A social story for a first dentist visit, with the reason for every line
Six pages, one sentence each, in words a dental practice would recognise. Print it as it is, or change a line to match your child’s practice. The note beside each line says why it is worded that way.
9 pages: a cover for their photo and name, the story, a page for you, and picture cards to cut out. No sign-up.
1Soon I am going to the dentist. A dentist is a person who looks after teeth.
Why this lineIt says what the visit is for and makes no promise about how it will feel.
2We say my name at the desk. Then we sit and wait for a little while.
Why this lineChildren are far less frightened of a dentist than of not knowing what comes next. The order of the day is the content.
3Someone calls my name. I sit in a big chair. The chair might lean back.
Why “might”Practices differ. Ring and ask what their first visit involves, then change this line to match. A child prepared for someone else’s appointment has been told something untrue.
4The dentist might use a little mirror to count my teeth. I open wide, like I practised. We count to ten.
The one thing to practiseOpen wide and count to ten at the bathroom mirror, thirty seconds, with you holding a spoon. The NHS notes that opening up for the dentist to look is itself useful practice.
5I can hold my grown-up’s hand. If something feels funny, I can put my hand up.
Why not “it won’t hurt”That is the one promise you cannot keep, and the one a child holds you to. This one you can keep.
6Then it is finished. I opened my mouth when they asked. Next time I will know the room.
Why not “I was brave”Brave is a verdict on the child. One specific thing they did is a fact they can take to the next appointment.
When to read it
Three nights before. Night one, read it as a story. Night two, read it, then thirty seconds at the mirror: open wide and count to ten. Night three, read it, practise once, and say tomorrow’s order out loud.
One sentence for you, on the day
“You can hold my hand, and we will count the teeth together.”
The whole plan behind this story, with what to do on the day: The three-night plan for a first dentist visit
Sources
The advice here is the same as on our first dentist visit page, whose sources were read on 22 September 2026. Nothing here is dental advice, and your own practice knows your child’s mouth.
The pictures come from The Bravest Check-up, one of our picture books. In the book, the child in them is yours.
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