Texas dentist Chrishelle Hemphill, 48, reportedly was arrested on July 15, 2026 on a warrant for a charge of serious bodily injury to a child in connection with the death of her 4-year-old patient, Aithana Rodriguez Arriaga, during a tongue-tie procedure in her office.
The authorities alleged that during the relatively minor dental procedure on April 1, 2026, Hemphill administered meperidine (Demerol), two other medications, and nitrous oxide during the frenectomy at Cuddle Kids Dental. When the child failed to wake up after the dental procedure, Hemphill and another dentist reportedly began CPR and called for emergency transfer of the child to the hospital, where she was pronounced deceased.
A medical examiner reportedly determined that the child died from meperidine toxicity. An affidavit in support of the charges reportedly stated, in part: “About 200 to 500 ng/mL of meperidine in a person’s system is typically therapeutic for an adult. The amount found in the victim was 793 ng/mL.”
The affidavit also reportedly stated that the child was allegedly given flumazenil in an attempt to resuscitate her, but flumazenil is used to reverse the effects of benzodiazepine medications, which the child was not administered. Instead, the child allegedly should have been given Narcan, to reverse the respiratory depressant effects of the opioid (the child was given Narcan in the hospital but by then it was too late).
Tongue-tie (ankyloglossia) is when a baby’s tongue cannot move as well as it should because a fold of tissue connects the bottom of their tongue to the floor of their mouth. This fold of tissue, called the lingual frenulum, is present in all children and usually harmless. But sometimes, a lingual frenulum that is too tight or short can restrict the movement and function of a baby’s tongue. Tongue-tie is congenital: from 1% to 11% of newborns have signs of ankyloglossia. Pediatricians typically diagnose tongue-tie soon after a baby is born.
Many babies with tongue-tie do not require surgery (health care providers only suggest a frenotomy if changes to breastfeeding position and the baby’s latch do not resolve the symptoms), but for those who do, healthcare providers can often clip a baby’s lingual frenulum in a quick in-office procedure.
“Infants don’t need anesthesia in any form for this procedure. Some healthcare providers recommend using oral sucrose (a sugar solution) before the procedure to help your baby feel more comfortable. Most babies are comforted afterward with feeding.”
If you or a loved one suffered a serious injury (or worse) as a result of dental malpractice in Texas or in another U.S. state, you should promptly find a Texas dental malpractice lawyer, or a dental malpractice in your state, who may investigate your dental malpractice claim for you and represent you or your loved one in a dental malpractice case, if appropriate.
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