Arizona mom, Francisca Lares, is suing the dentist office Kool Smiles in Yuma, AZ after the death of her 4-year-old daughter days after she visited the office in January 2016. Sadly, her death marks the first of two from Kool Smiles; three weeks ago, 2-year-old Zion Gastelum stopped breathing after getting a filling at the same office and died 4 days later after his breathing had become labored. At this time, officials are investigating Zion’s cause of death and have not yet said whether it was related to the dentist visit.1
Lares is obviously heartbroken. She took her daughter to the dentist for cavities and a dental abscess but by the next day she had developed a fever. After calling the office and bringing her in, the dentist did a “cursory exam”2 and sent her home saying there was nothing to worry about. However, Lisette had an infection that spread and caused her death.
The family’s attorney, Marco Mercaldo, argues that the little girl would have survived the infection if Kool Smiles had given her the proper treatment. The dentist involved will face trial next February.3
Our hearts go out to the two families. We cannot imagine what they are going through.
