Fury of parents whose one-year-old girl died under anesthesia while her dentist fixed ‘six cavities’ – as an autopsy now reveals she did NOT need the procedure

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• Daisy Lynn Torres died in March after being brought to Austin Children’s Dentistry to get six fillings
• The 14-month-old was put under anesthesia, went into cardiac arrest and died 
• Autopsy report in July concluded that there was ‘no indication of dental disease or pathology’
• Daisy’s dentist, Dr Michael Melanson, was suspended indefinitely by the practice 
• Lawyer for the dentist disputes the claim that her teeth were not decaying 
• His attorney said Melanson was not at fault, and that Daisy’s best interest ‘was everyone’s goal’  

Article by Snejana Farberov

Betty Squier says she never thought her 14-month-old daughter, Daisy Lynn Torres, would die going to see dentist Dr. Michael Melanso

But that is what happened when the mother-of-two from Texas took the toddler to Austin Children’s Dentistry to have a pair of cavities filled back in March.

And now Squier says she is shocked and furious after her daughter’s autopsy report published  last month revealed there was nothing wrong with Daisy’s baby teeth and did not need any dental work.

‘One can only speculate as to why any treatment was performed considering no indication of dental disease or pathology,’ wrote dental pathologist Dr. Robert G. in his review and added that the toddler’s previous visit showed no decay either.

The autopsy report, conducted by the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office, ruled that anesthesia caused the toddler’s death.

However,  Melanson’s attorney has hit back and said in a statement to Inside Edition that there was no evidence ‘the dentist did anything to cause the event. The best interest of the child was everyone’s only goal.’

The lawyer previously has called into question the autopsy findings, referring to unspecified ‘troubling clinical oversights’ and ‘many significant errors’ in the review, although he would not go into detail citing personal privacy laws and federal HIPAA regulations, reported Medical Daily.  

Jason Ray, attorney for the treating dentist at Austin Children’s Dentistry said that the autopsy found no defects because Dr. Melanson removed them before the child tragically passed away and added, ‘The report reveals no surprises to us.’

‘By the time the forensic odontologist evaluated Daisy, all evidence of dental disease had already been removed by the dentist, as expected.

‘A treating dentist always has the advantage of pre-treatment visual exams, clinical findings, and x-rays on the patient; as well as knowing the patient’s dental history, unlike a forensic odontologist.

‘The treating dentist in Daisy’s case will present all of the evidence that justified Daisy’s treatment if called on to do so.’

Betty Squier took Daisy to the dentist on March 29 to get treatment for tooth decay in her primary teeth.

But in the course of the appointment, she says Dr Michael Melanson, Daisy’s dentist, had informed her that the little girl had not two but six cavities, requiring four crowns and two fillings.

Speaking to Inside Edition this week, Squier said she had some doubts about having crowns installed on Daisy’s baby teeth, but she went ahead with Melanson’s course of treatment.

‘I allowed him to do it because I trusted him,’ she said.

Daisy was sedated by an anesthesiologist, which was routinely done at the office to keep young patients calm.

During the procedure, the 14-month-old stopped breathing and went into cardiac arrest. Dr Malenson called 911 and Daisy was rushed to a hospital.

Just hours after arriving for her appointment at the dental office, the child was dead.

In mid-July, the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office released Daisy Torres’ autopsy report, cited by KEYE-TV, that read, in part:

According to the report, a review of Torres’ dental records showed that there was no evidence the girl was in any pain.

‘It is possible that the partially erupted teeth may have had a congenital enamel defects but not necessarily requiring treatment with a child of this age,’ the medical examiner concluded.

The cause of death was determined to be the result of complications of anesthesia.

Following the release of the forensic report, Dr Melanson was suspended indefinitely from the practice pending the conclusion of an investigation by the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners.

Sarah Marshall, a spokesperson for Austin Children’s Dentistry, confirmed to the Daily Mail Wednesday that Melanson, who was a contract dentist at the practice, has not been back since his suspension went into effect July 15.

Attorney Sean Breen, who has been retained by Daisy Torres’ family, wondered why Dr Melanson decided to put four crowns on baby teeth that were going to fall out anyway.

Daisy’s aunt Jessica Castaneda told the Austin-American Statesman earlier this year: ‘Daisy was a happy baby full of life.

‘She had just celebrated Easter with her family. She went to the dentist.

‘Then her mother called me and asked me to pray because something went wrong and they were taking her to the hospital.

‘Next thing we know, we’re planning funeral arrangements.’

Read more: dailymail.co.uk