*A tragic incident has left a San Diego family mourning the loss of their nine-year-old daughter, Silvanna Moreno, who passed away following a dental procedure.
The Daily Mail reports that the third grader underwent routine surgery under anesthesia at Dreamtime Dentistry on March 18 and was discharged to her parents in stable condition. According to the medical examiner, Moreno remained asleep during the ride home and was placed in bed, but was later found unresponsive by family members who then called 911. Despite being rushed to Rady Children’s Hospital, she was pronounced dead.
The cause of Moreno’s death remains under investigation by the San Diego Police Department, with no clear link yet established to the dental procedure.
Dreamtime Dentistry, headed by Dr. Ryan Watkins, stated that Moreno was referred to their practice “due to her young age and acute situational anxiety,” and the surgery was overseen by an experienced anesthesiologist.
“Following the procedure, she was discharged in stable condition—awake, with stable vital signs and protective reflexes intact—into her mother’s care,” the office told Fox 5.
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— Dreamtime Dentistry (@DreamtimeDocs) November 10, 2024
Moreno was a beloved student at Sherman Elementary School, known for her warm hugs and kind nature.
“She was the sunshine in every room she entered,” her family wrote on a GoFundMe page created to help with funeral expenses.
“She was the sunshine in every room she entered, always greeting staff and classmates with a big smile and an even bigger hug,” the campaign states. “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.”
The dental practice expressed deep sorrow, saying, “We are deeply saddened by the tragic passing of our young patient,” while urging patience to avoid speculation that could further hurt the family.
Adding complexity to the case, NBC San Diego reported that Watkins faced scrutiny in 2016 after a patient nearly died under his care due to an improper drug combination, leading to a probation period from 2020 to 2023.
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