The Virginia Board of Dentistry reprimanded a pediatric dentist after it concluded that he engaged in negligent conduct and practiced in a dangerous manner that led to the death of a 3-year-old following a dental procedure.
The board reprimanded Dr. Girish Banaji of Banaji Pediatric Dental Specialists in Falls Church, VA, for violating state statutes that he engaged in intentional or negligent conduct in the practice of dentistry that caused an injury to a patient and practiced in a manner that is a danger to the health and welfare of his patients, according to the state order dated July 1.
Banaji was ordered to pay a $2,000 penalty and $2,025 in administrative costs and to take eight hours of continuing education courses -- four in medical emergencies in dental offices and four in emergency preparedness and responses for the dental setting.
On October 23, 2025, a medically complex three-year-old with Down syndrome was brought to Banaji’s practice to have a tooth restoration and a crown placed on another tooth. During treatment, a papoose board was used with the patient, according to dental board records.
After the procedure, the treating dentist saw that the child was unresponsive and would not wake up. Although Banaji and the treating dentist were certified in basic life support and CPR, neither was reportedly providing such care to the patient nor could they say if the child was breathing when police arrived at the practice, according to the state.
When emergency medical personnel arrived, the child was still semi-inclined in the dental chair, indicating that Benaji and his staff failed to properly initiate CPR. The child should have been lying on a flat, hard surface, according to the order.
Furthermore, police footage showed that no practice staff members were actively performing CPR. An employee confirmed that no one performed CPR. Banaji purportedly performed “back blows” on the child. However, that is not the appropriate action to take when a child is experiencing respiratory and/or cardiac arrest, according to the state.
The child was transported to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with an anoxic brain injury. Four days later, the patient died, according to the order.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
