Posted on 10/02/2025 10:14:49 AM PDT by Morgana
A toddler has died after suffering a medical emergency at the dentist ahead of a simple operation to cap his teeth.
Shardé Sherrill and David Mitchell took their son Er'mias, two, to Valleygate Dental Surgery Center in Greensboro, North Carolina, for treatment on July 17.
An ambulance transported the young boy to a nearby hospital roughly 40 minutes after the dental team took him in for the procedure, WXII reports.
Sherill and Mitchell allege they were not informed of any complications until he was already en route to the hospital without them.
The parents claim nurses told them the boy's lungs had collapsed, despite Er'mias having passed health checks at Valleygate that very morning.
Sherill and Mitchell drove 30 minutes to the hospital to find their son, but by the time they arrived it was too late to say goodbye.
They are now demanding accountability from Valleygate in Er'mias' death and what they said were 'unethical' actions taken by staff.
But Valleygate boss Virginia Jones appears to have dismissed their claims, stating in a letter obtained by WBTV that 'we do not yet know what caused Er'mias' tragedy' and adding that staff 'did everything they could'.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
I find it awfully hard to believe Medicaid pays for caps for a 2-year-old child. I had an elderly friend who died of infection, from two abscessed teeth. Medicaid wouldn’t pay and she couldn’t.
The health of baby teeth helps determine the health of your adult teeth, and some disorders (Amelogenesis imperfecta) do exist which create issues related to enamel strength and gum health. Assuming abuse off the bat (as some have) is a little unfair.
Good point.
Good point.
Because Medicaid can be billed for thousands and thousands for that capping.
It sounds as if that child was the victim of cascading effects.
“They’re still baby teeth that will fall out in a few years. Why?”
Kids don’t lose all their baby teeth until the ages of 6 and 12.
Cavities can eat through baby teeth and to the adult teeth.
IF ON SECTION 8 & OTHER BENEFITS-—THERE SHOULD BE NO GOLD TEETH
Kids don’t lose ALL their baby teeth until ages 6 to 12.
Cavities can go through baby teeth to the adult ones and ruin them.
Teaching kids to brush even a child this young is important.
More important is not a lot of candy, soft drinks or other surgery foods.
Medicaid was paying for the capping of this kids teeth because they did not want more expensive dental bills on this child’s adult teeth down the road.
Dental crowns on baby teeth may be necessary in certain situations to protect and preserve the teeth until they are naturally replaced by permanent teeth.
Reasons for Crowns on Baby Teeth:
Extensive decay: When a cavity is too large for a traditional filling to restore, a crown may be needed to cover the decay and prevent further damage.
Trauma: A tooth that is chipped, cracked, or broken may require a crown to protect it and prevent infection.
Weak enamel: Some children may have enamel that is weaker than usual, making their teeth more susceptible to decay and damage. A crown can provide additional protection.
Orthodontic treatment: Crowns may be used to hold a tooth in place during orthodontic treatment or to prevent shifting of teeth.
Benefits of Crowns on Baby Teeth:
Prevent further decay and damage: Crowns protect the tooth from further decay and infection, preserving its function.
Maintain proper alignment: Crowns can help keep teeth in their proper position, preventing bite problems.
Improve appearance: Crowns can restore the appearance of a damaged tooth, boosting the child’s confidence.
Extend the lifespan of the tooth: Crowns can prolong the life of a baby tooth until it is naturally replaced.
Considerations:
Crowns on baby teeth are typically temporary and will need to be removed when the permanent tooth erupts.
The decision to place a crown on a baby tooth should be made in consultation with a qualified pediatric dentist.
Proper oral hygiene and regular dental checkups are essential for maintaining the health of baby teeth, even with crowns.
In conclusion, crowns on baby teeth may be necessary in certain situations to protect and preserve the teeth until they are replaced by permanent ones. This can help prevent further decay, maintain proper alignment, and improve the child’s oral health overall [28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 3
Is it Worth it to put Crowns on my Child’s Baby Teeth?
Dec 18, 2018 — A dental crown is a kind of protective cover that is placed over a tooth, typically to restore them after decay. When ...
Children’s Dentistry
Is it Worth it to put Crowns on my Child’s Baby Teeth? | Childrens ...
Dec 18, 2018 — Causes for Crowns on Baby Teeth - Tooth Decay – Tooth decay is the number one reason that a crown may be need...
childrensedationdentist.com
White Crowns for Primary Baby Teeth - Tiny Smiles Pediatric Dentistry
Other reasons your dentist may recommend white dental crowns for baby teeth include: * A crown keeps the tooth in place, so your ...
Tiny Smiles Pediatric Dentistry
Show all
So why cap rotten teeth?
No, they won’t pay for adults, just kids. At least that’s the way it is in Oklahoma.
Thanks! The preventative angle of this dental care makes a lot of sense.
A filling will do the same thing, except enrich the dentist.
Ain’t life GRAND. Make your choices and live with them.
I don’t remeber young children’s teeth falling out at age
3-6, etc. I’m 84 but have a few of my orginals left. A
Knife and Fork make cutting up easier than chomping with
few teeth. jmo observation in my case. Have a good’em.
I’ve heard it said that you don’t pay the anesthesiologist to put you to sleep, you pay him to wake you back up.
“I’ve heard it said that you don’t pay the anesthesiologist to put you to sleep, you pay him to wake you back up.”
good saying ... the anesthesiologist makes sure you stay alive while the cutter cuts ...

They probably had to put the child under to keep her still during the procedure. They may have had an anesthesiologist, not experienced with children, who overdosed the child.
I’m glad you posted this. My son at 2-3 had major problems with his teeth. We were told he had almost no enamel. Despite limiting sweets and brushing regularly, his molars were like chalk and were just disintegrating. His back the front molars, the ones he wouldn’t lose until later in life, we had capped. The other teeth they just sealed and sealed as best they could every 6 months until he lost them in due course.
He had no problems with his adult teeth. His cousin had the same issue.
It’s sad to see people judging and they don’t know all the reasons, and how tragic for this family. My son was only given laughing gas, he was never completely under
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.