Dr. Batool Kazmi has written a book to ease kids' anxieties about going to the dentist (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Dylana Kneeshaw

IYLA GOES TO THE DENTIST

Kamloops dentist aims to ease appointment anxiety with new children’s book

Nov 26, 2021 | 1:57 PM

KAMLOOPS — It’s a reality of the profession Dr. Batool Kazmi is well aware of – plenty of people are nervous about going to the dentist. Her new children’s book is written with that in mind – hoping to ease worries younger patients may have.

“I’ve been in practice for over 13 years now and one thing we hear all the time is ‘oh we had a bad experience’, and so I think mitigating the fears associated with coming to the dentist is very important,” she explains, “And this (book) is just something that helps.”

Dr. Batool Kazmi practices out of Apple Grove Dental Clinic in Kamloops with her husband and fellow dentist, Dr. Justin Gill. She authored Iyla Goes to the Dentist during the early days of the pandemic. As a mother herself, Dr. Kazmi says she felt inspired to create a kid-friendly guide to a routine appointment.

“I’m a mom, I’m a dentist. But my first child – he was excited to jump into the chair, wanted to take the ride and wasn’t fearful when the chair tilted back,” explains, Dr. Kazmi, “But our daughter was a totally different experience. She was just not interested.”

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The book is filled with eye-catching, colourful pages — all illustrated by an artist known as Jupiters Muse. Dr. Kazmi chose to write the protagonist and the other characters in the story as female – to showcase dentistry as a very attainable career for women to have.

The story follows a young girl’s first time at the dentist, explaining each process and tool that would normally be used in a check-up or cleaning. Dr. Kazmir feels if kids have an idea of what to expect, it can make the experience more approachable.

Iyla Goes To The Dentist is a book written by Kamloops dentist Dr. Batool Kazmi (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

“I had gone in to bookstores with my little kids and introduced them to going to the doctor or the dentist, and the options out there weren’t that realistic. And so that was one of the reasons that I really wanted to do this.”

Iyla Goes to the Dentist was released in the fall of 2021, and is currently available on Amazon, and through local retailers Tumbleweed Toys and Crooked Crown. Dr. Kazmi is passionate about building the quality of community health care Kamloops can offer, so proceeds will be donated to the Royal Inland Hospital Foundation in Kamloops.

“I wanted to do something to give back to Kamloops and show my gratitude. And I know I’m just one person, but I think the more books we sell the better it will be because all of the proceeds will go to Royal Inland. Something resonates with me when they say “Together We Rise” I feel so strongly about that.”

As more copies are sold, Dr. Kazmi hopes her passion project can generate some good in the community, and one day the kids who read the book might become adults who can head to the dentist with a little more confidence.