Solve the following math problem efficiently and clearly:

- For simple problems (2 steps or fewer):
Provide a concise solution with minimal explanation.

- For complex problems (3 steps or more):
Use this step-by-step format:

## Step 1: [Concise description]
[Brief explanation and calculations]

## Step 2: [Concise description]
[Brief explanation and calculations]

...

Regardless of the approach, always conclude with:

Therefore, the final answer is: $oxed{answer}$. I hope it is correct.

Where [answer] is just the final number or expression that solves the problem.

Problem: The function \[f(x) = \left\{ \begin{aligned} x-2 & \quad \text{ if } x < 4 \\ \sqrt{x} & \quad \text{ if } x \ge 4 \end{aligned} \right.\]has an inverse $f^{-1}.$ Find the value of $f^{-1}(-5) + f^{-1}(-4) + \dots + f^{-1}(4) + f^{-1}(5).$
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