Purva Merchant has been hired as a pediatric dentistry specialist at Blaine Harbor Dental.

Merchant started working in Blaine on April 4. She is a June 2007 graduate of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, where she trained for her specialty. Her practice focuses on children 12 and younger.

Dental anesthesiologist David Dormans of Puget Sound Outpatient Anesthesia began working with Merchant and Patrick Rooney this month. His services range from conscious sedation, in which the patient remains awake but is much less apprehensive, to a general anesthesia that provides a complete loss of consciousness throughout the treatment period.

The services of Merchant and Dormans are covered by DSHS.

Blaine Harbor Dental is at 215 Marine Drive. For more information, call 332-2400.