As pediatric patients with Special Health Care Needs (SHCN) transition into adulthood, they frequently encounter difficulties receiving necessary dental care.​

This presentation examines the clinical, systemic, and public health challenges pediatric dentists face when managing this demographic. Through a public health lens, we will review current treatment approaches, barriers to care, and successful outcomes implemented by pediatric dentists.​​

By sharing specific treatment modalities and exploring the evolving role of the entire dental community, this session aims to empower providers to bridge the gap to ultimately foster a collaborative environment that ensures continuity of care and protects the long-term oral health of this vulnerable population.

Dr. Dustin Root is a board-certified pediatric dentist. He received his dental degree from Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry and his pediatric dental certificate from St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children. He currently serves as a pediatric dental attending at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children. Much of his focus at the hospital is on the mobile dental unit in the Community Oral Health Initiatives Department providing comprehensive dental treatment to the children of North Philadelphia.​

When not treating patients in the North Philadelphia community, he is an associate dentist at Bala Kids Dentistry a private practice in Bala Cynwyd, PA. Dr. Root’s professional interests include minimally invasive dentistry, behavior management, treating underserved populations at risk for dental disease, and expanding the much-needed dental care within the North Philadelphia community.

Dr. Liara Vinson is a Philadelphia native and graduate of Central High School of Philadelphia. She earned her undergraduate degree from Norfolk State University and received her Doctor of Dental Surgery from the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry in 2020.​
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Dr. Vinson completed a General Practice Residency at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia and subsequently practiced as a general dentist at a non-profit organization providing dental care to children. Motivated by a commitment to serving underserved populations and advancing pediatric oral health, she pursued specialty training in pediatric dentistry.​
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She returned to Virginia Commonwealth University to complete her Pediatric Dentistry Residency and earn a Master of Science in Dentistry. Dr. Vinson is a board-certified pediatric dentist and currently serves as a full-time attending faculty member in the pediatric dental residency program at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, where she is involved in clinical training and education of residents.