A California child has died following a dental procedure, and investigators are trying to figure out what went wrong. The unidentified 9-year-old girl had dental surgery under general anesthesia on March 18, 2025, at Dreamtime Dentistry in Vista. Following the procedure, staff moved the child to a recovery room and ultimately released her. The child reportedly fell asleep in the car and continued sleeping once the family returned home. Sadly, she never woke up.
According to NBC 7, when the family could not wake her, they called 911 for help. Emergency responders took her to Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego, where doctors pronounced her dead. Her exact cause of death is still under investigation, as is what role the anesthesia and dental procedure may have played in her death.
Per court documents obtained by NBC 7, Dr. Ryan Watkins is the only dentist at the facility performing dental procedures under sedation. Watkins was under investigation by the Dental Board of California in 2016 after he allegedly administered incorrect medication that nearly killed a 54-year-old patient. Subsequently, Watkins lost his license from 2020 to 2023. He also had to reimburse the state $19,222.50 for the cost of the investigation.
Dreamtime Dentistry released a statement to NBC 7 that reads in part:
“The patient was referred to our office for dental treatment under general anesthesia due to her young age and acute situational anxiety. Throughout the procedure, she was continuously monitored by our dentist anesthesiologist, who is a Diplomate of the National Dental Board of Anesthesiology as well as a Fellow in Anesthesiology from American Dental Society of Anesthesiology and active member of the American Society of Dentist Anesthesiologists who has over 20 years of experience successfully administering general anesthesia on children, with no complications observed.”
The dental practice added, “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.”
The case remains under investigation.
