A Texas pediatric dentist has been charged after authorities alleged that a 4-year-old girl died from an opioid overdose during a tongue-tie procedure that investigators believe was medically unnecessary.
According to the Fort Worth Police Department, Chrishelle Hemphill, 48, has been charged with injury to a child causing serious bodily injury in connection with the death of Aithana Rodriguez Arriaga.
The incident occurred in April 2026 at Cuddle Kids Dental Care, located on Sycamore School Road in southwest Fort Worth.
Family Sought Treatment After Preschool Raised Concerns
According to an arrest warrant, Aithana’s family scheduled an appointment with the pediatric dentist after a preschool teacher suggested the child might have a tongue-tie, a condition in which tissue beneath the tongue restricts movement and can sometimes affect speech.
The family reportedly sought treatment because Aithana had difficulty pronouncing certain words.
On April 1, Hemphill performed a frenectomy, a surgical procedure used to release or remove the tissue beneath the tongue.
Child Never Regained Consciousness
Investigators said Aithana did not wake up after the procedure.
Emergency responders from the Fort Worth Fire Department transported her to a nearby hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
The incident prompted a criminal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the procedure and the medications administered.
Autopsy Revealed High Levels of Opioids
According to the arrest warrant, medical examiners found Demerol, an opioid pain medication, in Aithana’s blood at a concentration of 793 nanograms per milliliter.
Investigators were told that the normal therapeutic range for an adult is approximately 200 to 500 nanograms per milliliter, meaning the level detected in the child exceeded what is generally considered acceptable even for adults.
Authorities also stated that Aithana had been given two additional sedative medications along with nitrous oxide gas during the procedure.
Investigators Say Dosage Exceeded Recommended Amount
Police allege that Hemphill administered 30 milligrams of Demerol to the 4-year-old patient.
During the investigation, another pediatric dentist reportedly advised detectives that a child of Aithana’s size should have received no more than 10 milligrams of the medication.
Although blood concentrations alone cannot determine the exact dose administered, investigators said the treatment records documented the amount given.
Police Say Wrong Medication Was Used During Emergency
According to investigators, when Aithana became unresponsive, staff members attempted to revive her but allegedly used the wrong emergency medication.
Authorities said the dental office administered flumazenil, a drug that reverses the effects of benzodiazepines.
Because Demerol is an opioid, investigators stated that the appropriate medication would have been Narcan (naloxone), which is specifically used to reverse opioid overdoses.
Investigators Could Not Locate Narcan at Clinic
When detectives later executed a search warrant at the dental practice, they allege Hemphill was unable to show investigators where Narcan was stored inside the office.
Police say that the finding became another concern during the investigation into the child’s death.
Authorities Allege Neglect During Medical Emergency
According to Fort Worth Police Detective J. Spragins, statements collected from Hemphill, members of her staff, and medical professionals pointed to what investigators described as significant neglect.
The detective wrote in the arrest warrant that the evidence suggested Hemphill failed to provide appropriate care and that her actions contributed to Aithana’s death.
Investigators also allege she failed to recognize and properly treat signs of respiratory distress while the child was experiencing complications after the procedure.
Arrest Made Months After Child’s Death
Hemphill was arrested on July 15 following the completion of the investigation.
According to police records, she was later released after posting a $10,000 surety bond.
The criminal case remains pending as prosecutors continue pursuing the charges.
Family Remembers Aithana
Following the tragedy, Aithana’s loved ones created a GoFundMe page to honor her memory.
The family described the 4-year-old as a bright and loving child whose smile brought happiness to everyone around her.
They remembered Aithana as a sweet little girl whose joyful personality touched many lives, leaving behind a lasting impact on family and friends.
