title: Transitioning from Pediatric to Adult Dental Care for Adolescents with Special Health Care Needs: Dentist Perspectives--Part Two.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to understand dental care transitions for adolescents with special health care needs (ASHCNs) from the dentist perspective.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted semi-structured interviews with 13 dentists (seven pediatric dentists and six general dentists) to learn about the dental transition process for ASHCNs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most dentists believed transitions from child-centered to adult-centered dental care were important for ASHCNs. Dentists reported two main barriers to transitions: (1) low dental reimbursements by Medicaid; and (2) a shortage of general dentists qualified or willing to treat ASHCNs. Pediatric and general dentists reported playing complimentary roles in facilitating transitions for ASHCNs and their families.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dentists acknowledged the challenges that adolescents with special health care needs and their families face in transitioning to adult-centered care and believed in the importance of ASHCNs maintaining a dental home. Pediatric dentists and general dentists play a key role in working together to implement dental transition plans for ASHCNs and to ensure successful dental transitions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash., USA.
authors.forename: Zoljargal
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bayarsaikhan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash., USA.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, the University of Washington, Seattle, Wash., USA.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Neff
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Health Sciences, the University of Washington, Seattle, Wash., USA. dchi@uw.edu.
authors.forename: Donald L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Chi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D019140:Dental Care for Children; D003730:Dental Care for Persons with Disabilities; D003815:Dentists; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D065886:Neurodevelopmental Disorders; D010377:Pediatric Dentistry; D019239:Practice Patterns, Dentists'; D036301:Qualitative Research; D060305:Transition to Adult Care