The passing of a nine-year-old girl has left her family heartbroken after she reportedly died in her sleep following a routine visit to a San Diego dentist’s office for surgery.
On March 18, Silvanna Moreno had dental surgery under anesthesia at Dreamtime Dentistry.
According to the medical examiner’s office, the nine-year-old was ‘transitioned to a recovery room afterwards’ and sent home later to her parents before the shocking incident unfolded.
RELATED STORIES
READ ALSO: Babysitter arrested for killing boyfriend’s toddler, leaving horrific message in blood
‘[Moreno] remained asleep during her transport home. Upon arrival, she stayed sleeping and was transitioned into her bed at home,’ the medical examiner said.
‘Family checked on her throughout the day to later find her unresponsive in bed and called 911 for emergency services assistance.’
She was then sent to Rady Children’s Hospital Emergency Department, only to be pronounced dead later on.
For now, it remains unclear if the dental procedure played a role, and the cause and manner of death are pending investigation by the San Diego Police Department.
No additional details on what procedure Moreno underwent before she died have been released, as per reports.
Her family were devastated after finding out their little girl had died in a rather strange manner, hoping that authorities could get to the bottom of the matter.
READ ALSO: Quintuplet who weighed 8 ounces and was world’s 2nd smallest baby finally goes home
The family of the dead nine-year-old girl has set up a GoFundMe to cover the expenses of the funeral of their ‘bright and joyful’ girl.
‘Silvanna was a bright and loving third grader at Sherman Elementary School in San Diego,’ the fundraiser said.
‘She was the sunshine in every room she entered, always greeting staff and classmates with a big smile and an even bigger hug.’
‘Her friends describe her as kind, caring, and always happy, a true friend to everyone she met. She was also an amazing big sister to Roberto, showing love and devotion every day.’
Dreamtime Dentistry, led by Dr. Ryan Watkins, told Fox 5 that the young girl was awake and stable when she was released after her dental procedure.
“Following the procedure, she was discharged in stable condition—awake, with stable vital signs and protective reflexes intact—into her mother’s care, following our standard post-anesthesia protocols,” the practice stated.
The dental office added that the reason the girl died after the surgery remains undetermined, with the medical examiner looking into her death.
“We are fully cooperating and committed to ensuring all facts come to light,” the statement read.
Dreamtime Dentistry revealed that the girl had been referred to them due to her young age and anxiety.
They explained that she was closely monitored by a dentist anesthesiologist with over 20 years of experience, and are sure her death was not their doing.
Their website lists Watkins as the only dentist trained in anesthesiology, and the practice expressed condolences to the girl’s family and reiterated their commitment to patient safety.
NBC San Diego reported that Watkins was previously investigated by the Dental Board of California after a 2016 incident in which a 54-year-old patient’s heart stopped under anesthesia.
Investigators found one of the administered drugs was inappropriate, leading to Watkins’ probation from 2020 to 2023.
READ ALSO: Woman whose husband died of cancer urges people to be aware of ‘unusual symptoms’
The patient later settled a civil lawsuit against him, and the little girl’s family could tread a similar path should they find out that he played a role in their daughter’s demise.
