What began as a routine trip to the dentist to fix a few cavities has spiraled into every parent’s worst nightmare. A Portland family is suing Sunnyside Dentistry for Children and two of its practitioners for $22 million, alleging that medical negligence left their 4-year-old child catastrophically brain-damaged and unable to walk, talk, or care for themselves.

A Morning Procedure Gone Horribly Wrong

According to court documents filed July 30 in Multnomah County Circuit Court, the child — identified only as M.L. — visited the clinic on July 24, 2024, for what was supposed to be a straightforward dental procedure.

Dr. Dustin M. Davis, a pediatric dentist and surgeon, oversaw the treatment alongside anesthesiologist Dr. Lane D. Robinson. Despite one parent’s hesitation about the risks of anesthesia, the medical team proceeded with general anesthesia, using the drug sevoflurane.

Minutes later, tragedy struck.

By 6:12 a.m., just 21 minutes after the procedure began, the child’s heart had stopped. Staff scrambled to resuscitate M.L. with chest compressions and epinephrine injections. The lawsuit claims that during this critical window, oxygen deprivation caused permanent and severe brain damage.

A Life Changed Forever

Today, M.L. no longer has the ability to walk independently, speak coherently, or perform the simplest tasks most 4-year-olds master. The lawsuit describes a heartbreaking regression: “The child has regressed back to being an infant and has had to relearn all basic functions.”

Attorney Kirc Emerson, who represents the family, says the ordeal has fundamentally altered the course of M.L.’s childhood. “Childhood has been materially altered because of this,” Emerson said. “This family trusted professionals with their child’s life. Instead, they are now living with a lifetime of irreversible consequences.”

M.L. spent six weeks in the hospital before being released home, where the child continues to undergo rehabilitation. According to the complaint, the child can no longer sound out words, write, dress, or even use the bathroom without assistance.

The Family’s Case

The lawsuit alleges that Davis, Robinson, and Sunnyside Dentistry failed to adequately monitor vital signs or intervene promptly when M.L. showed distress. “As a result,” the filing states, “M.L.’s brain was damaged due to a lack of oxygen.”

The family’s legal team argues that Davis had alternatives. Months earlier, when M.L. was just three, Davis attempted the procedure using nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas. When it proved difficult, he recommended returning later to use general anesthesia instead. The lawsuit claims the family was never given a satisfactory explanation as to why nitrous oxide was abandoned.

Silence From the Defendants

When reached by reporters, Robinson declined to discuss details. “I would love to give you my side of the story, but I think it would be much more wise if I deferred to my attorney,” he said, though he refused to name legal representation.

Davis, the dentist at the center of the case, has not responded publicly. Records from the Oregon Board of Dentistry indicate he has no prior malpractice violations. Davis has served as Sunnyside’s pediatric dentist since 2021 and previously practiced in Seattle for five years. His résumé includes a doctorate in dental surgery from Virginia Commonwealth University and a master’s degree in oral sciences from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Sunnyside Dentistry itself has not returned calls for comment.

A Parent’s Worst Fear

The lawsuit paints a picture of a family blindsided by medical negligence in what should have been a simple procedure. “One moment they were taking their child in to fix cavities,” Emerson said. “The next, their child’s life was permanently changed.”

For the family, the $22 million lawsuit is not only about securing resources for lifelong care but also about accountability. “This isn’t just about money,” Emerson stressed. “It’s about making sure this never happens again.”

What Comes Next

The case will test Oregon’s standards for medical negligence in pediatric dentistry, particularly around the use of anesthesia in young children. Experts say it may also reignite a national debate over whether general anesthesia should be used for routine dental work on children so young.

For now, M.L.’s family is focused on survival. Their lawsuit notes that even with rehabilitation, their child may never fully recover. “They are learning to care for a child who once ran, played, and spoke — and now must start over as if from birth,” the filing states.

The defendants have yet to file a formal response in court.