Professional dental education in the various dental schools across the globe happens in classrooms, clinical settings and outreach dental rural centres. Evidence available suggests that small group teaching can provide a more effective platform to improve student learning in medical professional education and the same can be applicable to dental professional education also. A small group teaching programme does not mean just a small number, but it refers to the way the teacher works with the group to facilitate the learning process. Small group learning should have three active components: active participation by all the members, a face-to-face contact between the participants and various purposeful activities. The teacher as a facilitator of learning has to manage the group and its activities by asking open-ended questions, guiding the thought process and task and enabling the students to actively participate and express their ideas. The different types of small group sessions in the dental scenario can include case presentations, small group seminars, problem-based learning groups, tutorials, workshops, etc. When planning the session, keep in mind the resources available, such as infrastructure, equipment, patients, facilitators and others, which are required to achieve the expected learning outcomes. In conclusion, small group teaching techniques can be used in a variety of dental settings, from the dental clinics to preclinical setups and medical and surgical wards as well as classroom settings. It helps to stimulate a learner’s interest in a topic and increases interaction with other learners.