PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – The State of Florida Board of Dentistry has filed an administrative complaint against a local dentist, Francesco Sebastiani.
The complaint was filed on January 21, 2025. The complaint claims Sebastiani failed to treat a patient properly in 2023, which led to her death.
It states that on Feb. 1, 2023, a patient, identified as C.S., came to a dental implant center in Jacksonville.
C.S. was serviced by Francesco Sebastiani.
The Department of Health states Mister Sebastiani:
“Failed to treat high-risk patient in a hospital setting”. Stating the patient should have been treated in a hospital setting and not a dental office due to combined medical conditions. In the complaint the patient is described as a 68 year old woman, who “suffered from multiple comorbidities of morbid obesity with a BMI of 62, obstructive sleep apnea, anxiety and panic disorders, peripheral neuropathy, and depression.”
The complaint says Sebastiani “failed to maintain appropriate monitoring of the patient,” for various things including: vital signs, blood pressure, pulse, and oxygen levels.
The report says Sebastiani attempted to save the patient’s life, but C.S. “died on Feb. 5, 2023″.
TIMELINE OF PATIENT C.S. according to the complaint:
- Surgical procedure began at 7:05 am
- During the surgical procedure or at 9:00 am, patient C.S. suffered from low oxygen levels and a lack of chest rise ventilation
- Sebastiani administered a reversal drug: Flumazenil 1 mg, Narcan .4 mg and Epinephrine 1mg to reverse the effects of the anesthesia
- Respondent inserted a nasopharyngeal airway size 30 into the right nares and then re-inserted the nasal mask, administered 10L 02, with no improvement of ventilation or oxygen levels.
- In response, the respondent administered/coordinated a jaw thrust, chin lift, rescue breaths, and called Emergency Medical Services.
The claims go on to explain a list of procedures that were not completed according to the state’s standards.
The patient died on Feb. 5, 2023 to multi-organ failure and brain death, asystole cardiac arrest, and acute respiratory failure/airway compromise, onset during her dental procedure with Sebastiani.
The Department of Health is asking for the state board to impose one or more penalties, including permanent revocation or suspension of his license, among other penalties.
This was filed with the clerk on January 21.
According to the Department of Health, Sebastiani is listed as a dentist and his license is “clear and active.”
The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation shows the incident involving C.S. was reported with “Severity of the injury permanent: death.”
The incident was settled on May 15, 2025. The payout was $400,000. The claim was submitted on June 6.
According to the St Johns County Sheriff’s Office warrant affidavit, Sebastiani was accused of stealing $18,000 in dental equipment.
He later entered a plea of no contest in September 2025 for the third-degree felony, and the court referred him to PTI or a pre-trial diversion program.
News4JAX spoke with Sebastiani’s criminal attorney by email, and we are awaiting a response from his client.