Children’s teeth aren’t the same as those of adults. Children also have unique needs as patients.
That’s why pediatric dentist Dr. Naomi Sedani created her one-of-a-kind practice in Darien, CT, Lil’ Dente Pediatric Dentistry, which sets a higher standard of care for the little ones.
Sedani’s inspiration came from an unexpected source — a dental mission trip to Central America.
The inspiration for Lil’ Dente Pediatric Dentistry
“I went to Panama and Costa Rica for three weeks before I started dental school,” Sedani remembers. “It led me to fall in love with giving children a good experience regardless of the circumstances. I did exams with a flashlight tied to my head, using my hands instead of fancy instruments to help assist, having extremely minimal materials with no suction at hand, and using my tone of voice to calm an anxious child. I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for children, and this trip cemented how much I value them having a non-traumatic experience for an important part of their health.”
Sedani’s trip inspired her to pursue pediatric dentistry in dental school. Specializing in this branch of dentistry required her to train for nearly three additional years after her residency. During that time, she realized that pursuing her mission would require her to start her own practice.
“I realized the only way I could make the kind of impact I wanted would be to branch out on my own,” she says. “In 2021, I made that choice. Two years later, my office opened its doors. Now, here I am with my own practice!”
Lil’ Dente Pediatric Dentistry’s philosophy centers on minimizing children’s fear and dental anxiety. “We want your child to grow up with the best possible memories of the dentist,” she says. “After all, oral care is a lifelong journey.”
Sedani named her dental office Lil’ Dente because she loves Portugal. “Dente is the Portuguese word for tooth — hence Lil’ Dente,” she explains.
Choosing the right diet to prevent cavities for your kids
Sedani is also passionate about raising awareness about effective oral care and prevention. “We work heavily on prevention and care for our community,” she says. “Currently, the oral care market is so heavy in tools and gadgets that it is overwhelming. While oral care and hygiene are extremely important, the true cavity contributors come from diet, which often gets overlooked, so we focus on those conversations.”
To help parents understand what to feed their kids, Sedani first educates them on the special characteristics of their teeth.
“Baby teeth are set up very differently than adult teeth,” Sedani says. “They have much less enamel and bigger nerves, and they are smaller. Snacking causes the mouth to be in a consistently acidic environment because the mouth and saliva don’t have a chance to become neutral. That acidic environment starts to break down the minimal enamel and cause cavities quickly. This is why, despite brushing and flossing, your child may still be getting cavities.”
In addition, she emphasizes the importance of choosing the right kinds of snacks.
“You want to avoid foods that stick to the teeth,” Sedani says. “We all know about sticky, sugary foods like gummies. However, things like carb-filled snacks, such as Goldfish or chips, can convert to sugar as they stick to the teeth, making it easy for cavities to form. So, my general rule is to make snacking foods crunch. You want foods that fall off the teeth easily, like cheese sticks, celery and ranch, or carrots and ranch.”
If that wasn’t already enough, Sedani is also in the process of developing her own line of dentist-approved snacks for children.
Pearly: Dentist-approved snacks for kids
“My snack line, Pearly, is set to make parents not worry about searching for the right food for their kiddo’s oral care,” Sedani says. “Pearly has done that hard work for you. It delivers the right foods for your children’s oral care wellness while ensuring a delicious taste.”
The details of what kinds of snacks Sedani will offer are currently a closely held secret, but the Pearly snack line is scheduled to launch this year. “You’ll be able to order in late 2025, so keep an eye out!” she says.
Taking care of your little ones
For unparalleled dental care for your children, visit Lil’ Dente Pediatric Dentistry. For those who aren’t in the neighborhood, Sedani has some advice.
“It’s very important to trust your child’s provider, so make sure you align with their philosophy,” she says. “If you don’t, either seek a second opinion or find another office that works with your beliefs.”
Take care of the little ones in your life and their teeth. Understand how diet affects their oral health and entrust them only to caring, compassionate pediatric dentists like Sedani.
