The Small Bites Difference

Small Bites is the first Exclusive Dental Centre for children in Bangalore. Dr. Premila Naidu, a specialist paediatric dentist, started the clinic in 2007 out of a belief that children deserve the very best preventive dental care. 

In June 2014 Dr. Premila received the National Dental Excellence Award for Best Paediatric Dentist in Bangalore.

Child-friendly Environment

Our clinic is specially designed for children, with their needs in mind. Parents find that, even though their little one may be anxious initially, they soon feel at home and don't want to leave when their visit is over.

Each member of the Small Bites team takes time to understand and reassure children, especially those who are anxious or have special needs. Treatment options are also carefully explained to parents.

Preventive Dental Care

We emphasis prevention, both by educating children and their parents on dental health issues and using preventive treatments, such as fluoride varnish and fissure sealants.

At Small Bites, we are always keeping up to date with the latest materials and techniques.

What do our clients say?

Don't just take our word for it. Here are some reviews from our clients:

"I find that Dr.Naidu is really friendly and calm and that rubs off on the kids. Her office also has a well decorated and well stocked play area. So my son loves coming to the dentist."

"My son always feared going to dentists until he visited Dr Premila Naidu. The ambience of the clinic and her way with kids has made it easy for us to take him for his procedures. No issues with the treatment until today."

"The play area is pretty good for kids at the clinic. Doc gives time to understand the problem and clearly explains."

"good clinic is well maintained. kids really love to play there. they are not feared of medical equipment. they feel comfortable. getting a appointment is also quite easy , through phone or internet. also communication regarding our appointment timings through sms is nice."

"Amazing pediatrician, if your kid has severe cavities she analysis and acts and creates a regime for improving the oral health so that there are no future cavities."

So, if you are looking for a caring, child-friendly dental practice in Bangalore, come and visit us and experience the Small Bites Difference.

Your child's first dental visit.

At what age should children first visit the dentist?

How can you help to make it a positive and enjoyable experience? 

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that the first visit should be around one year old, or six months after the first tooth comes through.

If at all possible, take your child for their first visit before they have any problems. Tooth decay can start to develop soon after the first teeth enter the mouth. Sadly, too many children develop cavities before their parents realise there is a problem.

 Early and regular check-ups help your child to become comfortable with the dentist and the environment. Your dentist can also assess risk factors for your child developing dental decay and give personalised preventive advice.

Many parents are anxious about the first dental visit as they are not sure how their child will behave. Children are not born with a fear of going to the dentist. However, young children are naturally anxious about new situations and people and look to their parents and other adults for reassurance. If you are positive it is more likely your child will be too.

Help prepare your child

Talk to your child about why they need to look after their teeth and tell them that the dentist is there to help them. There are many good children's books and videos available which can help children to understand about going to the dentist.

For young children, you could "play dentist" at home. You and your child can take it in turns to "be the dentist" and check each other’s teeth. Also try using your child's favourite soft toy or a puppet and "check their teeth." You can buy small plastic mouth mirrors for this, or just use your toothbrush. 

If your child has a sibling, cousin or friend who is good with the dentist it may be helpful watch them have a check-up first. 

Tips to make the first visit successful

 Try to schedule the appointment at the best time for your child. Small children especially do not do so well if they are tired and hungry. 

It is also better to go at a time when the practice is not too busy, this avoid too much waiting and allow the dentist to spend more time with you and your child. 


You will be asked to fill out a health questionnaire for your child. In case of any medical problems or current medication, remember to bring details with you.

Arrive 10 minutes early if possible. This will allow time for you to fill in any forms while your child plays in the waiting area.   

 The first visit should ideally be short, a chance to get used to the environment and meet the dentist and other staff. A quick check-up can be done either in the dental chair or on a parent’s lap.

 For children four years and under, the best way to see the teeth is often for a parent to hold their child on their lap while they lay their head back onto the dentist’s lap.   

The dentist will assess your child’s dental health and development and give advice. If early signs of decay are seen, it may be possible to prevent it progressing to become a cavity. 

If you would like to schedule a check-up for your child, or have any questions, please contact us at Small Bites - exclusive dental care for children.

Why choose a Paediatric Dentist?

It's time to take your child to visit the dentist. 

Do they really need to see a different dentist than you? 

How do you choose the best dentist for your child?

What is a Paediatric Dentist?

Paediatric dentists, sometimes called pedodontists, are the paediatricians of dentistry. They specialise in dental care for children, from babies up teenagers. Paediatric dentists have done two or more years of training specifically in children's dentistry after completing their dental degree.

How are they different from other dentists?

Paediatric dentists treat only children and so their practices are designed to be a welcoming and child friendly. They have a lot of experience in working with children who are anxious and can spend extra time to reassure them  and explain things in a way kids can understand. During their training, paediatric dentists study developmental psychology to understand how children think differently from adults. They also receive training in working with individuals with special needs.

Paediatric dentists are experts in monitoring dental development as children grow and mature. Therefore they are more easily able to spot potential problems which may require early orthodontic treatment. 

Due to their training and experience pedodontists are proficient in the latest techniques and procedures for children's dentistry.

Paediatric dentists tend to emphasis prevention of dental diseases. They recognise the importance of giving children a good start by helping them to develop healthy habits such as tooth brushing and a good diet early in life. They can also offer treatments that can help to prevent dental decay such as fissure sealants. 

Why choose a Paediatric Dentist?

A child's early dental experiences have a lasting impact. Positive experiences will lead to a child becoming comfortable in visiting the dentist and motivated to look after their teeth. Dentists tend to have an area of dentistry which they enjoy and specialise in. Why not choose a dentist who has the motivation, training and experience to give your child the best care?

The Small Bites Experience

Small Bites is the first exclusive dental centre for children in Bangalore. The Small Bites team offers the full range of dental care in a fun and child-friendly environment. Our little clients soon feel at home with the inviting waiting area and fun décor. 

We take time to understand and reassure children, especially those who are anxious or have special needs. Pain management is a priority, so that children can feel comfortable and relaxed.

Children can even watch cartoons to help distract them and put them at ease during their dental treatment.

At Small Bites, we are always keeping up to date, using the latest materials and techniques to provide high quality care. We follow strict standards in sterilization and cleanliness. We are the first dental clinic in Bangalore to offer stem cell banking from baby teeth and nitrous oxide sedation.

At Small Bites (click for link to website) we firmly believe that, working together with children and their parents, we can give children healthy smiles to last a life time. 

Fillings for baby teeth

Maybe you have just found out that your child has one or more cavities in their baby teeth?

It is normal for parents to have concerns and questions. 

In this blog, we hope to give some answers and reassurance about fillings for baby teeth.


Children can develop tooth decay soon after their baby teeth come through. Prolonged bottle feeding with sweetened drinks, or frequently falling asleep with a bottle of milk or whilst nursing are the most common causes of decay in babies. Cavities usually do not cause pain in the early stages and young children may be reluctant to open wide to let their parents see or brush their teeth. So, it can come as a surprise to find out that your child has a cavity at a young age. 

Why should we fill baby teeth, won't they fall out later anyway?




Baby teeth are important for normal eating and speech development. A healthy smile is also beneficial for a child's self-esteem once they reach school age. 





Once a cavity has formed it usually progresses resulting in pain and infection. If an abscess on a baby tooth is not properly treated the infection can spread to and affect the developing adult tooth underneath.



Baby teeth also maintain the spaces for permanent teeth to erupt into. Although front baby teeth can start to fall out from around 6 years old, the back teeth need to last until around 12 years old. If baby teeth are lost too early other teeth may tilt or drift into the vacant space, forcing the adult teeth to come through crooked. 

If my child has a cavity what are the treatment options?

Fillings

If the decay is in the enamel or dentine layer only (not close to the nerve of the tooth) the decay can be removed and a filling placed in the cavity. 

Basic procedure:

• Smaller cavities in baby teeth can often be cleaned without using local anaesthetic. If the cavity is deep or the tooth is particularly sensitive, a small injection may be required to numb the tooth. For more information, see this blog post: Questions about local anaesthetic
• The decay is removed and the cavity is washed. There will be some mild vibrations and noise at this stage. A suction tip is used to remove water from the mouth, or your child may spit out when required. 
• The clean cavity is dried by blowing air onto it and then the filling is placed.

At Small Bites, we keep up to date with the latest filling materials and techniques. The two most commonly used filling materials for children’s teeth are:

Glass Ionomer Cement  

• Bonds directly to the tooth surface and so helps prevents leakage around the edge of the filling.
• Releases fluoride which can help prevent further decay.
• It is relatively quick and easy to place and is therefore popular for use with young children where cooperation for treatment is sometimes difficult.
• It  is quite brittle and prone to wear and so it is usually used in areas which are not under a lot of pressure from chewing.
• Reinforced Glass Ionomers have recently been developed which can be used in higher stress areas, such as the biting surfaces of the teeth.
• Glass Ionomer is white in colour but, unlike composite, it does not come in various shades to match the teeth more accurately. It also available in other bright colours for use in back teeth, if children prefer this.

Composite filling

• Composite fillings come in many shades which match and blend in well with the tooth. Therefore, it may be advised for front teeth where appearance is important.
• Composite is stronger and more wear resistant then glass ionomer.

• A blue etching gel, used to prepare the cavity surface, is painted onto the cavity surface and washed off after about 30 seconds. 
• A bonding agent painted onto the cavity surfaces. This adheres the filling material to the tooth.
• Next, the filling is placed in the cavity.
• A blue light is often used to give faster setting of the filling.
• The filling procedure takes a bit longer than for glass ionomer.

Your dentist will check the filling, and polish it, if required. Please follow instructions for looking after your teeth following treatment. It is usually advisable to wait half an hour before eating and drinking and to avoid hard, sticky and chewy foods on the same day. 

Pulpectomy

If the decay has started to affect the area containing the nerve of the tooth (the pulp), a pulpectomy is often required. For more information, see this link: Pulpectomy - Root canal treatment for baby teeth

Crowns

Teeth which are too broken down to adequately hold a filling or which have undergone pulpectomy usually require a crown to strengthen the tooth. This will be covered in a future post.

At Small Bites, the exclusive dental care centre for children in Bangalore, we have plenty of experience with young children and work to put them (and their parents!) at ease. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us.



Don't forget to read our other posts for advice on preventing dental decay:

It's Never to Early to Start Preventing Tooth Decay
What Causes Dental Cavities?
Top Toothbrushing Tips