Since 1981, Dr. Scott Wehrkamp and Dr. Jeff Wehrkamp have been providing patients from Sioux Falls and beyond with exceptional dental care. We have very high standards when it comes to creating healthy, beautiful smiles. Not only do we work very hard to achieve customer satisfaction, we also offer a comprehensive range of todays best preventive, cosmetic, and restorative services. With our wide range of offerings, we know we can deliver care that meets very specific needs.
Our Sioux Falls patients are especially excited by the cosmetic dentistry services we offer. Thanks to cosmetic dentistry, patients who have teeth that are cracked, chipped, stained, misaligned, or oddly spaced can look forward to enjoying a new sense of confidence and wellbeing after just a few visits.
But in addition to offering a range of todays best cosmetic services, Drs. Scott and Jeff Wehrkamp also offer a revolutionary restorative service known as dental implants. Much like traditional crowns, bridges, partials, and dentures, dental implants are used to help patients who are missing one or more teeth create full, healthy smiles. But unlike traditional restorative treatments, dental implants dont just replace the part of your smile that shows they also restore your smiles structural integrity.
A tooth is composed of a crown on top and a root on the bottom. When you lose a tooth, you also lose the root that anchored it to your jaw. Tooth roots are important, because not only do they anchor teeth to the jaw, they also contribute to new bone growth in the jaw. When one or more teeth are lost, the jaw may weaken over time, resulting in further tooth loss, among other problems. Dental implants are designed to mimic natural functionality and appearance.
Dr. Scott Wehrkamp is an OGorman High School graduate from Sioux Falls. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in 1975 from South Dakota State University, and then his Doctorate of Dental Science from Loyola University Chicago School of Dentistry, Chicago, Illinois. He has maintained a private practice with his brother, Jeff since 1981 in Brandon, South Dakota.
His comprehensive/cosmetic approach to case management has evolved to include orthodontics (both straight wire and Invisalign), cosmetic periodontal surgery (both root coverage and clinical crown lengthening), implants (both placement and restorative), and single tooth to full-mouth reconstruction.
In 2008, Dr. Wehrkamp achieved Accredited status in the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) joining 286 dental professionals in the world who earned this prestigious designation. The AACD is made up of over 6,000 cosmetic dental professionals in 70 countries around the globe.
Dr. Wehrkamp's most recent career accomplishment (March 2012) was becoming a Fellow in the International Congress of Oral Implantology. This distinction is awarded after 75 hours of continuing education regarding implants and successfully treating and documenting 20 successful implant cases. Dr. Scott not only restored, but also surgically placed the implants for all of these cases.
He is the father of a son, Bryan and three daughters, Whitney, Kelley, and Lyndsey (deceased). His interests include fitness, bow hunting, hunting, fishing, snow skiing, and tennis with family and friends.
After graduating from Lincoln High School in Sioux Falls, South Dakota in 1973, Dr. Jeff attended South Dakota State University. He received his Bachelors of Science degree in 1978, with a major in Biology and minors in Chemistry and Art. That same year he moved to the Chicago suburb of Maywood, Illinois to attend Loyola University School of Dentistry. In 1981 he received his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree and joined his brother, Dr. Scott, in practice.
Dr. Jeff is a member of the American Dental Association, South Dakota Dental Association, Southeastern District Dental Society, and American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. He is also a member of Risen Savior Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, Chamber of Commerce, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, National Wild Turkey Federation, Pheasants Forever, Delta Waterfowl, Ducks Unlimited, and the Izaak Walton League.
Dr. Jeff has held various active positions within these organizations, the most noteworthy are past President of the Southeastern District Dental Society, former Delegate and Trustee of South Dakota Dental Association, and was awarded the first Young Dentist of the Year recognition in South Dakota. He has served as past President of the Brandon Chamber of Commerce for two years, past President of the Brandon Jaycees for two years, past Chairman for the Chamber of Commerce Local Arts and Crafts Festival for twenty years, current Chairman for the Splitrock Ducks Unlimited Chapter for the past ten years, and is the current President for the Sioux Falls Izaak Walton League. He is also listed in the 21st edition of Whos Who in the Midwest.
Dr. Jeff has pursued continuing education with a passion. He has studied and mentored with Dr. Pete Dawson, Dr. John Kois, and Dr. Mark Pieper. He also has been involved with the Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry for over ten years.
Dr. Jeff married his wife Sandy in 1981. Sandy has her Masters degree in Education and teaches at Lincoln High School in Sioux Falls. She is also an avid fitness instructor at various health clubs in Sioux Falls and Brandon. Dr. Jeff and Sandy have three children and five grandchildren.
We have two dental assistants, three dental hygienists, and three clerical staff. We have a hygienist and an assistant who have been with us since 1981 and the overall staff average is over 15 years. We feel this not only says a lot about loyalty and dedication to the doctors, but also speaks volumes about the type of dentistry being performed.
Jerri is a graduate of Loyola University of Chicago Dental Hygiene Program. Jerri has worked with us and provided patient care since 1982. Her level of care, dedication, and loyalty to the clinic and her patients is extraordinary. She spends the time necessary to treat hygiene needs and education to help each patient obtain optimal health. Jerri is certified in nitrous oxide analgesia, administration of local anesthesia for the added comfort of the patients requiring these services. Jerri is also certified to use the diode laser for advanced treatment of those patients with periodontal disease.
Jolene has worked with us since 1988. She is very skilled and her talent is reflected in the care she provides. She is very knowledgeable and her caring manner makes her a favorite of many patients who have come to know her.
Jennifer has worked with us since 1995. Her main responsibility is helping patients feel comfortable with their entire dental experience, from the initial greeting to setting up a lifelong plan for optimal dental health. Jennifer also helps patients find the best way to finance their dental need. She helps with payment options, dental insurance reimbursement, flex plan spending, and dental care credit plans.
Kiya is one of our newer team members, but she already loves meeting new people through her role at the practice. Helping them feel better over the course of their visit is always rewarding. She is certified in radiology and CPR.
Cavities, tooth wear, gum disease while common, these issues can actually be prevented. With todays technology and products, your teeth can last a lifetime without needing any repair. At our practice, we strive to accomplish just this by instilling positive oral hygiene habits in adults and children, and then showing them how to avoid needing more comprehensive dental care.
For each patient, we provide a complete comprehensive exam, which takes about an hour and a half. This includes a soft tissue exam, a TMJ screening, an oral cancer screening (including Velscope), digital X-rays, intra and extra oral photographs, DIAGNOdent (laser) decay detection, complete charting and a periodontal probing of each tooth. Advanced diagnostic technology allows us to detect problems in their earliest stages, while treatment is still at its most conservative level.
As part of our comprehensive exam every patient receives an oral cancer screening. This includes a manual and visual exam as well as a screening with the Velscope. This unique advanced screening tool uses a blue light to stimulate natural fluorescence in the soft tissues of the mouth. By using the Velscope, potentially cancerous lesions can become apparent to the dental professional that may not be apparent to the naked eye. The result is earlier detection of unhealthy lesion leading to earlier and more effective treatment.
We can detect cavities before they get to a stage necessitating more extensive procedures, allowing us to perform conservative dentistry. We can also show you your mouth at 35X magnification with an intraoral camera or digital photography, so you can better understand the dentists explanations. X-rays are now digital, not only reducing radiation exposure to minuscule amounts, they are also displayed on computer monitors, magnified for easy review and diagnosis.
Some of our patients have not seen a dentist in a while because of their fears. We completely understand and treat them with the utmost respect. To accommodate these patients, we offer nitrous-oxide analgesia coupled with music of their choosing via headphones to help them relax and take their minds off the procedure. We can help the most severe dental phobic relax through dental procedures with oral sedation. This allows not only a very relaxed visit where they remember little of the procedure, but they can now begin to feel good about their beautiful smile and improved dental health.