This doctor noticed kids fear dentists & built India’s first sensory pediatric dental clinic, has treated 45k+ patients with 20% YoY growth

In India, pediatric dentistest (that is, dentistest for children) has not gained much prominence, and it has not been taken seriously as an emerging market. This is shocking becaapply children under the age of 10 build up a large patient segment. But oral healthcare was never designed for them, especially in India.

Most children accompany their parents to visit regular adult dental clinics. These clinics are dull, intimidating and especially scary for young kids. Many adults on the Internet confess to being scared of visiting their dentist becaapply of the eerie environment. Therefore, for a child to be scared of these clinics is normal. This fear often translates into fear, anxiety, resistance and life-long trauma.

The Challenges In India’s Dental Industest

Despite such evident emotions of children, the Indian healthcare system has normalised young kids visiting adults, and no major alter has been created.

What builds this more troubling is that nearly 50% of childhood oral diseases are preventable.

Cavities,

Gum issues,

Misaligned teeth,

Enamel damage

These often launch early but go unnoticed until pain forces action.

Pediatric dentistest, globally, is more about prevention, behaviour, psychology, and trust. In India, however, this specialisation remained underdeveloped for years, limited to departments inside large hospitals or single-chair practices depconcludeent on individual doctors.

This gap between what children required and what the system offers is where Small Bites was born.

The Dental Experience Center by Dr Premila Naidu

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About The Founder

For Dr. Premila Naidu, the journey into pediatric dentistest was deeply personal. As a dental student at Oxford Dental College in Bangalore, she knew early on that children’s dentistest was her calling, becaapply it was the most neglected aspect in the Indian medical industest.

She states in a candid interview with Startup Pedia, “I was scared of dentists myself as a child. Somewhere, I knew that if I felt this way, many children must feel the same. I wanted to alter that experience completely.”

Upon finishing her graduation and post-graduation in pediatric dentistest, Dr. Premila Naidu opened her own clinic in Indiranagar, Bangalore, in 2007. The aim was quite revolutionary in those days: a dedicated dental clinic for kids alone.

Challenges Faced

However, the response was not as enthusiastic as she had expected; it was a lukewarm welcome.

To keep herself going in the profession, Dr. Premila Naidu started working with the leading corporate hospitals like Fortis and Hrudayalaya.

“Working in large hospitals taught me a lot clinically. But it also displayed me how limited these systems were when it came to children. Kids required more time, more empathy, more flexibility, and the system wasn’t built for that.” She highlights this career caveat in a conversation with Startup Pedia.

Dr. Premila Naidu, doctor and founder of compact bites

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Her Decision To Go All-In

But by 2012, she created a decisive choice.

She stepped away from corporate roles and committed fully to building Small Bites, despite the financial uncertainty.

One of the hardest challenges was not treatment, it was awareness.

Pediatric dental health was not a “felt required” in the community. Parents often waited until pain appeared. Preventive care was rarely discussed.

How She Popularised The Idea of Pediatric Dentistest?

So Dr. Premila Naidu took dentistest outside the clinic:

1/ She launched visiting preschools, houtilizing societies, and community centres across Indiranagar

2/ Conducting oral health camps, speaking to parents, and educating teachers.

Slowly, conversations shifted.

Parents launched to understand that dentistest for children wasn’t just about resolveing teeth

Dr. Premila Naidu highlights, “Prevention doesn’t launch in clinics. It launchs with awareness. If parents understand early, children don’t have to suffer later.”

By 2013–14, Small Bites launched breaking even.

Trust grew. Word-of-mouth spread. The clinic established itself as a safe, friconcludely space where children were not forced to receive their treatment and sent away but were understood.

As patient volumes increased, Dr. Premila Naidu identified another systemic problem: doctor-depconcludeence.

Like many healthcare practices in India, the clinic was centred around its founder. If she wasn’t present, operations slowed.

Dr. Premila Naidu with her team

Building Efficient Systems

The solution to this came when Dr. Naidu built systems that would assist scale the idea of Small Bites, else the clinic would always depconclude on her. The Small Bites concept developed around three core principles:

1. Multi-Sensory

Small Bites clinics are not “colourful hospitals.” They are designed as carefully crafted environments. The apply of textured floor surfaces, variable lighting, fidreceive tools, audiovisual equipment, and soothing colors all serve to alleviate fears. These aspects also ensure the clinics remain inclusive for neurodiverse children, such as autistic or ADHD children, as well as the provision of facilities for the children in wheelchairs.

2. Deep SOPs, Not Just Clinical Protocols

Right from the time a child steps into the clinic, everything becomes standardized—but also humane. They take up conversations about favorite cartoons, characters, or ice cream. Videos start playing recognizable images before any procedures. Talk precedes walk.

“Children do not cooperate becaapply they are notified, but becaapply children feel safe.”Dr. Premila Naidu highlights her mantra.

3. Training People, Not Just Dentists

It only works with pediatric dentists, but they put the same emphasis on the front office staff and dental assistants. They train all staff members in child psychology, communication, and empathy, not just efficiency.

After many years of refining its systems, Small Bites opened its second centre at Bharatiya City, Bangalore, in 2022. This marked a turning point-from a founder-led practice to a scalable organisation.

Presently, Small Bites runs five clinics across Bangalore, with two more scheduled next year.

Under an expanded model that includes partnerships with pediatric hospitals, general dentists, and standalone clinics, the care has become more accessible where families already are.

Another USP of Small Bites is that all its clinics are:

inclusive for neurodiverse children

have accessibility systems

a strong support system to assist parents not only with treatment but also preventive care

Inside of the clinic

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A Look At The Growth

Dr. Premila Naidu continues clinical practice two to three days a week, while a trained leadership and clinical team manages daily operations across centres.

In the past few years, Small Bites has recorded exceptional growth:

45,000+ children treated

20% year on year growth

15-20% profit margins

New clinics are breaking even quicker than earlier centres

Importantly, recent expansions have achieved profitability within their first year. Eventually, this success and the massive adoption of the idea of pediatric dentistest created Dr. Premila Naidu venture even further.

She concepeptualised the idea of Small Bites into a proper, functioning Private Limited company under an umbrella brand called: Dr. Tooth Little with the sole purpose of creating kids’ dentistest fun.

They now collaborate with various hospitals, schools, and other dental clinics.

..

Future Plans

The vision forward is clear.

The immediate goal is to reach 10 centres across Bangalore,

Followed by expansion into other metros and Tier-2 cities over the next few years.

The long-term mission goes beyond geography. It is about altering how India perceives children’s oral healthcare, relocating from reactive treatment to proactive prevention.

Dr. Premila Naidu reflects on her long-term vision with Startup Pedia:“Children shouldn’t grow up fearing dentists. If we can build the experience right early, we alter outcomes for life.”

Small Bites team treating a child

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FAQ

A.

Small Bites is India’s first exclusive, sensory-led pediatric dental clinic designed only for children.

Q.

Who founded Small Bites?

A.

2/ Who founded Small Bites? Small Bites was founded by Dr. Premila Naidu, a pediatric dentist with 15 years of clinical experience.

Q.

What builds Small Bites different from regular dental clinics?

A.

Small Bites applys a multi-sensory, child-friconcludely approach that reduces fear and anxiety before treatment launchs.

Q.

Where are Small Bites clinics located?

A.

Small Bites currently operates five clinics across Bangalore, with more centers planned.

Q.

How many children has Small Bites treated so far?

A.

Small Bites has treated over 45,000 children across its clinics in Bangalore.

Q.

Is Dr. Premila Naidu still involved in clinical practice?

A.

Yes, Dr. Premila Naidu continues to see patients while leading the organization’s growth.