There is also an memo out there from the AAPD that was sent out to all members with a “script” on what to say… I think it’s here on this blog someplace, look around.
The parents of 17-year-old Jenny Olenick of Woodstock, Md., are the latest to sue a dentist for negligence in connection with a pediatric dental surgery death. Olenick died in April, according to ABC News, after suffering oxygen deprivation in the dental chair. The lawsuit charges the dentist and anesthesiologist with failure to resuscitate Olenick.
Prevalence of Dental Surgery Deaths
The pediatric dentistry chairman at New Jersey Dental School, Milton Houpt, told Tampa Bay Online last year that there are no national statistics on deaths in the dentist's chair. He says such deaths are rare, though, based on anecdotal evidence.
Media Reports of Pediatric Dental Deaths
These are some other recent deaths associated with pediatric dental procedures reported in the media:
* Tampa Bay Online said Corey Moore died at age 9 from a dental procedure performed in Tampa, Fla., in 2009.
* 5-year-old Dylan Stewart of Cedar Key, Fla., died in 2010, Tampa Bay Online said.
* ABC News reported that Ben Ellis, 14, died Dec. 8, the day after he had a wisdom tooth removed in Gilmer County, Ga.; he was found dead in his bed.
* Thirteen-year-old Marissa Kingery of Elyria, Ohio, died in January after undergoing dental surgery, the Plain Dealer reported. She fell into a coma and died two weeks after the procedure.
* A 4-year-old Stockton, Cal., boy, Jermaine Lee Harrison died in November during dental surgery. Because of pre-existing heart problems, his surgery was performed at Oakland Hospital, the Contra Costa Times said.
* In May 2010, 6-year-old Jacobi Hill died at Virginia Commonwealth University's dental clinic in Richmond, Va., ABC News reported.
* Raven Blanco, age 8, died under conscious sedation in a Virginia Beach, Va., dental office in 2007, according to WVEC.
Who May Administer Anesthesia in the Dental Office?
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that three staff be present when deep sedation occurs in a dental office. The anesthesia provider should be a licensed medical or dental practitioner with certification for providing anesthesia; he should monitor the patient's vital signs, airway patency, cardiovascular and neurological status and adequacy of ventilation.
When state law permits a registered nurse anesthetist or anesthesia assistant to provide anesthesia to dental patients, the dentist himself should be trained and licensed in the administration of anesthesia, according to AAPD guidelines. AAPD also says the operating dentist and clinical staff need to maintain current expertise in basic life support in case something goes wrong.
Deaths can also occur with local anesthesia. As of Oct. 2008, it was legal in 43 states for dental hygienists to administer local anesthesia, RDH Magazine reported, and 26 allow them to administer nitrous oxide.
Problems in Pediatric Dental Death Cases
Several problems have been identified in pediatric dental death cases. Dentists' offices may not have working defibrillators as in Raven Blanco's case. Dental personnel may not be trained in life support, despite AAPD guidelines. In Corey Moore's case, the decision to sedate him knowing he'd recently eaten may have contributed to his death. And underlying medical problems may be a factor as in Jermaine Lee Harrison's case.
KRCA reported in 2006 on one pediatric dental death in Sacramento the previous summer that was ruled a homicide. In that case, the dentist reportedly covered 3-year-old Rogelio Campos-Crespo's nose and mouth to calm him and left a 4-inch by 4-inch gauze pad in his mouth, smothering and gagging him.
