Girl, 9, died just hours after being placed under anesthesia for dental procedure

A nine-year-old girl tragically died just hours after being placed under anesthesia for a dental procedure.

Silvanna Moreno lost her life on March 18 this year after undergoing dental surgery at Dreamtime Dentistry in Vista, California, according to the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office.

The autopsy report said the youngster first complained of a toothache in October 2024 and was referred for surgery at the dentist following a consultation.

In a statement obtained by People, Dreamtime Dentistry’s Dr Ryan Watkins said: “The patient was referred to our office for dental treatment under general anesthesia due to her young age and acute situational anxiety.”

Dreamtime Dentistry in Vista (Google Maps)

The autopsy report went on to say Silvanna had a 101-degree fever and ‘complained of a headache’ before the procedure took place.

The young girl was described as ‘out of it’ after the surgery, according to the autopsy report, but was later released to her mother’s care ‘after she was awake with stable vital signs’.

A spokesperson for the dentist said to People: “Dreamtime Dentistry’s records show that the patient’s mother completed and signed a pre-operative check-in form indicating ‘No’ when asked if the patient was sick.

“Dr. Watkins follows standard protocol. Had he been informed of any recent fever or illness, especially within 24 hours of the procedure, it would have been rescheduled until the patient was healthy.”

Dr Watkins said Silvanna was a ‘healthy nine-year-old with a history of regular medical checkups’ and that the youngster went through a ‘thorough review of her medical and dental history’ before having the surgery.

After falling asleep in the car on the way back from the dentist, Silvanna stayed asleep once back home where she was being monitored, the autopsy report said.

As she remained ‘unresponsive’, her family called 911 and she was rushed to Rady Children’s Hospital.

Silvanna Moreno died earlier this year (GoFundMe)

While at the hospital, Silvanna was ‘provided additional medications, ongoing chest compressions, and was intubated but her condition did not improve’, according to the medical examiner’s report. She was pronounced dead at 5:44 pm local time.

The nine-year-old’s cause of death was listed as ‘methemoglobinemia in the setting of recent nitrous oxide administration’, methemoglobinemia is a rare blood disorder that affects how red blood cells deliver oxygen throughout your body, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

“In patients experiencing this condition, there is typically a refractory hypoxemia, which means that even when breathing 100% oxygen with no airway obstruction, pulse oximetry readings will show abnormally low levels in the 80s instead of the normal high 90s,” Dr Watkins added as he claimed Silvanna ‘never exhibited’ signs of the condition.

Dr Watkins continued: “While the Medical Examiner has ruled this an accident, we take this outcome with the utmost seriousness. We are conducting a thorough internal review of this case and are consulting with leading experts in dental anesthesia to ensure we continue to provide the safest possible care for our patients.”

A subsequent GoFundMe was set up following the youngster’s tragic death.

“It is with heavy hearts that we share the tragic loss of 9-year-old Silvanna Moreno,” a description of the third-grader reads. “Silvanna was a bright and loving third grader at Sherman Elementary School in San Diego. She was the sunshine in every room she entered, always greeting staff and classmates with a big smile and an even bigger hug.”