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Going to the Dentist Social Story
A social story that previews the whole dental checkup: the chair that moves like a slow ride, the bright light, the lion-yawn mouth, and the tools that tickle and whoosh. It gives your child three concrete supports, closing eyes or asking for sunglasses, raising a hand for a break, and holding a fidget, without ever promising that nothing will feel strange.
The story
Read the full story below. In the maker you can add your child's name, swap pictures, and print it as a booklet.
My Dentist Story
A social story about visiting the dentist
- 1
A dentist is a helper who takes care of teeth.Describes - 2
I go to the dentist for a checkup so my teeth can stay clean, strong, and healthy.Describes - 3
In the waiting room, I wait for my turn to be called.Describes - 4
The dentist's chair is special. It moves up, down, and back very slowly, like a slow ride.Describes - 5
A bright light helps the dentist see inside my mouth.Describes - 6
I open my mouth big, like a lion yawn, so the dentist can count and clean my teeth.Describes - 7
Some tools feel tickly on my teeth, and some make whooshing or buzzing sounds.Describes - 8
If the light feels too bright, I can close my eyes or ask for sunglasses.Coaches - 9
If something feels like too much, I can raise my hand to ask for a break.Coaches - 10While the dentist works, I can squeeze a fidget or think about my favorite place.Coaches
- 11
When the cleaning is finished, my teeth feel smooth, and I get to close my mouth and rest.Describes - 12Going to the dentist helps my smile stay bright between visits.Describes
When to use this story
Use this story in the week before a dental appointment, reading it at relaxed times rather than in the car on the way. It suits first visits, cleanings, and children who had a hard visit before. A reread at breakfast on appointment day keeps the sequence fresh when it counts.
The story is built around sensory honesty. The chair moves, the light is bright, the tools tickle and make whooshing sounds. Nothing is promised to be painless, because a child who was told nothing would feel weird stops trusting the narrator the moment something does. Instead, every strange sensation gets named in advance so it arrives as a known thing.
The raise-a-hand page is the one to rehearse out loud. Most pediatric dentists honor a hand signal as a pause request, and practicing it at home gives your child real control in the chair. Mention the signal to the dental team when you book; a dentist who confirms the deal in person makes the story true.
Many pediatric practices offer accommodations if asked: a morning slot, a lead-up visit to just sit in the chair, sunglasses for the light, or a weighted lap pad. Edit the story to match whatever your office actually does, so the pages describe your child's real appointment rather than a generic one.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a dentist social story?
- It is a short, page-by-page preview of a dental checkup written for a child: the waiting room, the moving chair, the bright light, counting and cleaning teeth, and the finish. This version follows Carol Gray's gentle, describe-first structure, so it spends most of its pages explaining what happens and only a few suggesting what your child can do.
- How do I prepare my autistic child for the dentist?
- Read the story at calm times for several days before the visit, practice the raise-a-hand break signal at home, and call the office ahead to ask for a quiet slot and to flag what helps your child. Some practices offer a short meet-the-chair visit before the real cleaning, which pairs well with the story.
- Does the story promise the dentist will not hurt?
- No, and that is deliberate. It says the tools can feel tickly and sound whooshy or buzzy, which is honest, and it never claims nothing will hurt. What it offers instead is predictability plus a way to ask for a break, which is what makes the visit tolerable.
- What if my child will not open their mouth?
- The story frames opening wide as a lion yawn, which turns the demand into something playful your child can practice at home in the mirror. Rehearse it before the visit and tell the hygienist the phrase you use, so the words in the chair match the words in the story.
- Can I download and print the dentist story at no cost?
- Yes. The full text is on this page, and the maker assembles the printable booklet without payment. Add your child's name and photos first if you want the personalized version.
- Can I edit the story to match our dentist's office?
- Yes. Open it in the maker to change any sentence, swap the pictures, or use your child's name throughout. Adding your dentist's actual name and what their room looks like makes the preview much more powerful.
- Who developed social stories?
- Social Stories were developed by Carol Gray in the early 1990s. The gentle version of this template follows her published guidance, including describing more than coaching, but Spectrum Unlocked is not affiliated with or endorsed by Carol Gray.
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Related guides
Social Stories were developed by Carol Gray. Spectrum Unlocked is not affiliated with or endorsed by Carol Gray; the gentle version of this template follows her published describe-more-than-coach guidance.