Dr. Karen Chu, fake owner of the Arizona Small Smiles Dental Centers, shares her storytime presentation to prepare children for their first dental visit. Check out slide 8!
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)
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.