As a dentist in Dubai for adults and children, I take part in humanitarian missions in Togo for people who have little or no access to dental care. My comic book The Little Mouse at the Dentist carries this mission further: learning, reading, drawing, brushing your teeth and passing on the joy of helping one another.
Emmanuelle, a passionate dentist, leaves Belgium to settle in Dubai… without knowing that a little mouse named Wen has secretly tagged along. Together, this unlikely but inseparable duo share essential dental tips through funny and unexpected adventures.
In my profession, technique alone is not enough. You also need to explain, reassure, prevent and build a bond with the patient. Over the years I have looked for different ways to communicate: in the dental chair of course, but also through social media, images and simple prevention messages.
So I asked myself how to share essential information about oral hygiene in a lighter, more visual and more memorable way. Being Belgian, the comic book was the obvious answer: it is part of our culture, and it lets you get a serious message across with humour and gentleness.
The idea was born a few years ago. The project then took a long time to mature: almost two years of reworking the texts, thinking about the tone, selecting the information that really matters, imagining the scenes and finding ways to make the content clear for children and their parents alike.
Next, I had to find an illustrator who could bring the little mouse to life just as I imagined her: endearing, mischievous and reassuring. Then I discovered all the work behind publishing a comic book: layout, proofreading, paper choices, print tests, finishing touches and the many small decisions that turn an idea into a real book.
I chose to self-publish, working directly with everyone involved and with the printers. Each edition helped me improve the project and understand the whole production process better.
The Little Mouse at the Dentist explains in simple words what happens at the dental practice, why some habits matter and how to avoid many dental problems. The aim is to ease anxiety, help children feel at home in the dentist’s world and give families practical guidance.
But adults will find useful information too. Prevention concerns everyone: understanding a cavity, the role of brushing, the importance of regular check-ups or the steps of a treatment helps you take charge of your own oral health.
The first edition was naturally written in French. Living and working in Dubai then made me want to go further. Here, families come from many different cultures and countries, so English lets the Little Mouse reach many more children and parents.
Adapting the book into English was not simply a word-for-word translation. The rhythm, the humour, the simplicity of the explanations and the spirit of the comic book all had to be kept. This second edition carries the same idea: making the dental world more accessible, more familiar and less intimidating.
Behind this comic book there is also something very close to my heart. For several years I have taken part in humanitarian missions in Togo, where we treat and support children and adults who have little or no access to dental care. I work at the dispensary in Lomé or in a mobile dental truck, and we also meet street children to whom we hand out clothes, toys, hygiene products and food.
Copies of the comic book are handed out there so that children can read, look at the drawings, learn how to brush their teeth properly and talk more easily about their teeth. The book becomes a prevention tool, but also a way to learn and to share.
The work and opportunities Dubai gives us can also give us the means to look further and share with those in need. Behind every book there can be an act of solidarity.
