A girl who had turned 9 about two weeks earlier died after she was given anesthesia and underwent dental surgery at a dental practice in California, according to a press release from the San Diego County Department of the Medical Examiner.
Silvanna Moreno was pronounced dead at Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego on March 18, 12 days after her 9th birthday. The child's cause of death remains under investigation, according to the medical examiner.
Moreno underwent dental surgery after being placed under anesthesia on March 18 at Dreamtime Dentistry in Vista, CA. After her procedure, the girl was taken to a recovery room at Dreamtime before she was discharged, according to the medical examiner.
Moreno purportedly remained asleep during the car ride home and stayed asleep when she was transported to her bed at home. The family reportedly checked on the girl throughout the day. During one check, Moreno was found unresponsive, so they called 911. Lifesaving measures were provided, but she could not be saved, according to the medical examiner.
On March 30, Dreamtime Dentistry released a statement from Dr. Ryan Watkins, a licensed dentist who is trained in anesthesiology, regarding Moreno's death, saying the girl "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."
Moreno, referred to Dreamtime for treatment due to her age and acute situational anxiety, appeared to experience no complications during the procedure, according to the statement.
The practice stated that it is fully cooperating with the medical examiner's investigation.
"Our hearts break for the family during this unimaginable time of grief, and we extend our deepest condolences as we maintain our focus on supporting the family and cooperating fully with the medical investigation," Watkins said in the statement.
