When should you switch your child from a pediatrician to an adult doctor? “I usually see kids through college,” says Wendy Proskin, MD, a pediatrician with WESTMED Medical Group. “That’s when people start to need different screenings.” She adds that, when making referrals, she considers the specialist’s policies. “Some adult specialists see 15-year-olds, but some won’t see patients under 18.”
The situation can be different with dentists, says Wayne Turk, DDS, of Scarsdale Pediatric Dental Associates, who points out that cleaning an adult’s teeth is no different from cleaning a teen’s teeth. “I have many patients who are grown and married,” he says. “I’m honored they feel comfortable to keep coming back.”
