June 22, 2005

Antioch, CA

According to authorities, the little boy was being prepped to have crowns placed on decaying teeth, when something went wrong. The Sacramento County Coroner’s report says that “the decedent’s nose and mouth were covered by the dentist’s hand to calm him, while a 4-by-4 gauze pad or sponge … was left behind in the mouth,” which caused him to smother and likely choke on the gauze pad during the dental procedure. The pad had been left behind in the mouth and acted as a gag, according to the report. Read more.