MILLIE is 9 years old, is autistic and was worried about going to the dentist. This book looks at ways to help children, young people, and those who care for them, to become confident about going to the dentist.
Our story begins with the things that helped Millie prepare for, and then cope with, her visit to the dentist. It tells how she worked through her anxieties by understanding her rights to play, to be informed, and to participate in decision making. Using health-related play, Millie was eventually able to visit the dentist who gave her control and respect in exploring everything. This book also contains a section for grown-ups on how to support children who may struggle to deal with new or unfamiliar situations.
Going to the dentist can be a difficult time for many children and young people. It may be scary to enter a new environment with unfamiliar people and uncomfortable medical procedures. As adults, we understand that going to the dentist is an essential part of taking care of your health, however this may be harder for a child to understand. To help children cope better with going to the dentist, we worked with Millie, a young person who used to be worried about going to the dentist. We helped Millie with understanding her rights to play, to be informed, and to participate in decision making by engaging directly with Millie and through health-related play with our Dental Play Box. She then visited a dental practice with very understanding dental staff who gave her control and respect in exploring everything.
Using Millie’s experience and photos, we created Millie Goes To The Dentist, a photo book and story which recounts the event.
Children’s Health Scotland also provides Special Smiles Dental Play Training for healthcare professionals aiming to learn more about a rights-based approach to dental health. To find out more please email enquiries@childrenshealthscotland.org.
