A fun tip on preparing toddlers and preschoolers for early dental visits.

1. Toddler’s Early Dental Visits
Share A Story To Make The Day A Happier Time For Your Child

2. It is time to take baby to
the dentist…oh my!
How can you help those early visits be a
happier experience for your kids?
A GREAT way to help younger children prepare for
the dentist is by telling them a personalized story
about dental visits several times during the week in
advance of the appointment!
Quality time and the care they feel from you
prepares the way for a better day.

3. For example, you can tell your
toddler a story in which:
A hero with
your child's
name goes on
an adventure
…
to the dentist's
office.

4. Once There…
Your child can
encounter a
forest of
chairs
(or other
waiting room
surroundings)

5. Which must be searched for
his/her smile…

6. Then your toddler meets…
a special guide

7. Who takes them to a magician in a
fortress with a special throne for
heroes

8. OR for VERY young children...
A special lodge where a medicine person
wraps up the hero like a papoose to keep
them safe

9. The guide tells the hero…
That the missing smile is in the hero’s mouth

10. And so, the magician must search
the hero's mouth for that silly lost
smile…

11. The hero of the story will be very
brave throughout the search…

12. Even if it takes a longer
time to look…

13. If the magician or medicine
(wo)man
uses
strange
tools …

14. Or, odd-smelling potions…
… to search for the missing smile.

15. At the end, the magician finds
the hero's beautiful smile

16. And encourages the hero to hang
on to that wonderful smile
… by remembering to brush every day and after eating sweets

17. And, to come back for help
finding their smile any time.

18. Parents can re-tell this story
various times before the visit..
• So that it will be more likely to "stick“.
• And, provide that frame of reference your young
child’s mind can use …
• To make the experience seem less scary or
uncomfortable and a bit happier when
appointment day rolls around.
• And even…gives you some extra quality cuddle
time with your child.

19. The End… This Time!

20. KC ‘Kids Zone’
Dentistry Tips
By Phoenix Kids Dentist
Dr Karen Chu DMD
http://dentistrybydrkarenchu.com