Last updated: August 2026
Adolescent care in Marietta keeps your child with a pediatrician through the teen years, with a yearly checkup that adds preteen vaccines, mental health screening, and sports physicals to the usual growth and development checks. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends an annual well visit from age 3 all the way through age 21 [Source: AAP Bright Futures Periodicity Schedule 2024]. Teens do not outgrow the pediatrician; the visits simply evolve to fit their changing needs.
Many parents assume checkups end after childhood. In reality, the teen years bring some of the most important preventive care, and a pediatrician who has known your child for years is well placed to provide it.
Why does adolescent care in Marietta still matter?
Adolescent care matters because the teen years bring rapid physical, emotional, and social change that benefits from regular check-ins. The AAP recommends a yearly well visit through age 21 to track growth, development, and emerging health concerns [Source: AAP Bright Futures Periodicity Schedule 2024]. These visits catch issues early, from posture and nutrition to mood and stress.
A pediatrician who has cared for your child since infancy brings valuable history to these years. That continuity helps teens feel comfortable raising sensitive topics. Sun Pediatrics is a pediatric and adolescent practice, caring for young people from birth through the teen years at our Marietta location.
What vaccines do teens need?
Preteens and teens have their own recommended vaccines, most given around ages 11 to 12. The CDC recommends the Tdap booster, HPV vaccine, and meningococcal (MenACWY) vaccine at this age, with a MenACWY booster at 16 [Source: CDC 2024]. These protect teens as they spend more time in group settings.
These vaccines are easy to miss once the frequent baby visits are behind you. Building them into the annual checkup keeps your teen protected and school-ready. Georgia also requires a current immunization certificate, Form 3231, to attend school, as our guide to Georgia school vaccination requirements explains [Source: Georgia Department of Public Health 2024].
How does a pediatrician support teen mental health?
Mental health is a core part of modern adolescent care, and pediatricians screen for it routinely. The AAP recommends screening adolescents for depression and suicide risk every year starting at age 12, often with a short questionnaire [Source: AAP Bright Futures 2022]. Catching concerns early opens the door to support before they grow.
The annual visit is a natural, private setting for these conversations. Your teen can talk with a trusted provider about stress, sleep, mood, and more. For related guidance, our posts on how sleep affects development and the impact of caffeine on teenagers touch on everyday factors that affect teen wellbeing.
What about sports physicals and staying active?
Sports physicals are a common reason teens visit, and they fit neatly into the annual checkup. This preparticipation exam reviews heart health, past injuries, and readiness for activity, and many Georgia schools require it before tryouts. Pairing it with the yearly well visit saves a separate trip.
Staying active supports the whole picture of teen health, from weight to mood to sleep. Because the AAP already recommends a yearly visit through age 21, most teens can handle sports clearance and preventive care in one appointment [Source: AAP Bright Futures Periodicity Schedule 2024]. Ask our team to combine them, and review the services your teen needs.
What happens at a teen well visit?
A teen well visit covers physical growth, development, vaccines, and increasingly, emotional and social health. The pediatrician checks height, weight, blood pressure, and vision, updates vaccines, and screens for mood and risk behaviors. Part of the visit may be one-on-one so your teen can speak openly.
These visits also build independence, teaching teens to take part in their own care. The AAP recommends this annual checkup continue through age 21, so the habit carries into young adulthood [Source: AAP Bright Futures Periodicity Schedule 2024]. You can always reach our team through our contact page with questions between visits.
How can parents stay involved as teens grow independent?
Staying involved while giving teens space is a balancing act, and the annual visit helps with both. Parents can share concerns with the provider before the one-on-one portion, then step back so their teen can speak openly. This models trust while keeping you in the loop on the big picture.
At home, simple habits support what the visit covers, from consistent sleep to family meals to limits on late-night screens. These everyday routines shape mood, focus, and energy more than parents often realize [Source: HealthyChildren.org 2024]. Small, steady choices add up across the teen years.
It also helps to keep the door open for questions your teen may not raise at the doctor. Let them know that both you and their pediatrician are safe people to talk to about stress, friendships, and health. That message, repeated calmly over time, is one of the most protective things a parent can offer.
How Sun Pediatrics cares for Marietta teens
Sun Pediatrics provides adolescent care in Marietta with unhurried annual visits, preteen vaccines, mental health screening, and sports physicals. Every physician is board certified, and our team cares for children from birth through 18. Learn more about our practice or what to expect as a new patient.
Time for your teen’s yearly checkup? Request an appointment at our Marietta office.
The teen years pass quickly, and the annual visit is a rare, steady point of contact during a season of big change. It is a chance to catch problems early, answer the questions teens are not sure how to ask, and keep the whole family on the same page. Continuing care with a pediatrician who has known your child for years makes those conversations easier and more meaningful.
Frequently asked questions
At what age should my child stop seeing a pediatrician?
Not until adulthood. The AAP recommends annual well visits through age 21, so teens stay with a pediatrician who knows their history [Source: AAP Bright Futures Periodicity Schedule 2024].
What vaccines does my teen need?
Around ages 11 to 12, the CDC recommends Tdap, HPV, and MenACWY, with a MenACWY booster at 16 [Source: CDC 2024]. These often happen at the annual visit.
Does my teen’s pediatrician screen for mental health?
Yes. The AAP recommends annual depression and suicide-risk screening starting at age 12, usually with a brief questionnaire during the well visit [Source: AAP Bright Futures 2022].
Can my teen get a sports physical at the pediatrician?
Yes, and it can often be combined with the annual well visit. That saves a separate appointment while covering both sports clearance and preventive care.
Will my teen have time alone with the doctor?
Often, yes. Part of a teen visit may be one-on-one, which gives your teen a private, confidential space to ask questions and builds their comfort with managing their own health as they get older.
Do teens really still need annual checkups if they feel healthy?
Yes. Many important parts of teen care, like vaccines, mental health screening, and growth tracking, have no obvious symptoms. The AAP recommends a yearly visit through age 21 precisely to catch these early [Source: AAP Bright Futures Periodicity Schedule 2024].
The bottom line
Adolescent care in Marietta keeps your teen with a trusted pediatrician for yearly visits that add vaccines, mental health screening, and sports physicals to routine care. Teens benefit from that continuity, especially in years full of change. Keeping up the annual visit is a simple, steady way to support your teen’s health as they grow toward adulthood. To schedule your teen’s checkup, request an appointment with our team.
This article is for general information and is not medical advice. Contact your pediatrician for care specific to your child.
