The family of a two-year-old North Carolina boy is demanding answers after he tragically died following complications during a routine dental surgery in Greensboro. Er’mias Mitchell was taken to Valleygate Dental Surgery Center on July 17 for what was expected to be a standard oral procedure.
But shortly after he was taken into the operating room, his parents were informed of a critical emergency—one they claim they were not fully informed about until it was too late. “He was all good this morning, nothing was wrong,” Er’mias’ father, David Mitchell, told WRAL. “They checked his heartbeat, checked his weight, and checked everything. It was all good until they took him back in the room.”
According to the family, nurses told them that Er’mias had suffered a collapsed lung during the procedure. However, by the time they were informed, he had already been transported to a hospital in an ambulance, without them. “We were like, ‘So where’s our son?'” David recalled. “He was already gone in the ambulance, and we were like, ‘Why didn’t y’all tell us?'”
By the time the Mitchell family arrived at the hospital, Er’mias had passed away. His father accused the dental surgery center of failing to provide “proper treatment” and failing to communicate with the family during the most critical moments. He was also described in a GoFundMe campaign as “a joyful, loving child—full of life, laughter, and endless curiosity.”
“You can’t get life back once it’s gone. You can’t,” he said. “That was our last time. Our last time seeing him was us giving him off to them. He went into that room, and then we saw him in the hospital on the bed, dead.” David described Er’mias as a joyful and healthy child who loved dinosaurs, especially his toy T-rex.
(Image: Gofundme)
In a statement, Valleygate Dental Surgery Center expressed condolences and said that medical complications like this can arise even under controlled conditions. “Our thoughts are with their family and loved ones during this unimaginably difficult time,” the center said.
“The health and well-being of every patient is our highest priority. Our professionals are dedicated to providing a caring, nurturing environment where comfort, dental health, and safety are of primary importance.” The North Carolina Dental Board also announced it would launch an investigation into the circumstances of Er’mias’ death.
“First, the Dental Board joins with all who mourn the death of Er’Mias Mitchell and, though strangers to his family, we are deeply saddened by this tragic news,” it said in a statement.
The board noted that Valleygate is an independently accredited facility and not directly licensed or overseen by the NC Dental Board. Investigators will determine whether the cause of death was due to sedation complications or improper dental treatment.