Your teen needs routine yearly checkups. These checkups are important to detect problems and to make sure your teen is growing and developing normally. The health professional will do a physical examination and ask questions about his or her social, academic, relationship, and mental health status. Your teen's immunization record will be reviewed; any needed immunizations should be given at this time. For more information on immunizations, see the topic Immunizations or the childhood immunization schedule(What is a PDF document?).

Beginning in adolescence, most health professionals like to spend some time alone with your child during the visit. Although many state laws are vague about adolescents' and teens' rights to medical confidentiality, most health professionals will clarify expectations. Ideally, you will all agree that anything your adolescent or teen discusses privately with the health professional will remain confidential, with few exceptions. This gives your adolescent or teen an opportunity talk to the health professional about any issue he or she may not feel comfortable sharing with you.

Teens also need to have regular dental checkups and to be encouraged to brush and floss regularly. For more information about dental checkups, see the topic Basic Dental Care.