expert type icon EXPERT

Dr. Purva Suhas Merchant, B.D.S., M.S.

Dentist (Pediatric)

Dr. Purva Merchant is a pediatric dentist practicing in SEATTLE, WA. Dr. Merchant specializes in the oral health of children. Pediatric dentists tend to patients ranging in age from infancy to teenaged years. As a pediatric dentist, Dr. Merchant takes care of a childs teeth, gums and mouth. Children can face dental problems like tooth decay and gum disease without proper care. Pediatric dentists can provide dental examinations, give cleanings and treatments, repair cavitities and dental injuries like fractured or knocked-out teeth, diagnose oral conditions and more.
20 years Experience
Dr. Purva Suhas Merchant, B.D.S., M.S.
  • SEATTLE, WA
  • Univ. of Medicine & Dentistry
  • Accepting new patients

Can I use dental floss for my 4 year old?

Short answer is YES :) Longer explanation is that if your 4 year old has teeth that have spaces between them, flossing is more of a habit-building exercise along with brushing, READ MORE
Short answer is YES :) Longer explanation is that if your 4 year old has teeth that have spaces between them, flossing is more of a habit-building exercise along with brushing, rather than for actual cleaning. (Be sure to check the back teeth to see if they are touching or have space between them). If the teeth DO touch, this means that no matter how much you brush it won't get the food out from between the teeth, flossing really is the only way to get the food from between teeth and keep the developing gums healthy. Try the little floss-sticks, much easier when flossing tiny mouths. So go right ahead & good luck! :)

My daughter has all of her baby teeth in. What should I bring her to dentist?

First tooth = Dental Visit. If you truly want to prevent dental disease rather than worry about managing or treating it, the best way is prevention. See a pediatric dentist who READ MORE
First tooth = Dental Visit.

If you truly want to prevent dental disease rather than worry about managing or treating it, the best way is prevention. See a pediatric dentist who is trained specifically in managing children under the age of 1 to help guide you on teething and feeding and what to expect as your child has baby teeth starting to come into the mouth.

At our office we offer complementary oral evaluations for babies before their first birthday. We find that if we can get the parents looking into the mouth as soon as the first tooth is in, it encourages a prevention based approach to oral health and sets the stage for a lifetime of healthy smiles!

There is a strong correlation between the child's age at their first dental visit to their overall experience of cavities. Also, remember that teeth are not the only thing that a pediatric dentist will do at these early evaluation. A trained professional will be looking at mouth growth and development, soft tissue health as well as breathing/sleeping patterns, its all connected!

How does a child get a tooth extraction under anesthesia?

Great question! First Step - Choose a Pediatric Dental Specialist that you trust. Pediatric dentists are trained to help extract teeth for children of varied ages, with age-appropriate READ MORE
Great question!

First Step - Choose a Pediatric Dental Specialist that you trust. Pediatric dentists are trained to help extract teeth for children of varied ages, with age-appropriate recommendations to keep the child comfortable.

Second Step - Know your options. Depending on the age of the child, difficulty of the extraction and the underlying behavior there are a number of options for extracting a tooth ranging from in-office extraction under local anesthesia, to mild sedation with some inhalation agents like nitrous oxide, more involved sedation with oral medications or IV medications as appropriate.

Lastly - Trust the dental provider and team that you have chosen and follow their recommendations for pre-operative instructions and post-operative care to ensure the most uneventful and smooth dental extraction procedure for your 11 year old.

Good luck!

Are bleeding gums in kids a cause of concern?

Hi, Thank you for reaching out. Bleeding gums while brushing for a 14-year-old, without an underlying health issue is ALWAYS a cause for concern. My recommendation would be READ MORE
Hi,

Thank you for reaching out. Bleeding gums while brushing for a 14-year-old, without an underlying health issue is ALWAYS a cause for concern. My recommendation would be for you to visit a dentist (sooner rather than later) to determine the reason for the bleeding. There could be several causes. The most common is due to improper brushing & flossing habits. The dental hygienist would help guide your son on proper oral-hygiene techniques, individualized to his mouth & tooth positions. In addition, there are many other causes of bleeding gums - Vitamin deficiency, gum disease, blood pathology, side-effects of medications to name a few. I would urge you to follow up.

Good luck!

Dr. Merchant