Twice a year, Darcy’s mum takes her to see their local dentist to get her teeth checked.
This time, Darcy brings Dave along so he can see what happens at a human dentist. Dave gets his teeth checked regularly as well, but it’s a very different process to humans!
The dentist welcomes them all into his room and asks Darcy to sit on the chair and tilt her head back.
Dr Rai gently looks around Darcy’s mouth with a special dental mirror. She counts how many teeth she’s got to make sure they’re all there, but notices one is missing on Darcy’s bottom row.
“Where’s that tooth got to then?” he asks.
“It fell out last week – it’s my last baby tooth!”
“Well, I’ll look forward to seeing a full smile next time I see you,” Dr Rai replies. “Your teeth are looking very good, Darcy,” he says. “Do you remember the two things I told you last time?”
“Brush your teeth twice every day and don’t eat too many sweets!” Darcy replies proudly.
“That’s right! Keep up the good work. Now, seeing as we’ve got a special guest today, shall I take a look at Dave’s teeth while he’s here?”
Darcy’s mum tells Dave to go ahead and sit in the chair. He squeezes into it and opens his mouth really wide.
“Oh my word!” laughs Dr Rai. “You certainly have big teeth, Dave. They’re not quite as sparkly white as Darcy’s but they’re looking pretty good and healthy. Remember not to eat too many sugary treats either, Dave.”
Dave grins and jumps out of the chair. “Thanks Dr Rai!”
The three of them say goodbye and go to reception to book Darcy’s next appointment.
“Will Dave be joining us next time?” asks the receptionist with a smile.
“I think he’ll stick to the equine dentist, thank you. I don’t think Dr Rai’s tools are strong enough for Dave’s big mouth!” laughs Darcy’s mum.
Fun fact
Did you know that horses need to see an equine dentist once or twice a year for routine check-ups, just like humans? Like their hooves, a horse’s teeth keep growing for most of their life.
While a horse’s hooves naturally wear down on the road or other hard surface, their teeth naturally wear down while they eat as their teeth grind together. Sometimes, if the teeth don’t grind together properly, they can get sharp edges, which can be uncomfortable.
An equine dentist will rasp down (file) these sharp edges so that it doesn’t hurt to eat. They also check for any other problems that might be happening in a horse’s mouth.
If you liked this story, you’ll love the Dave and Darcy series, which you can purchase here.
I’d love to see your drawings to go with this short story! Please either tag me on social media (@loiskingscottauthor on Facebook or Instagram) or send a photo to lois@loiskingscottauthor.com and I’ll share the best ones on social media and this web page!
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