Dental appointments can sometimes cause children to feel discomfort. One way for them to overcome this is by understanding what happens at the dentist. Here are 3 books you can read with your kid to help them mentally prepare!
THE DENTIST AND YOU by Diane Swanson
This nonfiction book is a great way for both kids and adults to prepare for a child's visit to the dentist's office. It helps children become comfortable with dental appointments by explaining the tools and procedures they might encounter while also addressing their fears in an honest and comforting way.
There are also tips for adults about how best to discuss the book with their child and help their kid feel comfortable and prepared.
THE CROCODILE AND THE DENTIST by Tarō Gomi
In this charming book by Japanese author-illustrator Tarō Gomi, both the dentist and the patient are nervous about a cavity filling! This book highlights to children how they might make their dentist feel when they act out at a dental appointment. And it ends with a message about the importance of daily oral hygiene.
JUST GOING TO THE DENTIST by Mercer Mayer
In this addition to the beloved Little Critter series, Little Critter goes to a dental check-up. This story follows the stages of a dental appointment, from the waiting room, to x-rays, to getting a cavity filled. Familiar illustrations and a message that going to the dentist isn't so bad after all make this a wonderful choice for reading with a nervous child.