A Caterpillar at the Dentist

Ira is nervous about her dentist visit!

She's never had a filling before. When Ira meets Zack, a talking caterpillar, in the dentist's waiting room, Zack knows just how to make her feel better. Zack will explain that the dentist's tools are simple, harmless objects used in everyday life. Through their imagination, Ira will learn to understand the nature and importance of getting a filling.

"A Caterpillar at the Dentist is a must-read for parents who want to help their child prepare for their first dental visit. It is a positive story that provides child-friendly language for the different parts of a dental visit and a positive reflection of the dental team, along with the office setting and tools they use to keep kids' mouths healthy! A great example of caring and collaboration with dental providers and families to maintain a healthy smile, which keeps kids healthy and ready to learn!"

-- Tegwyn H. Brickhouse, DDS, PhD; Interim Chair, Department of Oral Health Promotion and Community Outreach; Director, Oral Health Services Research Core, Phillips Institute for Oral Health Research, VCU School of Dentistry; Director, Oral Health in Childhood and Adolescence; Institute for Inclusion, Inquiry, and Innovation

"Children almost always dread visiting dentists due to anxiety and fear that may stem from parents, peers, or other sources. This book will definitely help in eradicating such fears. It will not only boost the child's confidence in visiting a dentist, but also make the child look forward to visiting one. I also congratulate Dr. Shweta Ujaoney immensely for coming up with this wonderful caterpillar story, which I believe is so beautiful and colorful that any child will read with keen interest."

-- Dr. Paul Chalakkal, Pediatric Dentist, India; Prestigious Young Pedodontist Award Recipient, Proactive Academician Award Recipient for Pediatric Dentistry

"Extremely well-written and well-illustrated! Very novel way to prepare kids and parents for a visit to the dentist."
-- Manju Mamtani, MD

"Little Ira has a cavity in her tooth, and she's worried about seeing the dentist. But when she visits Dr. U's office, she makes a friend who gives her the inside scoop. Join Ira and Zack as they take a special tour of the dentist's office and meet all the fun characters who help Dr. U every day. Packed with information about tools and procedures, this bright book will be handy for any child visiting the dentist."
-- Pavi Raman, MD

"Informative, educational, and colorful are just some of the words that come to mind when describing A Caterpillar at the Dentist. Join Ira on a fun-filled adventure that thoroughly explains what a cavity is, how it is fixed, and what tools are used to fix it. As a registered dental hygienist, I truly feel this book will familiarize children with the dental office and ease dental anxiety because it is informative and explains things in such a vibrant and calming manner. It is a must-read for all young children."
-- Amanda Hann, RDH

"Informative, innovative, and inspirational!"
-- Hemant Kulkarni, MD

Dr. Shweta Ujaoney is a dentist who is passionate about working with kids and giving them a better dental experience. Through her practice, she has found that kids not only love to learn about the dental gadgets, but also love to be active participants in dental treatment. She has extensively researched the various reasons for dental fear and anxiety in children and published scientific papers. She is also the inventor of the Camouflage syringe, which helps mask the sharp anesthetic needle. Dr. Ujaoney believes that kids try to make sense of the world through their own imaginative eyes. One bad experience, stories from friends, or sheer fear of the unknown can make a child wary of visiting the dentist. This book is an effort to make children's and parents' experiences at their dentists' offices simple, more familiar, and fun- filled. Currently, Dr. Ujaoney works at a private dental practice and teaches at Virginia Commonwealth University's School of Dentistry in Richmond, VA. She is the mother of a six-year-old girl, and they have experienced firsthand the anxiety that can develop before dental procedures.

Kelly O'Neill loves to tell stories through cute, fun, and whimsical imagery. She earned a BFA in illustration from Syracuse University in 2017, and currently resides in Philadelphia, PA, where she works creating illustrations for children's books.