolescent-centered care and were motivated to transition when they felt out of place at the pediatric dentist office. Parents believed pediatric dentists play an important role in initiating and facilitating transitions.

Conclusions: Pediatric dentists are well positioned to implement family and adolescent-centered policies to ensure dental transitions for adolescents with special health care needs and their families.