Overview

• A 9-year-old girl died at home hours after undergoing a dental procedure involving general anesthesia at Dreamtime Dentistry in Vista, California, on March 18, 2025.
• The girl was discharged in stable condition following the procedure, but was later found unresponsive at home and pronounced dead at Rady Children’s Hospital.
• The medical examiner has yet to determine the cause of death, with investigations ongoing to assess whether the dental procedure contributed.
• Dr. Ryan Watkins, the dentist involved, had previously been placed on probation from 2020 to 2023 following a 2016 incident involving anesthesia complications with an adult patient.
• Experts highlight the increased risks of general anesthesia for children due to physiological factors such as smaller airways and metabolic differences, emphasizing the need for caution and proper protocols.