Tooth in fiction

Spokane Valley endodontist Blake McKinley Jr.’s book, “Happy Tooth & Sad Tooth,” published this spring, covers toothbrushing, flossing and the importance of healthy food.

If you’ve ever tried to get a 2-year-old to brush her teeth or a 4-year-old to climb into a dentist’s chair, here’s a story for you. Or your problem child.

Dr. Blake McKinley Jr., a Spokane Valley endodontist, wrote “Happy Tooth & Sad Tooth” more than a decade ago before visiting his son’s preschool class to give a talk about his job.

He read his book with the children, distributed photocopies to all and followed up with an exercise resembling human chess, except with preschoolers arranged in an arch – like a jaw full of teeth – and flossed them with a piece of rope.

Presentation over, the book went into a closet in his office. But McKinley wondered once in a while if anyone else might be interested in reading it. Finally, he sent it off to a publisher, which promptly bit. Adrian Rogers, SR

Does anybody actually LIKE going to the dentist?