I'm pretty sure no one enjoys going to the dentist. So it's not surprising that many kids find a trip to the dental office a bit anxiety inducing. Especially those who have sensory differences.
But simply brushing and flossing every day is just the basics (you can grab a free brushing teeth social story here to help, by the way). It's also important to go for dental checkups and cleanings on a regular basis.
Many kids (and adults even!) can benefit from a little extra prep for those trips to the dentist. That's where social stories can come in handy. They can explain what to expect, why regular checkups are important for dental health, and what all those special dental tools are and do.
Below you will find a variety of free social stories about going to the dentist. Other topics included are about x-rays, getting a cleaning, and getting a filling. So, let's take a closer look at those teeth...I mean social narratives.
Free Printable Social Stories About Going to the Dentist
Have you been looking for a social story about dentist appointments, checkups, and cleanings? Then look no further than these free printable dentist social stories. Some require you to have a Teachers Pay Teachers account (which is free!) before you can download them.
I've rounded up some options for you to explore. That way you can find the best dentist social story for you and your child. Or you can simply use ideas from different stories below to write your own custom story (free social story templates here to help).
Keep in mind that sometimes (although super rare!) your local dental clinic might have a premade social story available about their specific clinic and staff. Definitely check there first. That way you'll have a story that's tailored to the specific clinic your child will be visiting.
Please note that just because a social story is listed here does not mean I endorse its content. After all, many social stories tend to be poorly written and/or teach autistic masking. Besides, I haven't read all of these stories word for word myself. So please read through the stories carefully before using them with your child.
1. 4 Social Stories About Dentist Visits from ASERT - There are four short stories here about dentist visits. Topics include going to the dentist, getting my teeth cleaned, getting x-rays, and getting a cavity filled. Two stories use colorful clipart, while the other two use full color photos.
2. Dentist Health & Appointment Social Story from Social Stories: Power Tool for Autism - Here's a text only social story dental health, including brushing and going to the dentist. It includes one full color photo.
3. 2 Social Stories About Going to the Dentist from Happy Learners - There are two text only social stories here. No images are included. The topics are "Going to the Dentist" and "Having a Filling."
4. Dentist Appointment Social Story from Boston Medical Center - This story is all about visiting the dentist. It uses mostly clipart, but includes a couple photos as well. It's available in 5 languages.
5. Getting a Dental Filling Social Story from Boston Medical Center - Here's a story that focuses on fillings. It uses mostly clipart, but a couple photos are included as well. This story is available in 3 langauges.
6. Dentist Social Stories from Autism Little Learners - These stories focus mostly on going to the dentist during COVID and what changes were involved. However, they could easily be adapted for everyday use as well. There are two variations and they are both available in English or Turkish. They uses colorful clipart.
7. Visiting the Dentist's Office Social Story from Crayons & Cartwheels on TPT - Here's a very colorful story about dentist appointments. It apparently uses clipart and images so not sure if that means photos or not. It does come as a PowerPoint so you should be able to edit it.
8. Simple Dentist Visit Social Story from Jenna Dower on TPT - This story looks like it uses a mix of clipart and photos with simple text.
9. Social Story: Going to the Dentist from Jones' Jellyfish on TPT - Here's a story that uses some diverse characters in their clipart. It looks like the story itself is very colorful.
10. Going to the Orthodontist Social Story from Watson Institute - This story uses photos and talks about braces or retainers. So it's a bit more specific than other stories on this list.
11. I am Going to the Dentist Social Story from Education & Behavior - This story looks really detailed and uses full color photos. Photos are of dental tools and everything.
12. Social Story: Cleaning at the Dentist from Brightwork Therapy on TPT - Here's a story that focuses on dental cleaning visits. The story uses a mix of photos and clipart. It's available as a PowerPoint so you should be able to edit it.
13. I am Going to the Dentist from Taryn Vondrasek on TPT - This story uses clipart and bold text. It's designed to reduce anxiety and outline what to expect during the appointment.
Video Dentist Social Stories
Here are some video social stories that talk about preparing for your upcoming dentist visit. You can use these in teletherapy sessions or at home. Videos are always a great alternative to printing off a story.
Like the stories above, some of the wording in these videos aren't always great. But I wanted to make sure you had lots of different options for preparing your child for a visit to the dentist's office.
While many people find trips to the dentist anxiety inducing, hopefully these free social stories about going to the dentist will help ease that anxiety a bit. Especially for children who might be going to the dentist for the very first time. Or for kids who find the dentist to be overwhelming sensory wise. I hope these stories help.
