A Realistic Visual Trip to the Dentist

We recently got in this great new book, Joey Goes the the Dentist. It's an excellent resource for parents or therapists trying to prepare a child with an autism spectrum disorder for a trip to the dentist. It was put together by two autism professionals who have a lot of experience working with children, so it is definitely written with this audience in mind.

One of the things that makes this book so great is the way it's illustrated. It uses all real color, full-page photographs, giving excellent realistic depictions of what a child can expect to see when they go to the dentist. It also offers explanations of what the various dental tools are, their names, and why the dentist needs to use them, but none of these descriptions get overly technical for the intended child audience.

Joey, the narrator and star of the pictures, also describes the ways he prepares himself for going to the dentist, showing off his calendar with the date marked, and the ways he and his father practice opening wide and brushing their teeth. He also talks about and demonstrates some of the coping mechanisms he uses when he experiences something unpleasant at the dentist's office. I thought his suggestion of asking to keep the weighted lead x-ray vest on for a little while after the x-rays were finished, as a calming tool, was a innovative use of available materials, and a good suggestion for parents to look into. He also talks about the way he makes himself concentrate on something fun he will get to do after the dentist appointment, like going to a fast food restaurant and getting a new toy.

And of course, I can't help mentioning that the kid in the pictures is incredibly adorable, which doesn't hurt the book at all.