Introduction: Visiting the Dentist Step up to a mirror and SMILE . You're looking at a marvelous set of teeth. They help you chew your meals, speak clearly -- even look great. Every day, you protect your teeth by cleaning them. But like everybody else, you need a little help at least twice a year. That's why you visit dentists regularly: to make sure you're cleaning all your teeth well and to prevent or fix problems. Visiting dentists means going to offices that have special tools to care for your teeth. The dentists use many of them. Dental hygienists use some, too. The tools that are pictured in this book are common ones. You'll spot a lot of them on your visits -- even if the tools don't look exactly like the ones on these pages. When you see, hear, or feel a dentist's tools, they can seem strange. That's why it's good to read this book with a parent before you visit a dentist. You'll find out how the tools are used and why. You'll discover that most of them won't bother you at all and that a few might -- just for a short time. But remember: these tools are there to help you. You are the person in charge of your teeth, so you are important to their care. In this book, you'll read about some of the jobs you'll have at the dentist's office. Look for them on pages that say "Your Job." Then try them out on your dentist visits. Excerpted from The Dentist and You by Diane Swanson All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.
