visit to the dentist story

The Dentist — a short story for English reading

Michael hates going to the dentist.

And today is no different.

But he has some work to do on his teeth.

Today though, the dentist introduces a brand-new painkiller. It could be just the thing that Michael needs.

Check out my short story, The Dentist, which comes with a full and complete lesson plan that you can use in your English class today.

Take a look below… And tell me what you think.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Do you like to go to the dentist? Why/why not?

What do you dislike about going to the dentist?

What is a psychopath?

Could a dentist be a psychopath? What if he was?

The Dentist

Michael hated it.

He hated sitting in the chair and feeling helpless. The bright light above his head and the clean, hygienic walls that surrounded him.

It all made him feel incredibly uneasy.

“Michael, I can assure you, there is nothing to worry about,” said Mr Crane. He wore his dentist’s white coat and had perfect white teeth. He gazed back at Michael with a relaxed air. Like there was nothing to worry about.

It was all right for him. He wasn’t sitting in the chair. He was not about to have treatment for a new crown to be fitted.

Michael shifted his weight in the chair and grimaced.

“I’m sorry about last time,” he said. “It’s just a stupid fear I have.”

“Fear of going to the dentist?” asked Mr Crane. “Don’t worry about it. I get this all the time from patients.”

He leaned forward. “Some are a lot of trouble, I can assure you.”

He gave Michael an encouraging smile.

This did nothing for Michael’s nerves. He would rather be anywhere else than in this dentist’s chair. He could accept the pain in his tooth. That was much better than sitting here, while Mr Crane drilled into the offending tooth.

“Michael, I have something I want to show you,” said Mr Crane, going to a small tray to the side of the room. He turned and picked up a small glass vial. He raised it to show to Michael. It was filled with a clear liquid.

“This is a new anaesthetic on the market,” he went on. “It is brand new, and only my private students are allowed to have it. The company that makes it wants it to be very secret.”

Mr Crane sat on the stool next to Michael and looked down at him. “But this is an incredible formula. It is probably the best pain-killer on the market.”

The dentist continued to hold Michael’s gaze. “Would you like to try it?”

“I- I don’t want to be any trouble,” said Michael.

But his eyes were fixed on the small vial held between Mr Crane’s finger and thumb.

“It’s no trouble at all,” said Mr Crane. He leaned forward and lowered his voice. “Our little secret.”

The thought of being given something so powerful that he would not experience any pain at all sent a calm, soothing feeling through Michael’s nerves. He could feel himself relaxing as if he were already under the influence of the new painkiller.

“Are you sure?” asked Michael.

“No problem,” said Mr Crane.

Michael lay back in the chair while Mr Crane filled the syringe from the tiny bottle. He hummed a small tune as he did it and Michael recognised it as a popular song that was on the radio.

Through the window, he could make out normal life carrying on outside. He heard a bus drive by and the sound of a bell on a bicycle.

People’s voices and children laughing.

Everything was fine. There was nothing to worry about at all.

“Shall we?” said Mr Crane, and he raised the syringe in front of him.

Michael nodded. He would pass by all this pain and torture and not feel a thing. He was so happy. So relieved.

Mr Crane leaned forward. “You’ll just feel a little jab as the needle goes in. Then, nothing to worry about.”

Michael tensed as the needle entered his gum. Yes, very uncomfortable, and ice-cold, but in a few minutes nothing but deep relaxation.

“All done,” said Mr Crane. “I’ll be back in a few minutes and we can begin.”

Michael lay deeper into the chair and half-closed his eyes. The muscles of his arms, legs, his entire body felt relaxed. A warm soothing feeling washed over him and he felt as if all the worries and anxieties he had ever experienced left him for good.

His body was so relaxed that all he could do was breathe. He tried to lift the little finger of his right hand and it felt as if it moved a little but he couldn’t be sure. He forgot about it and allowed the dream-like quality of the anaesthetic to wash over him.

A little nagging thought tapped at his inner-most mind and he tried to move his little finger again.

It felt as if it moved but he could not feel it really move. It was like he imagined it moving only.

He went to move his head to the right to see his hand more clearly. He could not.

A small jab of tension cleared his mind a little, and he tried again. Nothing.

He could not move his head at all.

He took a deep breath of air into his lungs and automatically tried to lift both of his hands. But they stayed on the armrests of the chair like they were glued there.

No resistance. No feeling.

He simply could not move his arms or head at all.

He kicked out, and neither foot moved.

Michael sucked in a chest full of air and went to call out to Mr Crane. No sound came.

He could not move. And he had lost the power to make any sound.

He was paralysed. Stuck to the chair, but wide awake.

A shadow appeared beside him.

“We should be about ready by now,” said Mr Crane.

His voice sounded like an echo and far away.

And where was the nurse? The dental assistant?

There was usually a young woman helping. It was just him and Mr Crane. Why was he alone with him?

The dentist’s face loomed up in front of Michael.

“Shall we see if this new drug has taken effect yet?” he asked.

He had a bright, shiny scalpel in his hand.

Michael tried to scream but no sound came. He just lay in the chair unable to move.

Mr Crane opened Michael’s mouth and jabbed the scalpel against his tongue. A dagger of pain soared through Michael’s mouth and into his brain.

Inside his head, he let out a scream.

“ Let’s get to work then,” said Mr Crane, closing the blind of the window.

Reading Comprehension Questions

Where is Michael?

How does he feel being there?

What specific aspects of the dentist’s office make Michael uneasy?

Describe Mr Crane’s demeanour as a dentist.

What is Michael’s concern regarding his dental treatment?

What does Mr Crane think about Michael’s feelings? What expression does he use to try to calm him?

Is this Michael’s first visit to see Mr Crane?

Where does Michael want to be instead?

What does Mr Crane show Michael?

Does Mr Crane want Michael to try the new anaesthetic?

What kind of patients usually use this anaesthetic?

Why does Michael agree to try the new anaesthetic?

What can Michael hear outside the window?

How does Michael feel immediately after Mr Crane gives him the injection?

What effect does the anaesthetic have on Michael’s body and mind?

What part of his body does Michael try to move?

What does he try to move next?

Describe Michael’s initial reaction when he realizes he can’t move.

Why does Michael become increasingly panicked?

How does Michael attempt to communicate his distress?

What was Michael’s first clue that something might be wrong with Mr Crane’s intentions?

Is there a nurse to help the dentist?

What actions does Mr Crane take after Michael’s paralysis becomes apparent?

What realization dawns upon Michael about the situation?

What does Mr Crane have in his hand?

What does he do with this object?

What is Michael’s reaction?

How does Mr Crane react to Michael’s initial attempts to move and call out?

What does Mr Crane do next after realizing the drug has taken effect?

What does Mr Crane do next?

Why does Mr Crane close the blind of the window?

True or False

Go over all the sentences below and say if they are true or false.

The correct answers can be found at the end of the lesson plan.

Michael is at the dentist.

Michael loves going to the dentist.

Michael feels comfortable and at ease while sitting in the dentist’s chair.

Mr Crane wears a white coat and has perfect white teeth.

Michael’s fear of going to the dentist is uncommon and rarely experienced by other patients.

Mr Crane doesn’t know Michael.

Michael needs a new filling for his tooth.

Mr Crane shows Michael a little vial.

Mr Crane introduces a new tooth cleaner to Michael.

Michael doesn’t want to try this new medicine.

It is during the daytime at the dentist’s.

Mr Crane lets Michael use the syringe on himself.

Michael feels relaxed and relieved of all worries and anxieties.

Michael can move his head and little finger after the painkiller is administered.

Michael cannot speak.

The nurse helps Mr Crane.

Mr Crane taps Michael’s gum with his finger.

Mr Crane closes the blind of the window to let more light into the room.

Michael becomes increasingly panicked and tries to scream for help.

Mr Crane expresses concern and tries to assist Michael when he realizes something is wrong.

Michael is able to call out to Mr Crane for help when he is paralysed.

Essential Vocabulary

Write down all the words and phrases in your vocabulary notebook. Look in your dictionary and find the meaning of each word. Write the definition next to each word.

Then make up your own sentences using each word or phrase.

For example:

Relaxed air — a calm and easygoing atmosphere or demeanour, promoting comfort and informality.

Scream — a noun and verb that refers to a loud and high-pitched vocal expression of intense emotion, often conveying fear, excitement, or distress.

Then write a sentence of your own that uses the new word or phrase correctly.

I entered the room of the party and was glad to see that the place had a very relaxed air.

The woman let out a scream when the man outside banged on the door.

Do this with all the vocabulary and, over time, this will help improve all your English skills — reading, writing, speaking and listening.

Discussion Questions

Have you ever had a similar experience at the dentist, where you felt nervous or uneasy? Can you share your story?

What is Michael’s feeling about going to the dentist?

Why does he feel like this?

Put yourself in Michael’s shoes. How would you feel and react if you were in his situation?

Describe the dentist, Mr Crane, and his attitude towards Michael. Does he seem like a nice person?

Has Michael been to visit Mr Crane before? What happened last time, do you think?

Is Mr Crane used to people being afraid? How do you know?

Mr Crane shows Michael a new anaesthetic. What is really in this little vial, do you think?

What do you think is the significance of the new anaesthetic being described as a “secret formula”?

Why do you think Michael decides to try the new anaesthetic despite his fear?

Why is there no nurse to help the dentist today?

Is Mr Crane a psychopath?

Or is Michael imagining it all?

Discuss the idea of trust in the story. Why does Michael initially trust Mr Crane, and how does this trust change over time?

Imagine you are one of the characters in the story — either Michael or Mr Crane. How would you describe your thoughts and feelings during the crucial moments?

What emotions and thoughts might have gone through Michael’s mind when he realized he couldn’t move or make a sound?

Why do you think Mr Crane chose to close the blind of the window before proceeding with his actions?

What do you think about this story?

Do you think it is realistic? Why/why not?

Do psychopaths live within our normal society? What do they do? What kind of jobs do they have?

This is a role play exercise.

This role has two characters:

2. Mr Crane

Take all the existing dialogue and use this as a basis for your role play.

You can add your own lines of dialogue if you wish, and you can change all the dialogue if you really want to, but in the end, you should have a complete role play to show the class.

Take some time to prepare and when you are ready, perform your role play in front of the class.

This is a survey activity.

Look at the questions below and ask these questions in class.

Try to evaluate the responses and talk about the outcomes.

For example; most people feel comfortable going to the dentist. Or; some people hate seeing the dentist.

How frequently do you visit the dentist for regular check-ups and cleanings?

What is the main reason you typically schedule a dental appointment? (e.g., routine check-up, specific dental issue, cleaning)

How do you feel about visiting the dentist? (Very comfortable, somewhat comfortable, neutral, somewhat uncomfortable, very uncomfortable)

Have you ever experienced dental anxiety or fear before a dental appointment?

If yes, can you briefly describe what aspects of visiting the dentist make you anxious or fearful?

What strategies, if any, do you use to cope with dental anxiety or fear? (e.g., deep breathing, listening to music)

How important is the demeanour and communication style of the dentist and dental staff to make you feel comfortable during your visit?

Are there specific amenities or features in a dental office that help alleviate your anxiety or make you feel more comfortable? (e.g., soothing music, comfortable waiting area)

How well-informed do you feel about the procedures and treatments your dentist recommends?

Have you ever postponed or cancelled a dental appointment due to anxiety or fear?

If yes, what could have been done differently to encourage you to keep the appointment?

How likely are you to ask questions or voice your concerns to your dentist during a visit?

Have you ever sought professional help, such as therapy or counselling, to address dental anxiety or fear?

Do you find that the overall environment and decor of the dental office influence your comfort level?

How would you rate your overall dental experience in terms of comfort and anxiety level? (Very positive, somewhat positive, neutral, somewhat negative, very negative)

Are there specific dental procedures that cause you more anxiety than others? If so, please specify.

How important are online reviews and recommendations when choosing a new dentist?

Have you ever had a particularly positive or calming experience at the dentist? If yes, could you describe it briefly?

What suggestions do you have for dental offices to create a more comfortable and anxiety-free environment for their patients?

Overall, how satisfied are you with your current dentist and the care you receive?

Quiz — Are You a Psychopath?

This is just for fun! Or maybe not… Answer all the questions and find out if you or any of your classmates are psychopaths!

1. Do you never feel fear?

2. Do other people like you a lot?

3. Do you like to act spontaneously?

4. Do you lose interest in people and new interests quickly?

5. Do you think the idea of falling in love is silly?

6. Are you good at charming others?

7. Do you think money is the most important thing in the world?

8. Do you sometimes pretend to be nice to people, even though you don’t want to?

9. Do you think you are better than others?

10. Do you have the ability to be very polite when needed?

11. Do you find other people to be a little stupid sometimes?

12. Do you get bored easily?

13. Do you get jealous of other people sometimes?

14. Do you tell many lies?

15. Do you sometimes spend money on foolish things?

16. Have you ever cheated your family or friends?

17. Do you feel indifferent when people are sad?

18. If you get caught doing something wrong, do you feel no sense of shame or guilt?

19. Are you good at manipulating and/or exploiting others to get what you want?

20. Do you think you are an aggressive person?

21. Do you have few friends in your life?

22. Do you like to take risks?

23. Do you laugh at inappropriate moments?

24. If you answer ‘Yes’ to most of the questions, then you could be a psychopath!

Now discuss in the class.

Which people answered yes to most of the questions?

Do these people seem like psychopaths to you?

This is a creative writing exercise.

You are going to write a short story. It is a continuation of the story you read at the beginning of the lesson plan. The title of the story is:

The Dentist From Hell

Use the questions below to help you come up with some ideas.

• Does Mr Crane try to kill Michael?
• Is the pain all inside Michael’s head? If so, why?
• What does Mr Crane do when he finds that Michael cannot move or speak?
• Does someone come to help Michael?

Now write your story.

When you have finished writing, you can read it out loud in front of the class.

Or hand it to your teacher for review.

You can download the full lesson plan by clicking the link below!

You can also join my mailing list by clicking the link below. I will send you new guides, articles and lesson plans when I publish them.

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2 thoughts on “the dentist — a short story for english reading”.

I think this is a great story and an excellent topic for discussion. Going to a dentist is an inevitable experience we must all undergo and not too many people are thrilled about it! It is also en excellent opportunity to discuss fear and pain. I particularly liked the extension activities in this lesson as they opened new doorways and opportunities for additional related lessons.

Many thanks Leona, I am glad to hear your thoughts on this lesson. I am hoping to write more of these short story lesson plans in the future as I think they could be useful for students and make learning English fun.

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Monday, December 12, 2022

Free social stories about going to the dentist.

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.

Need one-on-one support? I can help!

Quick links, get connected, where i write.

A Visit to the Dentist by Shaun Ivory

Shaun Ivory

• 9 February 2018

Hands up those who like school dentists! Is there even such a person these days? There certainly was back in the 1940s. Just as the seasons rolled around in the great world outside, in National Schools there were exams, inspections… and the annual school dentist visit.

We had dentists in our town already, of course, but you had to pay for those and to be fair, oral hygiene simply wasn’t high on a working class parent’s priority list back then. Nor was kissing girls for us boys either, so where was the problem? Well, actually it wasn’t so much a perfectly normal aversion to having one’s mouth explored by a complete stranger; it was the size of the needle and the fact that fillings simply were not considered – out they came! Every year that went past meant at least one tooth less – for ever! No implants then. Oh, he had a dental plan all right; the slightest decay meant extraction and any extraction(s) meant the tooth adjacent to it invariably lost some enamel too in the process. So come next year… you guessed it!

But one year was particularly memorable, for our class was in its last year (in those days we left at age 14) and we had vainly hoped to escape his pliers. When headmaster announced the dreaded words and names for tomorrow the groans were almost as bad as the real ones would be after The Yank (our name for him) had finished with us. He was only skinny but he had a terrible strong wrist action. Not for nothing was he known as The Yank!

We all trooped glumly through the town to the dispensary, hardly anybody talking, completely occupied in probing our teeth with our tongues. It was a bright summer’s day, too, completely at odds with what was in prospect. The dispensary was L-shaped and as we sat in one room we could see the next room running at right angles to us and his window with the sash up.

He called the first one in. It didn’t take long; some mutterings, a scraping of boots, the sound as of someone being strangled and then PLINK! as something dropped into a bucket. Seconds later the victim would re-appear, holding his jaw and shaking his head, sometimes with a trickle of blood running down his chin. We all looked uneasily at each other but before anyone could speak his voice rang out.

And so it went on – mutter, scrape. Argh! PLINK!

Next up was a boy called (let us say) Mooney. Someone nudged me and winked. Mooney was big for his age where the rest of us looked like greyhounds on a diet. “Your man will give ould Tugger a few rounds!” he whispered.

Sure enough, the muttering lasted longer, as did the floorboards scraping. Then a mighty roar came out of Mooney. Suddenly the window in the room across the way shot all the way up and a boot appeared, swiftly followed by a long leg, then the rest of Mooney… except he had half a broken hypodermic needle jutting from his lower jaw, his lower lip forced down by it enough to allow some blood to run down his chin. Then he was all the way out and without a backward glance legging it down Church Lane as fast as he could go.

We all sat motionless for maybe four, five seconds. Then – without a word – we promptly followed suit; out the door, hurtling past the receptionist before she could even stand up.

We made it down Church Lane, too, turning left towards the school, until Matty got a stitch and we all slowed, coming to a stop by the Bridge Bar, heaving and straining, our hands on our knees.

“What… what do we do now, lads?” gasped Mashie Reilly.

“Aw, Jaze, we daren’t go back to class, ould Macker’ll murder us,” panted another.

But what was the alternative? Go back to the dispensary, there to endure the wrath of old Tugger at being thwarted in his torturous trade?

Then someone came up with the idea – born out of desperation – that we do indeed go back to school… and pretend we had had our teeth out! Would Tugger complain? The school had no phone. It was Friday. Tugger would be gone to the next parish come Monday. Would he write a letter… complain?

So that’s what we did, quaking in our boots, our tongues firmly in our cheeks and clutching our jaws, nodding dumbly when asked if we’d all been to Mr Temple.

“Well, sit down… and no talking!”

Was that a hint of a smile on Macker’s face?

That was it, no comeback. Tugger had taken the money and an early afternoon off, and we’d hung on to our teeth for at least one more year!

(c) Shaun Ivory

Ireland 1940-50. Age, six to sixteen. Probably the most crucial ten years in anyone’s life. The brain during those years is like a sponge, soaking up both good and the bad, some of which inevitably and unknowingly influences the rest of your life. Most of what happened at that age was beyond your control; some of it you would willingly swap for someone – anyone! – else’s. But you can’t; events can never be replicated, no matter how much you may try.

Order your copy online here .

About the author

Shaun Ivory now lives in an English seaside town not unlike Bray, County Wicklow, where he was born and grew up until the age of 16, when he joined the RAF. In a varied and often colourful life he has travelled most of the world; worked in several countries, experiencing the heat of the Middle East and the cold of the North Sea’s oil rigs. He has attended non-graduate courses at two universities, Caius College, Cambridge and Leeds. His writing career has been just as extensive, with moderate success in most genres, also writing for TV and broadcasting for radio – BBC and RTE’s Sunday Miscellany. A co-founder of the local Writers’ Group he also compiles walking guides for the local authority. A frequent contributor to Ireland’s largest circulation weekly magazine, Ireland’s Own, he also provides ideas for an award-winning international strip cartoonist. On retiring from ICI he took a year’s Novel Writing course with Leeds University. This was the inspiration for his published supernatural thriller, The Judas Cup, attracting 4- and 5-star reviews. With Friends of My Father, he seeks to achieve similar success. His current project is an ambitious series, adding to the 6 books he has written.

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Social Stories for Going to the Dentist

Visit to the Dentist’s Office by HANDS In Autism

A Trip to the Dentist by Ability Path

Going to the Dentist: A Social Story for Aspergers and Autistic Children

My Visit to the Dentist by Small World Children’s Dentistry

Dentist Social Story by leechbabe

My Visit to the Dentist by The Center for Pediatric Dentistry

My Dental Social Story by Ocean Pediatric Dental Associates

Taking Your Son/Daughter with ASD to the Dentist by Indiana Resource Center for Autism

Taking Your Son/Daughter with ASD to the Dentist by Indiana Resource Center for Autism (social narrative, no pictures)

Going to the Dentist by Hiyah Software  (story under “Going Places” Heading)

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Curious George Visits the Dentist

Buy from other retailers, what's this book about.

Curious George bites into a shiny apple made of wax and his tooth begins to hurt. When George shows his wiggly tooth to the man with the yellow hat, he takes George to the dentist. It’s his first time, and George is nervous, but he overcomes his fear and learns about better dental hygiene–with a little good-natured mayhem on the side! With art in the style of H. A. Rey, this engaging story will show young readers that there is nothing scary about wobbly teeth and that a visit to the dentist can actually be fun! Includes activites and information about healthy teeth, plus a sheet of stickers to celebrate good brushing habits or a successful dentist visit.

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• Lesson 08: A visit to the Dentist

Back To The Course

Readings – level 2.

• Lesson 01: Dogs and Parks
• Lesson 02: A visit to the Doctor
• Lesson 03: Saint Patrick’s Day
• Lesson 04: Women and Shoes
• Lesson 05: Spring
• Lesson 06: Books are Source of Knowledge
• Lesson 07: Sally’s Children
• Lesson 09: Going to Work
• Lesson 10: Summer
• Lesson 11: Summer Refreshments
• Lesson 12: Making Spaghetti
• Lesson 13: Vacations Abroad
• Lesson 14: Independence Day
• Lesson 15: Fall
• Lesson 16: Judy’s Garden
• Lesson 17: Making a Deposit in your Bank Account
• Lesson 18: Halloween
• Lesson 19: Chritsmas in The United States
• Lesson 20: Winter
• Reading – Level 2

A visit to the Dentist Eva has a terrible toothache today. She wants to see her dentist as soon as possible. She visited her dentist six months ago. She went there for a cleaning and check up. When she visited the dentist everything was all right. Eva is afraid of the dentist’s drill. She does not like the sound it makes. She gets nervous when she hears the drill going. She knows that visits to the dentist can be very expensive if you do not have dental coverage. Some employers offer dental coverage as part of the benefit package. Other employers offer to pay a big percentage of the coverage. Eva has a good job. She works for a financial company on Wall Street so she has a good dental coverage. The dentist is going to see if Eva has a new cavity. Cavities are little holes that bacteria make in your teeth when you don’t brush them. To avoid getting cavities people should brush their teeth three times a day. If the filling of the cavity is gone, the dentist will have to fill the cavity one more time. Eva is nervous. She does not like the idea of getting a new filling because her dentist will have to use the drill to clean the bad part of the tooth. If he has to do that, Eva will ask him to give her a shot of anesthesia so that she does not feel the pain. When Eva leaves the dentist’s office, she will not be able to eat anything for quite some time. document.createElement('audio'); http://easyworldofenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/readings_level2_11b.mp3

9 Picture Books to Get Kids Ready for the Dentist

By jennifer ridgway.

To try to prepare my kids for their first trip to the dentist (or “the doctor for their teeth,” as I explained), I turned to books. There are quite a few stories available that help guide young kids through what they may experience when they go, from the waiting room to the exam room to a potential (hopefully not!) cavity. Unlike their pediatricians, who most children see regularly from birth, dentists are a new experience for little ones. Below are some of the books that my family read to prepare for the trip — and loved!

by Leslie Patricelli

Babies get their first teeth (and have to brush them) long before seeing a dentist. This adorable board book by popular children’s author Leslie Patricelli introduces babies to teeth and how to keep them healthy.

The Tooth Book

by Dr. Seuss, illustrated by Joe Mathieu

Get ready to giggle your way through this wacky board book about teeth from Dr. Seuss. Young children will learn all about their pearly whites, what they’re for, and how to keep them clean. If your child loves the rhymes, humor, and silliness of Dr. Seuss’s books, add this one to your collection.

Dora Goes to the Doctor/Dora Goes to the Dentist

by Random House and Robert Roper

This two-books-in-one includes what turned out to be my twins’ favorite dentist story, despite their having no familiarity with Dora the Explorer. Dora tells the reader about her trip to the dentist and includes them in the process, asking them to look for things in the illustrations and to do certain things (open wide!) to prepare. She briefly touches on cavities without going into too much detail.

Maisy, Charley, and the Wobbly Tooth

by Lucy Cousins

Take a trip to the dentist with Maisy and her friends. They get to explore the dentist’s office and learn how to clean their teeth. It’s the perfect story to show first-timers what to expect.

The Night Before the Dentist

by Natasha Wing, illustrated by Amy Wummer

What can children do to get ready for a dentist visit? Find out in this rhyming story from the creators of the bestselling picture book series, The Night Before . Whether this is your child’s first trip to the dentist or they’re a seasoned pro, this book will calm their nerves and have them looking forward to their visit.

Just Going to the Dentist

by Mercer Mayer

The Little Critter series is a favorite in many homes, and this book is a great way to use a familiar character to introduce a new experience. Mayer’s book follows a very predictable yet informative sequence: The Little Critter goes to the dentist, discovers he has a cavity, and has to get a filling. The book also describes the funny feeling of a numb mouth and (very briefly) mentions braces.

The Berenstain Bears Visit the Dentist

by Stan and Jan Berenstain

You can’t go wrong with this classic story about the bear family’s visit to the dentist. They get their teeth cleaned, cavities filled, and baby teeth (gently) removed. Kids who love the familiar Berenstain characters will appreciate this story.

by Edward Miller

Visiting the dentist is an essential part of caring for your teeth. But do you know how to take care of them on a daily basis? This picture book walks children through the ins and outs of dental care and answers their questions.

The Last Loose Tooth

by Tyler Clark Burke

Readers who loved The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt will enjoy this giggle-worthy story about a tooth who refuses to fall out. Even after all the other baby teeth leave, Lou wants to stay put. But when new teeth show up, Lou must decide if staying in the mouth is worth it.

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2017 and updated in 2022.

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15 Books About Visiting The Dentist

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Does your little one have a dentist appointment coming up? The thought of going to the dentist can be frightening to kids, but you can help prepare them for their next visit with these 15 books about visiting the dentist .

Table of Contents

15 Books about Visiting the Dentist

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 

I’ll admit that I wasn’t very good about getting Nick to the dentist. Our dentist didn’t feel it was necessary before at least the age of 3, and Nick has always been very sensitive to loud sounds. I honestly was nervous that he’d not handle the appointment well, so he was well over 4 before I finally got up the nerve to take him.

Once I had finally made the appointment I knew that I had to start getting Nick prepared for his dentist visit. Being the language arts major that I am I have always turned to books to help prep for different life things. I did some research and found 15 great books about visiting the dentist.

I have listed them with Amazon links below so you can learn more about them to see if they’re right for your child. I hope these books help prepare your child as these books about visiting the dentist did for us.

The Berenstain Bears: Visit the Dentist – By Stan and Jan Berenstain

ABC Dentist: Healthy Teeth from A to Z – By Harriet Ziefert

Curious George Visits the Dentist – By H. A. Rey

Just Going to the Dentist (Little Critter) – By Mercer Mayer

Dora Goes to the Doctor/Dora Goes to the Dentist (Dora the Explorer) – Random House

Walter Wolf Goes to the Dentist – By Leela Hope

Imagine his surprise when his Mommy lets him skip the dentist appointment. But there’s a catch–to protect his teeth, he can’t have any candy! Walter discovers there are far worse things than going to the dentist after all.

Walter Wolf Goes to the Dentist is a light and funny tale that will charm kids aged 3-7 while teaching them there’s nothing to fear about going to the dentist.

Let’s Meet a Dentist – By Bridget Heos

Dentist (First Time) – By Jess Stockham

Dentist Trip (Peppa Pig) – Ladybird

Elmo Visits the Dentist – By P. J. Shaw

DK Readers L1: A Trip to the Dentist – By Penny Smith

Maisy, Charley, and the Wobbly Tooth – By Lucy Cousins

What to Expect When You Go to the Dentist – By Heidi Murkoff

Celebrate! Going to the Dentist – By Sophia Day

Show Me Your Smile! A Visit to the Dentist (Dora the Explorer) – By Nickelodeon Publishing

These books about the visiting the dentist were so helpful for getting Nick ready for his first visit, and even visits after that. I hope some of them are able to help prep your child as well!

More Book Collections

• 10 Books to Prepare Your Child for Preschool
• 14 Valentine Books to Read with Your Child
• 20 Books to Read with Your Little Baseball Fan

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Phillius Thomas

Monday 24th of August 2015

I remember reading number 1 and 4 when I was little. Reading dentist themed books seems like it should make it easier for the kids to not fear going. When I first went, I remember not being scared. I don't remember if it was because of the books or not, but they probably helped.

Saturday 5th of September 2015

That's wonderful that the books helped you Phillius. Books have so many uses in our lives, and helping children deal with certain situations is a big one!

Wednesday 29th of July 2015

What a great resource for parents and teachers! I'll have to share this with some of my teaching colleagues. Thanks for linking up to Blogger Brags. I've pinned your post to the Blogger Brags Pinterest board.

Friday 24th of July 2015

Wow I never knew there were so many children's book about visiting the dentist. Great list.

Natasha@ Anxious Toddlers

Wednesday 22nd of July 2015

What a great list of books! I will pin this onto my toddler books board :-)

I hated going to the dentist when I was younger and they didn't have books like these. Thank you for sharing this selection of books with us at #anythinggoes. Anything that makes going to the dentist less stressful is most welcome.

Autism in PA

Support groups, going to the dentist social stories.

These visual stories provide information about what to expect when going to the dentist. Social stories cover going to the dentist, getting teeth cleaned, getting x-rays and getting a cavity filled. These stories were developed in collaboration with UPMC Public Health Dental Clinic staff.

• Going to the Dentist Social Story
• Getting My Teeth Cleaned Social Story
• Getting X-Rays Social Story
• Getting a Cavity Filled Social Story

It’s important to go to the dentist to help keep my teeth and mouth healthy.

I need to have my teeth cleaned to remove the bacteria and germs.

I need to go to the dentist for a cleaning every six months.

When I get to the dentist’s office, I will check in at the front desk.

Then I will wait in the waiting room.

I can read books, play games, or watch tv while I wait for the dentist.

A dental hygienist will clean and check my teeth. They know how to help keep my teeth clean and healthy.

When I get to the exam room, I will sit in a big comfortable chair that goes up and down and lays back like I am sleeping.

They will clip a paper bib around my neck to keep my clothes clean. The bib may feel crinkly and make noise.

They will shine a bright light on my mouth so they can see to clean my teeth. If the light is bright I can close my eyes or wear sunglasses.

I will open my mouth wide and lie still while the dental hygienist cleans my teeth.

They will clean my teeth with special dental tools that make noise and tickle my teeth. They will use special toothpaste that may feel sandy.

They will squirt water or blow air on my teeth.

They will use a big straw that’s like a vacuum and sucks up the spit bubbles and water in my mouth.

They will use string, called floss, to clean in between my teeth.

The dentist will look at my teeth with the special dental tools and count my teeth.

They will paint special fluoride vitamins on my teeth. This may make my teeth feel sticky.

When I’m done I will get a new toothbrush and might get to choose a special prize.

When I go to the dentist I may need to have x-rays of my teeth.

I will sit in a dental chair.

An x-ray shield, which will feel like a heavy blanket, will be put on top of me to protect me.

They will put a holder in my mouth to take the x-ray.

They will use either a thick film or a digital sensor attached to the x-ray holder.

They will place the holder in my mouth to take an x-ray.

I will bite down. It may be a little uncomfortable.

I need to stay still while they put the camera next to my face for the x-ray. I can take deep breaths to stay relaxed.

I will hear a beep when they take the x-ray.

They will take the holder out of my mouth. They might move it to take another x-ray or put it away if they’re done taking x-rays.

Once they are done the pictures may get printed or shown on a computer.

The dentist will look at the x-rays to make sure my teeth are healthy.

There may be a time when your dentist tells you that you have a cavity that needs to be filled.

You will go to the dentist for your appointment and check in at the front desk. Then wait in the waiting room until it is your turn.

When you go into the examination room, you will sit in the large chair and the staff will place a bib on you.

They will put a gel medicine in your mouth to help make your tooth not hurt. This will make your mouth feel funny but it won’t hurt.

Sometimes they will use a nose covering during your appointment to make you more relaxed and comfortable.

Then they will use tools to prepare your tooth to be fixed. Some tools might make sounds, vibrate, or spray water.

Next they will apply a sour blue gel to your tooth. It will sit on your tooth for a few seconds.

Then they will rinse your tooth with water and use a big straw to suck it out of your mouth.

Next they will fill in your tooth.

They might use the same tools as before and use a light to harden the filling material.

They will do a final rinse of your mouth at the end of placing your filling.

Now your filling is complete. You will be given instructions on how long you need to wait to eat and/or drink.

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This information was developed by the Autism Services, Education, Resources, and Training Collaborative (ASERT) . For more information, please contact ASERT at 877-231-4244 or [email protected] . ASERT is funded by the Bureau of Supports for Autism and Special Populations, PA Department of Human Services.

What It Means When You Get A Headache After A Dentist Appointment

Y ou've been having a problem with your tooth that's been bothering you for a few weeks now. So, you made an appointment with your dentist and now the problem with your tooth is fixed, but your head throbs. Getting a headache from dental work is common and shouldn't cause any concern. However, you might want to let your dentist know next time so they can take the proper precautions to help you come out pain-free.

But why does your head hurt after a dental visit? The answer isn't as clear as it might seem. The reason behind your headache might be due to the visit itself. For example, a simple teeth cleaning can cause anxiety and lead to a tension headache. Your headache might also be due to the medications used by your dentist when filling a cavity or extracting a tooth. The pain in your temples can also come from the position of your jaw being open for an extended period of time. Additionally, getting your teeth cleaned or worked on might affect your sinuses causing a sinus headache.

We'll help you learn what each headache feels like and the root causes behind them. We'll also provide a few tried and tested methods to help relieve your pain now.

Read more: Scary Symptoms That Aren't As Serious As You Think

Dental Anxiety Can Cause A Headache

Fear of the dentist is common, according to WebMD . They note that between 9% and 20% of Americans avoid the dentist due to the fear and anxiety associated with it. Additionally, Better Health Channel reports that dental phobia could leave you stressed and anxious when sitting in the waiting room. Symptoms of dental anxiety include sweating, racing heart, low blood pressure, tense muscles, and feelings of panic. These overwhelming triggers can cause a stress headache during and after your dental appointment.

A stress or tension headache doesn't have one specific cause but is typically related to the muscle contractions in the head and neck, states  Johns Hopkins Medicine . These headaches are usually felt on both sides of the head and include a dull ache. You might also feel pain in your neck and shoulders. The onset of a tension headache is slow, and the pain is typically mild.

To avoid the headache, it's essential to try to calm your anxiety and fears. This might require taking medication before your visit. It can also be helpful to try deep breathing and calming techniques when waiting for your appointment. A 2022 study in Acta Biomedica found that music can help with cortisol, blood pressure, heart rate, and body temperature if you listen to it while in the dentist's chair.

Jaw Strain Can Also Cause A Headache

Whether you're getting your teeth cleaned or a cavity filled, an appointment with your dentist requires you to keep your mouth open for an extended period. Since your jaw isn't used to this, it can put pressure on the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and create muscle spasms, explains the Oral Health Foundation . This muscle pain could cause a headache after the visit is over.

TMJ headaches are felt on the tops of the cheeks and along the sides of the head, per Healthline . You can also feel tight facial or jaw muscles and facial pain, especially when moving your jaw. Dental Implant Specialist Centre also notes that pain around your eyes and temples is common. The headache is quite similar to a tension headache in that it comes on slowly and feels more like a dull ache rather than a stabbing pain.

Since the headache is coming from the muscles in your jaw, this is the area that you'll want to treat. Applying a warm compress or ice to your jaw can help relieve the swelling and inflammation in the TMJ. It can also be beneficial to take anti-inflammatory medication, like NSAIDs. Thankfully, as your jaw soreness eases, so will your headache.

A Dental Visit Could Lead To A Sinus Headache

All the areas in your face are connected in one way or another, so your teeth can play a significant role in facial pain and headaches. There is a reason for the saying "throbs like a toothache." Therefore, getting dental work done or having a dental infection can affect your sinuses and lead to a sinus headache and even a sinus infection (odontogenic sinusitis), per Enamel Dental Center .

A sinus headache typically includes pressure around your eyes, cheeks, and forehead. It will be worse when you move your head down, creating a throbbing pressure in the front of your face. Some people also feel a throbbing pain in their teeth. If the headache progresses into a full-blown sinus infection, you might also experience fatigue and fever. The American Rhinologic Society also notes that pain can be on one side of the face.

For a sinus headache, try using a saline solution to help to flush out your sinuses. Steam can also open up the sinus cavity to let everything move its way out. Relieve inflammation by applying warm compresses to the face, according to Mayo Clinic . When it progresses into odontogenic sinusitis, visit your healthcare provider to get a prescription for antibiotics.

Local Anesthesia Can Sometimes Give You A Headache

Depending on what you're getting done at the dental office, it may require local anesthesia to numb the area for an extraction, cavity treatment, or even a crown. Local anesthesia works by stopping the signals to nerves in that area, meaning you don't feel any pain when a dentist is working on your teeth, according to NHS . It's great during your procedure because it makes it easy to sit calmly rather than go under general anesthesia. However, these medications may have a few side effects, including a headache.

A study in the Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine found that 2.7% of people experienced headaches after using local anesthesia. The severity of the headache correlated with the specific medication used and the amount. Higher concentrations could produce more adverse effects like headaches.

A headache associated with medication will be short-lived and wear off with time. Taking over-the-counter pain meds and relaxing can help to dull the pain. It can also be beneficial to drink lots of fluids to help move the anesthesia out of your system. 

Read the original article on Health Digest .

Biden to join Barack Obama, Bill Clinton at star-studded fundraiser at Radio City Music Hall

WASHINGTON ― The stars are coming out for President Joe Biden's campaign fundraiser Thursday with former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton.

Stephen Colbert, host of CBS' "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," will moderate an "armchair conversation" with Biden, Obama and Clinton at the high-dollar event at Radio City Music Hall in New York, according to the campaign.

Actress Mindy Kaling, who starred in the television shows "The Office" and "The Mindy Project," is set to host the program. The evening will feature musical guests Lizzo, Queen Latifah, Ben Platt, Cynthia Erivo, and Lea Michele.

The fundraiser is expected to be the most lucrative to date for Biden's reelection campaign , which has significantly outraised former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee.

Fundraiser guests who pay enough can have their portrait taken with the three presidents by world-renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz, known for her pictures of celebrities.

Prep for the polls: See who is running for president and compare where they stand on key issues in our Voter Guide

Donors can also take part in a virtual conversation with the three presidents moderated by Biden campaign manager Julie Chávez Rodriguez.

The event is expected to raise at least $10 million and draw at least 3,000 people, Chris Korge, a veteran Democratic fundraiser and finance chair of the Biden Victory Fund, told NBC News . A photograph with all three presidents costs $100,000 and up, NBC reported, but the tickets to attend the program go for as little as $250 each.

Korge has organized the fundraiser alongside DreamWorks founder Jeffrey Katzenberg, the campaign's co-chair; Rufus Gifford, the campaign finance chair; and Anna Wintour, U.S. artistic director of Condé Nast.

The Biden campaign and other joint committees raised $53 million in February, giving the incumbent president $155 million on hand to spend − the most ever for a Democratic presidential candidate at this point in the election cycle.

Reach Joey Garrison on X, formerly Twitter @joeygarrison.

How the FBI’s visit to a Muslim woman became a right-wing rallying cry

A viral video of fbi agents looking into pro-palestinian facebook posts reflects the muddled politics and social media swirl of 2024.

The video begins with a door opening onto a recent bright spring day. Three visitors, identifying themselves as FBI agents, stand in the yard of a woman who makes it clear they are not welcome.

Using her phone to record the exchange, she lays into the agents, demanding to see their credentials. When they tell her they want to “have a conversation with you about some social media posts,” the woman, sounding incredulous, asks: “So we no longer live in a free country?”

There will be no conversation, the woman tells them, and refers them to her attorney. The agents remain courteous, if thrown off their game. One of them starts to explain, “Facebook gave us a couple screenshots of your accounts,” but she isn’t having it. Eventually, the visitors give up and walk back to their silver Nissan SUV.

“This is Rolla Abdeljawad in Stillwater, Oklahoma,” the woman says as she films the car leaving her driveway. “This is America.”

Because it’s America — or, rather, a moment in America marked by outrage politics and deep distrust of the government — no further context was required for the nearly four-minute video from March 19 to go viral. Reposts of the clip have garnered millions of views across social media platforms, in large part because of right-wing pundits and conspiracy theorists.

Devoid of information about Abdeljawad or her beliefs, the video was uncomplicated by racial, religious or ideological baggage. It was a made-for-sharing scene of a woman in Oklahoma standing up for her rights. The fuzziness of the details allowed the episode to travel across cultural and political lines, turning one Egyptian American Muslim’s experience into a symbol for anyone with a grievance against the federal government. The video worked like a kaleidoscope of the fraught political climate, the image shifting depending on who was looking.

Muslim civil rights groups saw it and worried about a resurgence of surveillance tactics that vilified communities in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Among Donald Trump’s Republican base, the visit was evidence of “Joe Biden’s Justice Department” harassing ordinary citizens. Left-wing activists saw the long arm of the state. Far-right militia groups saw proof of the “tyranny” they profess to fight.

The FBI’s Oklahoma City office declined to address the video, responding to questions with a general statement saying that the bureau routinely “engages with members of the public in furtherance of our mission.”

“We can never open an investigation based solely on First Amendment protected activity,” the statement said. “The FBI is committed to ensuring our activities are conducted with a valid law enforcement or national security purpose, while upholding the constitutional rights of all Americans.”

A representative for Meta, Facebook’s parent company, declined to comment.

Although the clip has spread among a wide cross-section of the online public, an uptick since late last week can be traced to promotion by the hard right’s social media stars.

“Wake up, America,” posted Richard Grenell, who is said to be a top contender for secretary of state if Trump wins the November election. “The thought police,” declared Alex Jones, the conspiracy theorist and Infowars founder, to his 2.2 million followers on X. “Holy smokes,” wrote Libs of TikTok, an account known as a right-wing outrage factory , adding with no evidence that the visit was in response to criticisms of President Biden .

“Definitely a strange turn of events. Didn’t see that one coming,” said Adam Soltani, executive director of the Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, referring to the right-wing support for Abdeljawad. CAIR was among the civil rights groups she contacted after the agents’ visit.

“It’s concerning to me that right-wing, anti-government folks would try to spin it,” Soltani said. He said partisan point-scoring misses how anti-Muslim bias is “ingrained” in agencies like the FBI.

“We need to fix those systemic issues,” Soltani said, “and not let it turn into some anti-government conspiracy theory.”

On the FBI’s radar

Abdeljawad calls herself an “Okified New Yorker.” Her Egyptian-born parents moved the family from New York to Stillwater in the early 2000s to be close to their daughter during her undergrad years at Oklahoma State University. They ended up putting down roots, and Abdeljawad still lives at home between teaching stints overseas.

“Oklahoma I consider my base,” she said in a phone interview Saturday from Stillwater. “It’s where I always return to. For some odd reason, it has a hold on me.”

Still, Abdeljawad said, she also feels intensely connected to Palestinians suffering in the war-ravaged Gaza Strip . Since fighting erupted Oct. 7, when Hamas -led militants killed 1,200 people in Israel and seized about 250 hostages, Abdeljawad said she has watched in horror. The death toll has swelled to more than 32,000, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

“What goes through my mind is sadness. Anger that the world is watching what’s going on and not stepping in to actually stop it,” Abdeljawad said.

The scenes of carnage make her feel helpless and furious, she said. She said she began looking for ways to express her solidarity with Palestinians and to condemn the actions of Israel, which she pronounces “Isra-hell.” In late October, she changed her Facebook profile picture to a masked figure in the black-and-white Palestinian kaffiyeh. She also made her posts public, because “I want people to be aware of what’s going on.”

As the war continued to rage, Abdeljawad posted angry screeds, including thinly veiled support for armed Palestinian resistance. She posted an image lionizing a Hamas militant and another calling Israeli military forces “terrorist filth.” At least one post nodded to antisemitic tropes about Jewish power. In other Facebook posts, her tone was conciliatory, such as when she praised an interfaith peace effort.

Abdeljawad said she doesn’t know which of the writings landed her on the FBI’s radar. She defended her opinions as protected speech.

“I don’t care about backlash,” she said. “In fact, I take backlash as a badge of honor.”

March 19, a Tuesday, arrived during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Abdeljawad’s family was out of town visiting relatives, leaving her alone at the house in Stillwater. She had woken up before sunrise to eat the traditional meal before fasting began at dawn, then went back to sleep.

Just before noon, Abdeljawad recalled, she was waking up for a second time when she heard the family’s three dogs “going crazy.” She walked to the foyer of the home, she said, and was shocked to see “a guy, not standing at the door, but hunched over peering through the window of the door.”

“This is Oklahoma — people don’t do that,” she said. “They don’t just walk up on people’s property.”

She recalled yelling, “Back away!” before running to get her phone. She started recording a video as she marched out a side door to confront the man, without realizing she was still “in my jammies” and without her usual headscarf. As her eyes adjusted to the sunlight, she said, she realized there were three people on her doorstep.

“I hear, ‘We are FBI,’ and I’m like, ‘This cannot be happening right now,’” she recalled. “This is not real.”

The tense meeting with the agents — two men and a woman — culminated in a back-and-forth on civil liberties. When one of them tried to reassure Abdeljawad that “we’re not here to arrest you,” she cut him off.

“Well, you can’t arrest me for freedom of speech,” she told him. “We live in America.”

They kept talking and the same agent added, “We do this every day, all day long. It’s just an effort to keep everybody safe and make sure nobody has any ill will.”

After filming the encounter, Abdeljawad said, she immediately posted the video on Facebook, to ensure it was “out in the open in case I needed to defend myself.” She also alerted attorneys and rights groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union and CAIR-Oklahoma, where she previously had served on the board.

Abdeljawad said she hasn’t heard from the FBI since and sees no reason to pick up the conversation: “If I have not transgressed the boundaries, the limitations, on free speech, and I’m not breaching the law, I’m not calling for violence against others, then really I have nothing to discuss with them.”

The right reconsiders

Abdeljawad’s defiance was remarkable to Muslim activists who said they were witnessing the fruits of years of work by advocacy groups to educate communities about their rights, especially when dealing with authorities.

“In our past, if we’re going back a decade or more, we get the phone call from people when they’ve already let the FBI in their house,” said Soltani, of CAIR-Oklahoma. “They’ve served them tea and they’ve answered questions and then they feel like, ‘Uh-oh, I shouldn’t have talked to them.’”

Abdeljawad’s story made the rounds in Muslim circles, but went viral Wednesday after her attorney, Hassan Shibly, posted her video to his Instagram, X and Facebook accounts. From there, it moved into MAGA circles, where it was fueled by comments suggesting she was targeted by the FBI because of anti-Biden posts.

The video has since popped up in Reason, the libertarian magazine, and in a Fox News article . Anti-government militants hailed her as a patriot. Edward Snowden, the National Security Agency whistleblower living in Russia, weighed in on X: “So, the FBI is now doorstopping ordinary Americans for criticizing the White House’s Gaza policy online?”

Abdeljawad said she’d had no idea about extremist involvement in the wildfire spread of the video and didn’t seem sure of how to reconcile it. She said she didn’t want to judge others or squander the chance to build bridges. Her own politics are “the middle,” she said, in accordance with Islamic teachings about moderation.

“We know what happens if our rights were to be taken away,” she said. “None of us wants that.”

Over the weekend, Abdeljawad’s views came under attack by pro-Israel activists on social media who flooded comments sections with screenshots of her posts, urging conservative defenders to rescind their support.

Conservative figure Chris Loesch, for example, shared Abdeljawad’s video last week with the comment: “The FBI needs to be dismantled from the top down. An agency that had lost its way.” By Saturday, Loesch was on the defensive as followers called him out for supporting what one described as “an un-American Muslim.”

“Is she an American citizen? I disagree with her, think her views are disgusting and she is wrong but I see that sort of crap from popular accounts on X all day,” Loesch replied. “She still has a right to be offensively wrong, right?”

As some of the support melts away, Abdeljawad has begun receiving hate mail from pro-Israel strangers. Screenshots showed messages disparaging her ethnicity and religion; she also posted her fiery responses. The video’s bizarre kumbaya moment was fleeting.

At home in Stillwater, Abdeljawad said she had no regrets. The FBI visit she filmed in her pajamas has been viewed by millions of people and stirred debate on the limits of free speech.

“I am that person that actually has a pocket Constitution on their shelf,” Abdeljawad said. “They actually, unfortunately for them, walked in on a very educated, very aware American.”

Will Donald Trump's visit impact your ability to vote Tuesday? Likely not, the city says.

GREEN BAY – Former President Donald Trump's arrival Tuesday in Green Bay may stir up political reactions on Election Day, but how will it impact the traffic?

Voters may also have to contend with snow as they make their way to their polling locations, but Trump's eighth visit to Green Bay could complicate some travel routes. North Adams Street north of Main Street and Elm Street west of Madison Street will be closed off from through traffic, according to Steve Grenier, director of the Department of Public Works.

The Department of Public Works said it kept voting locations in mind in anticipation of Trump's Tuesday rally at the KI Convention Center, 333 Main St. in downtown Green Bay.

"I don't think it's any big surprise that any major politician, regardless of who they are, anybody who's a national-stage politician, that they would want to keep that area behind the KI Convention Center clear, so that's all we're doing," Grenier said.

The following voting locations may have increased traffic in and around the area throughout the day Tuesday:

• Green Bay Water Utility, 631 S. Adams St.
• Green Bay Labor Temple, 1570 Elizabeth St.
• Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary, 1660 East Shore Drive.
• First Presbyterian Church, 200 S. Ashland Ave.

The Green Bay Police Department confirmed that it worked alongside the Department of Public Works and the Green Bay Clerk's Office with a focus on minimizing traffic disruptions for residents and visitors to Green Bay.

Of course, given the fanfare, Trump's visit may slow down pedestrian and vehicle traffic, so plan your time to vote accordingly. Green Bay Police Cmdr. Kevin Warych said law enforcement, in tandem with the city, will work on strategies for the increased traffic.

"With any large-scale event, we plan and implement strategies for increased pedestrian and vehicular traffic. We also deconflict with other big events in the city to ensure smooth operation for all," Warych said in an email. "This is a team effort across the city with public safety being our highest priority."

Natalie Eilbert covers mental health issues for USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin. She welcomes story tips and feedback. You can reach her at  [email protected]  or view her Twitter profile at  @natalie_eilbert . If you or someone you know is dealing with suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or text "Hopeline" to the National Crisis Text Line at 741-741.