1SpecialPlace Success Story Series: Dr. Sanchit Paul | Child Dental Pioneer

Celebrating Changemakers in Child Health and Development

At 1SpecialPlace, each month we spotlight an inspiring professional who is making a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families. This month, we bring you the remarkable journey of Dr. Sanchit Paul, a pioneering pediatric dentist and founder of Tooth Tales, a first-of-its-kind theme-based pediatric dental center in India. His work in treating children, especially those with special needs, is redefining how dental care can be delivered with empathy, innovation, and inclusivity.

From Chance to Calling: How Dentistry Chose Dr Sanchit

For Dr. Sanchit, dentistry wasn’t a childhood dream it was a product of India’s fiercely competitive medical landscape. Dentistry happened by default rather than by choice,” he says candidly. But as with many great journeys, it’s not always where you start but how you grow.

Over time, the science, the hands-on skills, and most importantly, the ability to restore someone’s smile drew him in. Pediatric dentistry his ultimate specialty stood out not just for its technical variety but because it was age-specific and offered him a chance to make an impact early in a child’s life.

“It starts from literally a 7-day-old baby to an 18-year-old adolescent, or anyone with special needs,” he explains.

Tooth Tales: A Vision Rooted in Global Inspiration

The seeds for Tooth Tales were planted during Dr. Sanchit’s travels and fellowships across the globe—from South Korea and Canada to the USA. While visiting some of the world’s best pediatric dental centers, he saw how the environment could be transformed to make children feel safe and even excited about dental visits.

He returned to India with a mission: to create a center that combined clinical excellence with child-friendly design.

Tooth Tales is now home to themed dental suites like jungle and aqua rooms, complete with sensory-adapted environments—a concept still rare in Indian healthcare. “The idea was to create spaces like play areas in a mall or school engaging, safe, and comforting,” he explains.

Revolutionizing Pediatric Dental Care in India

Building Tooth Tales was not without challenges. A big hurdle was awareness. Many parents, pediatricians, and even general dentists were unfamiliar with the concept of an exclusive pediatric dental center, let alone one that focused on airway health, special needs, and preventive care.

Dr. Sanchit and his team have worked tirelessly to bridge this gap. Through education, advocacy, and consistently excellent care, Tooth Tales has now become a referral center at multiple levels from Greater Noida to countries across the world like Nigeria, Indonesia, Canada, and the USA.

One of Tooth Tales' philosophies is “First Decade, No Decay, No Delay” focusing not just on curing dental problems but on preventing them in the first place.

A Sanctuary for Special Needs Children

One of the most heart-touching aspects of Dr. Sanchit’s work is his approach to treating children with special needs. His accredited fellowship at the prestigious SickKids Hospital in Toronto gave him not only specialized training but also a deep understanding of compassionate, sensory-aware care.

“Tooth Tales is inclusive by design,” he says. It offers sensory rooms, pre-appointment planning, minimally invasive techniques, and sedation options like happy gas.

There is no age bar for special needs patients. We want them to feel this is their dental home.

This philosophy has helped hundreds of families, especially those with children who have autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, or craniofacial conditions.

Heartwarming Cases That Inspire

Among the many success stories, Dr. Sanchit recalls children who traveled from places like Indonesia and Nigeria to receive care at Tooth Tales. For many of them, dental services for kids especially those with special needs were either unavailable or underdeveloped in their countries.

He fondly remembers restoring smiles in children as young as 18 months who had lost their teeth due to severe early childhood caries.

The moment their new smile appears, the joy on their and their parents’ faces is absolutely priceless.

The ‘My Child’ Principle: A Parent-Centered Philosophy

A unique approach that defines Dr. Sanchit’s work is the “My Child Principle.” When planning treatment, he and his team ask themselves: If this were my child, what would I do? This not only guides the clinical decisions but also ensures deep emotional connection and empathy with every family.

Treatment at Tooth Tales is never rushed. Each parent receives structured, detailed counseling and is given choices with clear guidance. Post-treatment care is equally emphasized through the Dental Home Program, which ensures regular follow-ups and continued support.

Staying Ahead with Innovation and Learning

Dr. Sanchit is a lifelong learner. Over the last 15 years, he has participated in more than 100 conferences as a speaker and attendee across the globe. He integrates cutting-edge technology at Tooth Tales from laser dentistry and intraoral scanners to audiovisual aids and ceiling-mounted TVs to keep children distracted and relaxed during procedures.

Would I do this for my own child? If yes, only then will I do it for someone else’s child, he reiterates.

A Growing Global Impact

What started as one man's vision is now a movement. Today, Tooth Tales serves as a primary referral center for Greater Noida, a secondary center for Delhi-NCR, a tertiary center for India, and a quaternary center for international families.

“To have families from Australia, Dubai, Singapore, Canada, and beyond travel for our care is deeply humbling,” Dr. Sanchit reflects. Yet, he knows this is just the beginning.

Looking Ahead: A Nationwide Dream

Dr. Sanchit envisions a network of neighborhood-level pediatric dental homes across India and South-East Asia, connected to centers of excellence like Tooth Tales. His dream is to ensure every child regardless of where they live or what needs they have can access high-quality, compassionate dental care.

The guiding star for him remains unchanged: Child First, Always and Forever.

At 1SpecialPlace, we are honored to share the story of professionals like Dr. Sanchit Paul, who are not only transforming their fields but also creating safer, happier, and healthier worlds for children everywhere.