Two Ways We Provide General Anesthesia

Where Will Your Child's Surgery Take Place? 

Not every child needs the same setting for anesthesia. Most kids who need general anesthesia for dental care are healthy enough to have it done right here, in our surgical suite. Some children, because of their medical history or care needs, will need to have their procedure done at a hospital instead. Either way, our doctors are the ones performing the dental care. The only thing that changes is the location. 

Little Red’s Surgical Suite If your child has been approved for general anesthesia here in our office, keep reading. Everything below applies to you. [Anchor link: jumps down to Section 3]

Hospital If your child's surgery has been coordinated with one of our hospital partners, their pre-op instructions, NPO times, arrival policies, and fees will come directly from the hospital's own team, not from this page. Please follow their instructions closely. If you have any questions about your child's dental care itself, we're always a call away. Call or Text us: (616) 377-7333

Medical History Comes First 

Tell Us Everything

A complete medical history is what makes general anesthesia safe and predictable for your child. Please report every medical condition, medication, allergy, surgery, and hospitalization, even ones that feel unrelated to their teeth.

Leaving something out isn't a small thing. It can put your child at serious risk, and at minimum, it can mean a same-day cancellation. If you're ever unsure whether something is worth mentioning, mention it. We would always rather know.

NPO Guidelines (Nothing By Mouth)

The Most Important Rule: Nothing By Mouth

NPO means nothing by mouth, no food, no drinks, no gum, nothing, for a specific window of time before anesthesia. This exists for one reason: an empty stomach keeps your child safe while they're asleep under anesthesia. It is the single most important instruction you'll receive from us.

Your child's exact fasting times depend on their appointment time, so we don't list generic times here. Before surgery, you'll receive specific, written NPO instructions for your child. Please read them carefully and follow them exactly, down to the hour.

If NPO guidelines aren't followed, we have to cancel the procedure. This isn't a formality. It's a safety requirement that can't be waived or adjusted for anyone, and a $500 rescheduling fee will apply. We know that's hard to hear. It's also the guardrail that keeps your child safe.

Arrival Time

Arrival Time Isn't Start Time

Arriving on time for your scheduled appointment is essential. It's what allows our team to prepare properly and keeps the schedule running smoothly for every family that day, including yours.

Anesthesia appointments take dedicated staffing, coordination, and preparation, and that time is reserved just for your child. Arriving late puts that reserved time, and your child's procedure, at risk.

• Late arrival may mean same-day cancellation, with a $500 fee to reschedule.
• Cancellations inside 48 hours are treated as a no-show, since another family can rarely be moved into that slot on short notice.
• A no-show for a scheduled surgery results in dismissal from the practice.

We hold this line for every family, because it's the only way to keep things fair and safe for every child on the schedule, including yours.

Once you're here, though, please expect to wait. Your arrival time is not when surgery will start. We do our best to schedule appointments to minimize wait times, but sometimes a procedure runs longer than expected, or delays come up that are outside our control. Anesthesia care is unpredictable by nature, so please plan for your visit to take longer than the surgery itself.

The Financial Side, Briefly

Coverage and Copays

We'll verify your dental insurance as a courtesy, but understanding your benefits is ultimately your responsibility. Any estimated copay is due in full 10 days before surgery. If your child's treatment changes during surgery (say, new decay we find once they're asleep), we'll send an updated invoice, due within 30 days.

Anesthesia fees are separate and are paid directly to CarePoint or APC. Their team will reach out about that payment, and it's also subject to change if your child's procedure runs longer than expected.

If your child's surgery is taking place at a hospital instead, any copay tied to that location is billed and collected directly by their team. They'll reach out to you separately with your estimated amount before surgery. 

We're In This With You

We know this is a lot to take in, and that handing your child over for general anesthesia is one of the harder things a parent does. Every policy on this page is here for one reason: to make your child's care as safe and as smooth as it can possibly be. If anything here is unclear, call us. We would always rather answer a question twice than have you guess once.

Call or Text us: (616) 377-7333

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