A Texas dentist was arrested after allegedly being intoxicated while performing a dental procedure on a child, according to police.
Sherman police said the office of Pediatric Dentistry of Sherman contacted authorities on Monday, February 16, reporting that dentist Kelly Buck “was potentially intoxicated while treating patients.” Sherman is about 65 miles north of Dallas.
Police found Buck, 36, had already treated one patient before officers arrived and suspected she was intoxicated at the time. Buck was booked on a felony charge of performing surgery while intoxicated. She was working temporarily through a staffing agency.
A search warrant affidavit reviewed by WFAA stated Buck was performing a “filling and crowning” on an 8-year-old boy when a dental technician noticed behavior that suggested intoxication and stopped the procedure due to safety concerns. Buck declined to provide a blood sample following her arrest.
Buck denied the allegations in a phone interview with WFAA. “This is absurd. I plan on fighting this … it’s doing irreparable damage to my career,” she said. Her attorney, Matt Hamilton, reaffirmed her innocence and said she looks forward to clearing her name.
Licensed in Texas since August 2016, Buck has no prior disciplinary actions, according to state records.
Pediatric Dentistry of Sherman said Buck was booked for temporary work through Cloud Dentistry, a platform that connects offices with dentists for short-term assignments. The company confirmed Buck passed a background check and has been suspended from the platform pending investigation.
The dental practice said staff noticed Buck “did not seem herself” during the first procedure and instructed that she not be assigned further appointments. After consulting experts, the office manager contacted police.
“We are deeply saddened and troubled over this situation and are extremely concerned that this negatively impacted a valued patient,” the practice wrote on Facebook.