A four‑year‑old girl died during a frenectomy performed at a pediatric dental office in Fort Worth, Texas, on April 1.
The practice remained open for more than three months before the dentist was arrested on charges of reckless injury to a child.
The child did not regain consciousness after the procedure, prompting attempts at CPR by the dentist and a second staff member before emergency responders arrived.
Medical examination determined the cause of death was meperidine toxicity, with drug levels far exceeding therapeutic ranges for adults.
An anesthesiologist testified that the patient should have received an opioid antagonist, but instead was given a medication that reverses other drugs, delaying appropriate treatment.
Investigators identified neglect and improper life‑saving practices, noting that the child's respiratory distress went unnoticed for a critical period.
The dentist’s attorney expressed condolences but stressed that the allegations remain unproven until a court determines the facts.
