Investigators allege the child received a toxic amount of an opioid medication before a tongue-tie procedure at a Fort Worth clinic.
FORT WORTH, Texas — A pediatric dentist has been charged with a felony after authorities said a 4-year-old girl died from drug toxicity following a dental procedure at a Fort Worth clinic in April.
Dr. Chrishelle Hemphill, 48, was arrested July 15 on a charge of injury to a child causing serious bodily injury, according to an arrest warrant affidavit and local news reports. The second-degree felony charge is connected to the death of Aithana Rodriguez Arriaga, who became unresponsive during an April 1 appointment at Cuddle Kids Dental Care.
Aithana had been scheduled for a frenectomy, a procedure commonly used to address a tongue-tie. Investigators allege Hemphill gave her an oral solution containing meperidine, an opioid medication also known by the brand name Demerol. The child also received two other sedating medications and nitrous oxide, according to the affidavit.
Fort Worth firefighters were called to the dental office in the 5300 block of Sycamore School Road after Aithana became unresponsive. Hemphill began chest compressions, and another dentist helped perform CPR until emergency crews arrived, investigators said. Aithana was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
The Tarrant County medical examiner determined that Aithana died from meperidine toxicity, according to the warrant. Laboratory testing found 793 nanograms of meperidine per milliliter in her system. A doctor consulted by investigators said the therapeutic range for an adult is generally 200 to 500 nanograms per milliliter.
The medical examiner told investigators that the level detected in the girl would have been high even for an adult and indicated that the medication had been administered twice, the affidavit alleges. Hemphill reportedly told investigators that she gave the medication to help calm Aithana before the procedure. Staff members could not immediately explain how much had been given, according to the warrant.
Investigators also raised concerns about how the child was monitored and how clinic employees responded when she stopped breathing normally. Medical experts who reviewed the case told detectives that signs of breathing trouble were not recognized soon enough, according to the affidavit.
The warrant states that staff administered flumazenil while trying to revive Aithana. Flumazenil reverses the effects of certain benzodiazepine medications. A pediatric dental anesthesiologist told investigators that naloxone was needed to reverse the breathing effects of the opioid. Investigators allege naloxone was not administered until Aithana reached the hospital.
Hemphill and members of her staff told investigators that Aithana had breathing problems that had not been disclosed before the appointment, according to the warrant. Doctors who had treated the girl disputed that claim, telling investigators she had no known history of breathing problems and was otherwise healthy. One doctor also questioned whether the tongue-tie procedure was medically needed.
Police said a search of the dental clinic found syringes containing different amounts of leftover medication. Investigators alleged the syringes had been kept for later use, a practice they said did not follow required safety standards. The allegations have not been proven in court.
The Texas State Board of Dental Examiners temporarily suspended Hemphill’s license after her arrest, according to local news reports. The board determined that allowing her to continue practicing could pose a threat to public health or safety. Hemphill had held a Texas dental license since 2017.
Hemphill was released after posting a $10,000 bond, CBS News Texas reported. Information about her attorney, plea and next scheduled court appearance was not immediately available. Cuddle Kids Dental Care was closed following the arrest, and the criminal case remains pending.
Aithana attended Dan Powell Early Learning Academy in the Everman Independent School District. The district described her as a cherished member of its school community. Her family remembered her in an online fundraising post as a joyful and kind child.
Author note: Last updated July 18, 2026.