Chapter 8: Holistic Psychosocial Support for Youth with Dental Health Concerns

Pediatric dental issues can negatively influence psychosocial development (Tinanoff & Reisine, 2009), long-term health outcomes (Department of Health and Human Services Oral Health Coordinating Committee, 2016), and quality of life (Kaur et al., 2017; Sischo & Broder, 2011). Since dental issues that impact health and aesthetics often emerge in adolescence and early adulthood, pediatric dental care is an essential component of holistic preventative healthcare (Baiju et al., 2017). Poor oral health is also associated with poor social functioning (Sischo & Broder, 2011) and underlying mental health concerns such as anxiety and depression (Pellegrino et al., 2018). Culturally competent treatment of adolescents in mental health settings requires an understanding of the biopsychosocial factors that may contribute to oral health issues and subsequent medical and mental health concerns.