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Wednesday, March 27, 2024 | Back issues
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No Way to Treat a Child, Mom Tells Dentist

HOUSTON (CN) - In a horrifying trip to the dentist, a little girl "screamed frantically for her mother," but the dentist kept drilling, with his staff "grabbing her legs and restraining her head," and threatening to call police when the mom tried to check on her daughter, the mother claims in court.

Cheryl Rye sued Miner Jerome Holmes DDS and his dental office on behalf of her daughter, Katie in Harris County Court.

Rye claims took Katie to Holmes' office for what she thought was a routine cleaning.

"Plaintiff was administered nitrous oxide and the dental procedure began," the complaint states. "Plaintiff began feeling intense pain and screamed frantically for her mother. Instead of stopping the procedure or administering any additional nitrous or allowing her mother to enter the room to calm her Dr. Holmes continued to drill into the minor child's tooth.

"Dr. Holmes, and his agents and/or employees, physically restrained Katie in a prison like manner by holding her down, grabbing her legs, and restraining her head in such a reckless fashion that it caused bodily injury.

"Plaintiff continued to scream for her mother so loudly that her mother, Cheryl, heard her scream while she was sitting in the waiting area. Cheryl pleaded with the office staff to go and check on her daughter.

"Cheryl was instructed to sit down, was refused access to her minor child and told the police would be called if she attempted to go back.

"After several minutes of nerve-racking screams of pain and fear, little Katy finally emerged from the back area sobbing with large red marks on her head.

"Cheryl inquired as to what happened to her daughter and why she had the injuries that were not present prior to the procedure. Dr. Holme's staff tried to cover up the negligent acts and told Cheryl that it was an 'allergic reaction.'"

But Rye says she took Katie to her pediatrician, who determined that the marks "were not any type of allergic reaction, but were in fact injuries she sustained by being forcibly restrained."

An emergency room physician confirmed the pediatrician's diagnosis, Rye says.

She says Katie is still scared to go to the dentist, months later, and will require sedation to go to the dentist from now on.

She seeks medical expenses and punitive damages for negligence, gross negligence and breach of duty.

She is represented by Tami Pierce of Kingwood.

Follow @cam_langford
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