9-Year-Old Loses Life During Routine Dental Treatment
Tragic Dental Visit
A routine dental appointment turned fatal for 9-year-old Silvanna Moreno on March 18, 2025, at Dreamtime Dentistry in Vista, California. Hours after her procedure, she dd.
Cause of Death
The San Diego County Medical Examiner ruled her death an accident, citing “methemoglobinemia following nitrous oxide administration.”
This rare condition reduces oxygen delivery in the body and can sometimes show no symptoms, though it may cause blue or purple lips, skin, or nails.
Procedure and Health Background
Silvanna, a new patient with a recent fever, underwent a three-hour root canal and several extractions.
Dr. Ryan Watkins, the anesthesiologist, said she was “a healthy child” and “an appropriate candidate for outpatient general anesthesia.”
Aftermath and Reaction
Her mother reported Silvanna was “out of it, intermittently opening her eyes and mumbling incomprehensibly.”
Dr. Watkins said, “We are profoundly saddened by the tragic loss of Silvanna Moreno, and our hearts continue to go out to her family during this incredibly difficult time.”
Watkins had past anesthesia-related controversies, including a 2016 patient nearly ding.
