A sunny California morning turned into every parent’s worst nightmare when 9-year-old Silvanna Moreno went in for a routine dental procedure and never came home. The vibrant third-grader passed away just hours after her appointment at Dreamtime Dentistry in Vista, leaving her family and community heartbroken.
Medical examiners determined Silvanna died from methemoglobinemia (MetHb), an extremely rare reaction to nitrous oxide anesthesia that prevents blood from carrying oxygen properly. Though she showed no warning signs during the procedure and was discharged in stable condition, she became unresponsive at home hours later. Despite frantic efforts to revive her, the little girl couldn’t be saved.
Her grieving family remembers Silvanna as a radiant child who hugged everyone she met and doted on her younger brother. A GoFundMe campaign quickly surpassed its goal, allowing her loved ones to give her the beautiful farewell she deserved. Meanwhile, the dental practice expressed profound sorrow while maintaining all proper protocols were followed during the tragic incident.
A nine-year-old girl died after going to a San Diego dentist's office for a routine surgery. Silvanna Moreno had dental surgery under anesthesia at Dreamtime Dentistry on March 18. According to the practice website, Dr. Ryan Watkins is the only dentist listed who is trained in… pic.twitter.com/drGAtKbzu7
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(@EUFreeCitizen) April 2, 2025
