CDA Essentials 2014 • Volume 1 • Issue 5 - page 31

31 Volume1 Issue5 |
Issues and People
Putting Kids at Ease about Visiting the Dentist
CHICOTHEPUPPY
JenDafoeknowswhat it’s liketo feel scaredabout
anupcomingmedicalprocedure.Afterundergoing
38surgeriesoverseveralyears(5brainand
33reconstructiveoral/dental), sheunderstands
theemotional strainofbeingapatient.
Ms. Dafoe,whowasborn legallyblind, had
experienced the fear andanxiety that buildsprior
tomedical proceduresor surgeryand realized that
childrengo through the same stress. “Nobody likes
theunknownand imagineputtingyourself ina
child’splace,” saysMs. Dafoe. Theseexperiences
werepart of the impetus forMs. Dafoe towriteher
first children’sbook.
The result is Chico’sFirstTrip to theDentist, abook
that followsChico thepuppyat thedentist’soffice. “Iwanted this
book tobeusedas aneducational and fun tool tohelpalleviate
theworries that ananxious childmight havebefore theycome to
adental office,”Ms. Dafoe says.
AlthoughChicomight not bea typical patient, the story—
charmingly illustratedbyEvanShoman—chronicles a routine
visit to thedentist, completewithdescriptionsof Chicogetting
kibble scrubbedoffhis teethandchoosing thedoggy-bone
flavour for his fluoride treatment.
Chicowas inspiredbyapuppy that belongs to JohnKassoulides, oneofMs. Dafoe’s friends.
“When Iwasgoing throughmy surgeries, Johnwould sendmeacutepictureof hispuppy
saying, ‘Chicowill beyour nurse in theneurosurgeryunit today,’ and it alwaysmademe laugh,”
she says. “And if itmade me laugh, I knew kidsweregoing to lovehimaswell. Often,we seea
dogas aprotector, acompanion, aguide, someonewho’s therewhenwe’re scaredor nervous.
SoChicowas the ideal character.”
Togather the informationneeded toaccuratelyconveyadental visit,Ms. Dafoebrought
togethermanydentists, doctors anddental hygienists. “Itwas very important forme to include
accurateandup-to-date information in thebook,” sheexplains. “Toooften, children’sbooks
take libertieswith thesedetails.”
Shecredits several dentists for their support andadvice, inparticular: Dr. KarinVan
Ryswyk, general practicedentist inLondon, Ontario; Dr. RaymondLee, staffpediatric
dentist at LondonHealthSciencesCentre; Dr. DavidFarkouh, staffpediatricdentist at The
Hospital for SickChildren inToronto; andDrs.MarioMosconeandSilvioFerrera—her local
dentists inher hometownof Sarnia, Ontario.
“Myowndentists—alongwith their teammembers Tina
FerreraandErynMacMillan—haveall beenawonderful
sourceof support andencouragement throughout this
entirecreativeprocess,” notesMs. Dafoe.
“If I canalleviate the stressof evenonechildwithmybook
byeducating them, that’s very satisfying,” sheconcludes.
“Knowing that Imight help takeawayachild’s anxietyand
replace itwitheducation, smiles andgiggles, I’ve reached
myultimategoal of helpingothers inmy lifetime.” a
(L. to r.)
Dr.MarioMoscone,
ErynMacMillan, Jen
Dafoe, TinaFerreraand
Dr. SilvioFerrera.
To learnmore, visit
chicosadventures.com
JenDafoehas teamedwith
PattersonDental tomake Chico’s
FirstTrip to theDentist available
toCanadiandental practices.
Toorder copies, pleasecontact
your Patterson representative.