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Volume 1 Issue 5
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I
ssues and
P
eople
Putting Kids at Ease about Visiting the Dentist
CHICOTHEPUPPY
JenDafoe knows what it’s like to feel scared about
an upcomingmedical procedure. After undergoing
38 surgeries over several years (5 brain and
33 reconstructive oral/dental), she understands
the emotional strain of being a patient.
Ms. Dafoe, who was born legally blind, had
experienced the fear and anxiety that builds prior
to medical procedures or surgery and realized that
children go through the same stress. “Nobody likes
the unknown and imagine putting yourself in a
child’s place,” says Ms. Dafoe. These experiences
were part of the impetus for Ms. Dafoe to write her
first children’s book.
The result is
Chico’s First Trip to the Dentist
, a book
that follows Chico the puppy at the dentist’s office. “I wanted this
book to be used as an educational and fun tool to help alleviate
the worries that an anxious child might have before they come to
a dental office,” Ms. Dafoe says.
Although Chico might not be a typical patient, the story—
charmingly illustrated by Evan Shoman—chronicles a routine
visit to the dentist, complete with descriptions of Chico getting
kibble scrubbed off his teeth and choosing the doggy-bone
flavour for his fluoride treatment.
Chico was inspired by a puppy that belongs to John Kassoulides, one of Ms. Dafoe’s friends.
“When I was going through my surgeries, John would send me a cute picture of his puppy
saying, ‘Chico will be your nurse in the neurosurgery unit today,’ and it always made me laugh,”
she says. “And if it made
me
laugh, I knew kids were going to love him as well. Often, we see a
dog as a protector, a companion, a guide, someone who’s there when we’re scared or nervous.
So Chico was the ideal character.”
To gather the information needed to accurately convey a dental visit, Ms. Dafoe brought
together many dentists, doctors and dental hygienists. “It was very important for me to include
accurate and up-to-date information in the book,” she explains. “Too often, children’s books
take liberties with these details.”
She credits several dentists for their support and advice, in particular: Dr. Karin Van
Ryswyk, general practice dentist in London, Ontario; Dr. Raymond Lee, staff pediatric
dentist at London Health Sciences Centre; Dr. David Farkouh, staff pediatric dentist at The
Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto; and Drs. Mario Moscone and Silvio Ferrera—her local
dentists in her hometown of Sarnia, Ontario.
“My own dentists—along with their team members Tina
Ferrera and Eryn MacMillan—have all been a wonderful
source of support and encouragement throughout this
entire creative process,” notes Ms. Dafoe.
“If I can alleviate the stress of even one child with my book
by educating them, that’s very satisfying,” she concludes.
“Knowing that I might help take away a child’s anxiety and
replace it with education, smiles and giggles, I’ve reached
my ultimate goal of helping others in my lifetime.”
a
(L. to r.)
Dr. Mario Moscone,
Eryn MacMillan, Jen
Dafoe, Tina Ferrera and
Dr. Silvio Ferrera.
To learn more, visit
chicosadventures.comJen Dafoe has teamed with
Patterson Dental to make
Chico’s
First Trip to the Dentist
available
to Canadian dental practices.
To order copies
,
please contact
your Patterson representative.