Dr Premila Naidu on Building India’s Sensory-Friendly Paediatric Dental Clinics
📝Interviews
Dr. Premila Naidu has been at the forefront of transforming paediatric dental care in India by creating child-friendly, sensory-sensitive clinical environments. As the founder of Small Bites and Dr. ToothLittle, she pioneered one of India’s first specialised chains of paediatric dental clinics designed specifically for children’s needs. In this conversation with StartupTalky, Dr. Naidu reflects on her entrepreneurial journey, the challenges women face in healthcare leadership, and her vision for building more inclusive and specialised healthcare systems.
StartupTalky: As a pioneering healthcare entrepreneur, what inspired Dr. Premila to reinvent paediatric healthcare in India through Small Bites and Dr. Toothlittle?
Dr Premila Naidu: When I first spoke about starting a paediatric-only dental clinic nearly two decades ago, the most common question I heard was simple: “Why limit yourself to children?” At the time, dentistry was largely viewed as a universal service, one clinic for everyone, regardless of age. The idea that children needed a specialised dental environment was considered unnecessary, even risky from a business standpoint. But I had seen enough anxious little patients sitting in adult dental chairs to know that dentistry for children had to be different.
That conviction eventually led me to establish a paediatric dental practice dedicated entirely to children, and over the years, to grow it into one of India’s first sensory-friendly chain of paediatric dental clinics. Looking back, I realise that building this venture required much more than clinical expertise. It meant navigating the complex intersection of healthcare, entrepreneurship and gender expectations, often simultaneously.
StartupTalky: Women’s oral health undergoes significant changes during peri-menopause and menopause. What are the most common oral health issues women face during these stages, and how can they be better addressed?
Dr Premila Naidu: Healthcare in India has many accomplished women professionals. Yet when it comes to entrepreneurship and leadership within the healthcare system, women still face several subtle but persistent barriers.
The first is the credibility gap. Women doctors are widely trusted as clinicians, but the moment they step into the role of entrepreneur or business leader, assumptions begin to surface. In the early years of my practice, there were moments when vendors, partners or even landlords would ask whether my spouse was the one managing the business. It was rarely said with ill intent, but it reflected a deeply ingrained assumption; that the doctor could be a woman, but the entrepreneur behind the clinic must surely be a man.
The second challenge is risk perception and access to capital. Healthcare entrepreneurship requires investment, long-term thinking and the ability to build systems beyond clinical practice.
For women, convincing stakeholders to support a new idea, especially one that creates an entirely new category, can be difficult. When I first began discussing the concept of a paediatric-only dental clinic, many believed the market simply did not exist.
The third barrier is the expectation that women in healthcare will remain primarily caregivers rather than builders of institutions. Society often celebrates women doctors for their empathy and dedication but is less comfortable with the idea of them scaling businesses or building networks of clinics. Yet modern healthcare requires exactly that- systems, innovation and leadership.
StartupTalky: Despite the strong link between oral health and overall well-being, dental care for women often remains an afterthought. Why do you think this gap exists, and what can be done to change it?
Dr Premila Naidu: When I opened my first paediatric dental clinic, the concept itself required explanation. Parents often asked why their children needed specialised dental care when general dentists were available everywhere.
But my experience had taught me that children do not experience dentistry the way adults do. A child’s fear, anxiety and sensory sensitivities can significantly shape how they respond to treatment. Traditional dental environments- bright lights, intimidating instruments, unfamiliar sounds- can easily overwhelm them.
I realised that paediatric dentistry needed to be designed around the child, not merely delivered to them. This meant creating spaces that were welcoming and reassuring, incorporating colours, playful design elements and behavioural approaches that helped children feel safe. Over time, this philosophy evolved into the development of sensory-friendly, dental environments, particularly beneficial for children with special needs or heightened sensitivities.
At the time, this was not a widely recognised approach in India. But every time a previously anxious child walked into the clinic smiling on their next visit, it reinforced my belief that we were addressing a real and important need.
StartupTalky: As we celebrate International Women’s Day 2026, how do you see the role of women entrepreneurs evolving in India’s healthcare landscape, especially in specialized fields like paediatric dentistry?
Dr Premila Naidu: Building a healthcare venture is very different from running a single practice. Scaling requires structure, training and the ability to maintain quality across multiple locations.
One of the most important lessons I learned early on was that paediatric dentistry is not only about technical skill, it is equally about communication and emotional intelligence. Our teams had to be trained to speak to children at their level, understand their fears and make them feel involved in the process.
This meant building teams who were not just good dentists, but also compassionate communicators. It meant designing systems that ensured consistency in care, even as the organisation grew. Over time, what started as a single clinic gradually evolved into a chain committed to specialised paediatric dental care.
StartupTalky: Can you share some key milestones and challenges from your journey of building an exclusive chain of paediatric dental clinics in India?
Dr Premila Naidu: Throughout this journey, I also encountered and often challenged several stereotypes surrounding women entrepreneurs.
One common perception is that women-led ventures tend to remain small “lifestyle businesses.” In reality, women founders are equally capable of building scalable institutions when given the opportunity and support.
Another stereotype is that women tend to avoid risk. Yet entrepreneurship itself is an act of courage. Choosing to build a new healthcare category, investing in specialised infrastructure and committing to long-term growth are decisions that require both conviction and resilience.
Finally, there is the persistent narrative that women must choose between professional ambition and personal responsibilities. Like many women, I have balanced multiple roles, as a doctor, entrepreneur, mother and leader. There were days when I attended school meetings in the morning and negotiated clinic leases in the afternoon. Rather than viewing these responsibilities as competing priorities, I learned to see them as different dimensions of the same journey.
StartupTalky: What systemic changes are needed in India’s healthcare ecosystem to ensure women’s dental and oral health needs are prioritized across all life stages?
Dr Premila Naidu: For women aspiring to build ventures in healthcare, a few lessons from my journey stand out.
First, think like a category creator rather than a participant. Many of the most meaningful healthcare innovations emerge when someone identifies a need that the system has overlooked.
Second, build credibility through expertise and persistence. Expertise earns trust and trust becomes the foundation on which entrepreneurial ventures grow.
Third, surround yourself with strong teams. Healthcare entrepreneurship is never a solo journey. The right people amplify both vision and impact.
And perhaps most importantly, women must learn to stop second-guessing their own ambition. Often, the biggest barrier is not external skepticism but the moment we begin to doubt whether we should pursue a larger vision.
StartpTalky: What advice would you give to women professionals and aspiring entrepreneurs who want to make a meaningful impact in the healthcare and wellness industry?
Dr Premila Naidu: As India’s healthcare ecosystem evolves, it needs more innovators, more specialised care models and more leaders willing to challenge conventional thinking. Women have an essential role to play in shaping that future.
My journey from a single paediatric dental clinic to building a specialised chain has reinforced one belief: women do not just belong within the healthcare system, we belong at the forefront of redefining it.
The next generation of healthcare entrepreneurs will not simply inherit existing systems. They will create new ones. And I hope many of them will be women who dare to look beyond the chair and imagine what healthcare could truly become.
Dr Premila Naidu is founder and director of Small Bites and Dr ToothLittle, India’s first sensory friendly paediatric dental clinic chain.
Vivek Dev Jacob