Answers to common questions before surgery.

Yes. BigHorn Surgery Center is credentialed with Medicaid.

Patients are generally scheduled in coordination with the treating or referring dental office. Dental providers can contact BHSC directly to begin the referral and scheduling process.

Follow the fasting instructions provided specifically by the BigHorn Surgery Center preoperative team. Eating or drinking outside the permitted times may increase anesthesia risk and can require the procedure to be delayed or rescheduled.

Contact BHSC before arriving if the patient develops fever, significant cough, wheezing, vomiting, diarrhea, respiratory illness, or another significant change in health. The clinical team will determine whether the procedure can safely proceed.

Wear loose, comfortable clothing and remove jewelry and other valuables. Children may bring a familiar blanket, small toy, or other comfort item.

Anesthesia care at BHSC is provided by residency-trained doctors with advanced specialty training in anesthesia, working alongside experienced perioperative nurses and the treating dentist or oral and maxillofacial surgeon.

Not necessarily. Depending on the patient and the anesthesia plan, IV placement may be performed after the child is asleep. The anesthesia provider determines the safest and most appropriate approach for each patient.

For some patients, anesthesia can make necessary dentistry or oral and maxillofacial surgery possible when treatment would otherwise be difficult to complete in a traditional office setting. It may also allow extensive treatment to be completed in fewer visits.

During the initial phase of recovery, staff closely monitor the child as anesthesia wears off. Family members are not present during this immediate recovery phase. A nurse will bring the parent or guardian back as the child begins to wake.

Recovery time varies from patient to patient. Discharge is based on appropriate recovery criteria rather than a fixed amount of time.

Sleepiness, fatigue, mild nausea, irritability, or temporary disorientation can occur after anesthesia. Follow the individualized discharge instructions provided by BHSC and the treating dental or surgical team.

For minors and patients under guardianship, the person with legal authority to consent must be available for both the surgery and anesthesia.

BHSC may require legal documentation establishing guardianship or authority to consent. Contact the surgery center before the procedure if you have questions about which documents are needed.

Yes. Patients receiving anesthesia must have an appropriate responsible adult available for transportation and supervision after discharge, as directed by the BHSC care team.