Good Book for Introducing Toddler to Dentist?

We have Just Going to the Dentist by Mercer Meyer and The Berenstein Bears Visit the Dentist. I think there might be one in the Arthur series also. My 12 yr old did great his first trrip. It took my 6 yr old about 3 visits before he would let them clean his teeth. They are all different. Good luck!

Hi,
Your question is so timely. My 3 year-old just had his first cleaning yesterday...and lOVED it! My hygenist had me start bringing him with me to my appointments at about age 2. First time he just sat in my lap and watched. Second time he did that and then sat in the chair and they just counted his teeth. Now that he's 3, he was actually excited to sit and have his teeth cleaned. They even flossed them!!! She also suggested I use a battery-powered kid toothbrush for a while before the appointment to get him used to the noise and motion in his mouth. We also found a great (old) book at the library that he loved. I think it was called, "When I Go to the Dentist". It even taught him the names of all the instruments and about xrays, etc. It was a little dated, but certainly did the trick. Good luck!

Just Going to The Dentist by Gina and Mercer Mayer is a really great book. My daughter is 5 and still loves the little critter collection. www.littlecritter.com has interactive games and some stories read by Mercer Mayer on the website. You could check it out and see if it sparks his interest before buying. These were the first"real" books(not board books) that my daughter really fell in love with at about age 2. Hope that helps!

My daughter saw a dentist when she was two as well. We didn't do any books beforehand, but I did schedule our appointments one after the other so that she could watch me during my appointment. She saw that I made no big deal of it (I actually enjoy having my teeth cleaned) and when it was her turn the hygienist took her to the next room and they counted teeth and brushed with no trouble. She actually had a blast (so did the hygienist). Since then we have added some Berenstien Bears books to our collection and they have one about going to the dentist. It is a nice story. Hope this helps and good luck.

Ask your dentist if you can have a "preview" appt. I took my daughter's Camp Fire group to a local dentist and he let each girl sit in the chair, lay back, up and down, etc. He showed the drill, how it sounded, fast and slow. Squirted them with the water hose. Showed and explained how everything worked and what it was for. The girls got to ask questions, etc. He even made a model of each girls mouth as a keepsake! (I must explain here that my husband was his private lab tech therefore he poured all the models and we got the premium tour!!!) I got feedback from the parents and none of the girls were afraid to go to the dentist after that. Some had really had problems before and several "taught" younger siblings not to be afraid!!! I know I had a special dentist to take on 16 little girls but I do know of other dentists that will take the time to do this (it really doesn't take very long with only one child) - especially when it will make the actuall appt go much smoother and will certainly be a retention factor of a patients family and great word of mouth (no pun intended!)advertising!!! I personally, wouldn't take my child to a dentist that wasn't "kid friendly" and wouldn't do this in advance. The child needs to be aquainted with the doctor not just the assistant since he is the one with his hand in the child's mouth.

Good luck!

There are a bunch of books on kids going to the dentist. My daughter loves "Show Me Your Smile" in the Dora the Explorer series. Also, our dentist let my daughter Katie come for a "test visit". We went in and she got to sit in the chair and learn what a dentist does, what each of the insruments does and she got to talk to him about her teeth before he ever even looked in her mouth. Hope this helps.

A.

I would suggest you make sure the dentist know for sure it is the first visit. He or the nurse will talk to him about the importance of taking care of his teeth. He also will show him the proper way to brush his teeth. I do not know of a book but I would call the local library and talk to the children s librarian and she will know of a good one.

I don't know about any books as I just talked to my children about going. I showed them what he would do so it would be a bit more familiar and they have never had any problems. Of course, choose your dentist wisely. I interviewed several before I made a decision on the one we have used for over 30 years. If a dentist wont give you references and a short interview (you will pay for the time of course)run, dont walk, away from him/her. Good luck, I'm sure it will go smoothly. God bless

Hey V.,

To answer your question, there seems to be a variety of books for kids about visiting the dentist. here is a link to many titles... they have berestein bears, dora, elmo, etc. I imagine one about his favorite character would help. http://browse.barnesandnoble.com/browse/nav.asp?visgrp=ch... (you may have to copy and paste all of this)

Not to say you did anything wrong... but to help out others reading this and then to help you with your daughter...children really should see the dentist for their first appointment at the age of 1. They do more introduction than anything but also the dentist examines oral structure and development. My daughter just turned 2 and it was our second appt that they did cleaning and re-exam. While my child was young and both times did not like it... she has an understanding of what to expect. Also, my dentist is really kind and I always brought my little one to my appts and sat her on my lap facing me. She would watch everything they did and understand that mommy see's Dr. B and she see's Dr. Paige. Of course I can't imagine having 2 kids at my dentist's office... so this was just a reference of what worked for me. Although do have you little girl in for her initial appt at a younger age, just ask you dentist.

Last piece of advice... once your kids adult teeth come in, have them sealed. My parents did not do this because they were never told about it but my husband's teeth were sealed once the permanent ones were in and it makes a huge difference. His dentist never mentioned it either, his parents requested it b/c he had an aunt that worked for a dentist and knew the procedure was offered. So if you can afford it later, it is worth every penny and we plan to have all of children's teeth sealed.

Best of luck on the first appt. & congrats on your new baby girl.
-MB

Hi V.,
If you are sending your son to a pediatric Dentist-call the office and see if they have anything. My Daughter's Dentist had a coloring book for the child to color with a description for Mom/Dad to read to the child about the office and what would happen.
If they don't have materials, I'd try the library or if you have the funds, Amazon.com or BAM.com.
Hope your little one has a great 1st Visit.
:-) C.

I don't know of any titles off hand but I did buy my daughter a couple of books to get her ready. She was excited to go. However, she would not let them clean her teeth. I took her to my last dentist visit so she could see it's no big deal and she says she will let them clean her teeth next time (in June). Her dentist office is great, they allow parents to go back with them (I've heard some won't). And they do things at the child's pace. She wouldn't let them clean, no big deal, try again next time. She did let them brush the flouride on and was introduced to the tools. She also let the dentist look at her teeth. All in all it was a good experience. Does he need to go this year? In my area they don't really see them until they're 3 unless there are problems or concerns. Good Luck!
I'm sure any book you pick will be helpful.

I absolutely recommend Jason Lee, he is a Pediatric Dentist on 52nd and North Portland, he also has an office in Midwest City or Del City. He uses Children's Hospital, Midwest City Hospital, and Baptist Hospital. He takes Sooner Care so when my granddaughter fell at her Mom's and broke a tooth he was on their list.

The reason I choose this office is: When I called all the other Pediatric Dentist offices not one of the people who answered the phone could tell me what a Pediatric Dentist was. They each said it was just a Dentist who was good with kids. The person who answered Dr. Lee's phone told me that he had specialized in doing dental work on very small children and much more about how the procedures were different from a regular Dentist.

When we went in I found that most Dentist only use silver on baby teeth because it is cheaper and easier. Dr. Lee uses white filling material. When K had her dental screening last week at Head Start the Dentist couldn't even tell which teeth had fillings. Dr. Lee did such a good job blending the material to her teeth.

We are going down to OKC during Spring Break and taking both K and J to see Dr. Lee. K is 5 and loves to see him, J is just 27 months. I feel every confidence that even if I don't say a word to J about the visit that J will enjoy it. Dr. Lee got K laughing on her first visit and he had to examine a broken tooth, take x-rays, look around in her mouth, and really get in there. She didn't like the x-rays too much but they had to be done in preparation for fixing the broken tooth. We were able to get her in to Children's in a very short time and get all her dental work done while she was asleep. It only took about 1 1/2 hours for all to be done, fillings and a cap.

Lee, Jason DDS - Smiling Faces
5222 North Portland Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK
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2828 Parklawn Dr, #10, Oklahoma City, OK