Ds needs a filling, any advice on how best to prepare him?

[RosinaCopper]

We went for a check up last week and the dentist told me that there was a small hole in one of ds's back teeth and that he'd need a filling. He is 6. I feel terribly guilty, as I don't recall having any fillings in my milk teeth, so can only assume that my mum did a far better job of looking after my teeth than I have done with ds. The dentist has laid down some very strict rules regarding sweets and ds has really taken these on board this time (last time we were there the dentist said he should be brushing twice a day and he was very unenthusiastic about it).

I've spoken to the dentist about it and they say that there will be drilling, but not necessarily an injection. If anyone has any advice on how best to prepare a 6 year old for what lies ahead, I'd be very grateful.

[Grumpystiltskin]

It's often best not to say too much but I only treat children on Sundays (and not many at that) so I'm not the best person to advise, there are some lovely dentists on here though who may be along soon!
What I found when I did used to treat children was that parents would inadvertantly scare them and then we would be on a hiding to nothing trying to explain what would happen.
Things like "if you're good at the dentist, you can have a MacDonalds (yes, I know!!)". The children would then think "hmm, I usually only get MacDOnalds when something bad happens so dentist must = bad".

Hope that makes sense, I'm sure you would NOT be like the lovely, pink velour clad mothers I dealt with though!

[poptartpoptart]

Buy him the book 'Topsy and Tim go to the Dentist'. Topsy (or Tim - I can't remember which!) has a filling, and the story explains what happens in a nice cheery way.
I personally love all the Topsy and Tim books as they always have a moral and explain different life situations to children. I remember reading them when i was a kid, although they have been modernised and re-illistrated since then.
You can buy them on Amazon for just a few pounds.