Dentists in Escondido, CA

Namita Dutta D.D.S., General Dentist

ABOUT ME

For Dr. Dutta, dentistry is an art that positively impacts the way a person looks and feels about themselves. She finds great satisfaction in seeing a patient proudly showing off their new smile! Her continued interest in improving her dental knowledge is to help her better serve her patients in a comprehensive matter.

She is both a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists and a Master of Academy of General Dentistry. Each of these required hundreds of hours of additional post-graduate training. She also speaks Spanish. Dr. Dutta aims to create a welcoming and comforting environment by treating each of her patients like family.

AFFILIATIONS

Fellow, International Congress of Oral Implantologists

Master, Academy of General Dentistry

Dr. Abbas Merchant, D.D.S.
Dr. Abbas Merchant is a seasoned general dentist with over three decades of clinical experience and a steadfast commitment to delivering comprehensive, high-quality dental care. A graduate of the University of Illinois College of Dentistry, Dr. Merchant holds a Mastership from the Academy of General Dentistry and a postgraduate certificate in Orthodontics from the United States Dental Institute. Since founding his private practice, Dental Care PC, in 1997, he has been dedicated to providing a full spectrum of general dentistry services—from preventive care and surgical extractions to implant restoration and orthodontics—while mentoring staff and overseeing treatment protocols.

Beyond the operatory, Dr. Merchant has contributed to the field as a part-time clinical instructor at Midwestern University and remains active in community outreach. He has volunteered with the American Academy of General Dentistry’s Donated Dental Services Program and served in leadership roles on health and welfare boards supporting underserved populations. Now based in San Diego, Dr. Merchant enjoys an active lifestyle outside of dentistry, with interests in pickleball, biking, kayaking, and reading.

Vivian Sales D.M.D. General Dentist

About Me

Growing up, Dr. Sales was inspired by the work of her own dentist, as well as her mother, a dental assistant. After witnessing the care and success of these mentors, she decided to pursue dentistry as her own career. With over a decade of experience as a General Dentist, she most enjoys being able to bring smiles to her patients’ faces.

A graduate of University of West Florida in the area of Biology, Dr. Sales went on to University of Florida College of Dentistry for her D.M.D. degree. After completing her studies, she went through two General Practice Residencies: the first focused on treating medically compromised patients within a hospital setting, and the second focused on oral surgery and leading dental students in the urgent care clinic at UCLA.

Outside of her practice, Dr. Sales loves spending time with her two children. She enjoys outdoor activities, watching movies, and doing Zumba!

Education

B.S., Biology–University of West Florida

D.M.D.-University of Florida College of Dentistry

Dr. Mana Naeim is an orthodontist practicing at Gentle Dental Escondido, Gentle Dental Moreno Valley, and Gentle Dental Carlsbad. She graduated from UC Irvine in 2012 with a major in Psychology and Social Behavior before earning her D.D.S. from UCLA School of Dentistry in 2019. Dr. Naeim completed her post-graduate studies at the University of the Pacific and holds multiple advanced certifications in Invisalign for complex cases, airway orthodontics, and early interceptive orthodontic treatment. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics and an ABO Board Certified Orthodontist.

Dr. Naeim is fluent in Farsi and a member of the American Dental Association, California Dental Association, American Association of Orthodontists, California Association of Orthodontics, and the Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontics. She was awarded the Omicron Kappa Upsilon Award, and the Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology Award at UCLA, among others.

What drew her to dentistry was the combination of people, science, creativity, and technology, and she finds joy in building long-term relationships with her patients. Dr. Naeim especially enjoys helping people of all ages achieve a healthy, beautiful, and functional smile. Outside of work, she enjoys baking, experimenting with recipes, spending time with neighborhood dogs, and discovering new coffee shops and restaurants. She looks forward to working with patients to create their dream smiles.

Paul Anderson D.D.S., M.D. Oral Surgery

About Me

Dr. Paul Anderson has always enjoyed working with his hands and doing things that required hand-eye coordination. But it was a pre-dental class in college, at the University of Utah, that decided his career as a dentist. After receiving his D.D.S. degree from the UCLA School of Dentistry, Dr. Anderson picked up his studies at the University of Texas, Houston, to earn his Medical Doctor degree in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery. He is now a Fellow of the American Board of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, as well as a member of numerous other professional organizations. In his practice, he most enjoys utilizing modern sedation (anesthesia) techniques to turn a potentially frightening experience for his patients into a pleasant one.

Outside the office, Dr. Anderson is active in community service and with his church affiliations. His personal hobbies include alpine skiing and photography. Dr. Anderson is also fluent in Mandarin.

Education

B.S., Biology – University of Utah

D.D.S. – UCLA School of Dentistry

M.D., Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery – University of Texas, Houston

Affiliations

Fellow – American Board of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

American Dental Association

California Dental Association

Orange County Dental Association

American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association

Academy of Osseointegration

American Dental Society of Anesthesia

Haris Lakisic DMD, Endodontics

About Me

Entering the field of dentistry was a natural choice for Dr. Lakisic: his father and brother were both dentists, and introduced him to this profession of helping others. He enjoys being able to help relieve people’s pain and discomfort, as well as improve better health and esthetics. Dr. Haris Lakisic grew up in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but became a refugee and escaped to Southern California at the age of 15 due to war in his homeland.

After finishing high school in Costa Mesa, Dr. Lakisic attended Pepperdine University for his Bachelor’s degree, then received a scholarship to attend the University of Pennsylvania for his D.M.D. degree.

During his four years of dental school, he was consistently ranked in the top 10 of his class. Dr. Lakisic’s hobbies include travel, fishing, and outdoor activities.

Education

B.S., Biology – Pepperdine University

D.M.D. – University of Pennsylvania

Affiliations

American Association of Endodontists