Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Our team caters to people who have fears about dentistry! Our fun and friendly approach puts most of our patients at ease. Dr. Scott is gentle, with a kind approach to care. She treats our patients the way she would want her own family to be treated. 

If you need a little additional help relaxing, we understand! Nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, helps many of our patients who feel stress regarding their dentistry. Nitrous oxide is a sweet-smelling gas that we deliver through a small nose mask. We can control the level of sedation you receive throughout treatment. It both works and wears off quickly. Many patients find this a convenient way to feel more comfortable.

For patients who need something a little stronger, we offer a mild sedative in the form of a small pill to take the edge off. You will take it before your appointment so that you feel totally relaxed.

Our sedation dentistry options combined with the compassion and warmth you experience from our team will make your dental appointment a comfortable and relaxed experience.

At Scott Family Dentistry, we focus on prevention to keep your smile healthy and comfortable. One of the preventive treatment options we offer are dental sealants. Dental sealants are a barrier that we place between the chewing surface of your tooth and the food and bacteria that cause decay.

We recommend dental sealants for teeth that are particularly prone to decay. Usually, that includes teeth toward the back of your mouth and those teeth with deep grooves that tend to collect bacteria. While it is a common recommendation for children, adults can also benefit from dental sealants.

Sealants are a noninvasive treatment. We simply coat the chewing surface of your teeth with a composite material that matches the color of your tooth so that it blends in. Sealants are a much more economical option than fillings caused by decay. Depending on your bite, whether you have a teeth grinding habit, and how you care for your teeth, dental sealants can last for up to five years. For some patients, they may need to be replaced sooner.

To learn more about dental sealants, fluoride treatments, or any other preventive dentistry treatment, contact our Yankton, SD dental office. We are always happy to help!

We understand that dentistry can cause a number of concerns and one of them is how to fit your dental care into your budget.

At Scott Family Dentistry, we strive to make your dental care easy and convenient in every way. That is why we offer a few payment plan options to make it simple to have the dental care you need to stay healthy or to improve your appearance. We offer financing through CareCredit and our in-house payment plans.

CareCredit is a third-party financing company that specializes in health care needs. CareCredit offers both long-term and interest-free options depending on your budgetary needs. You can apply online through http://www.carecredit.com for pre-approval. You can also use CareCredit for optical care, vet visits, and cosmetic treatments.

We also offer an in-house payment plan. To apply or to learn more about this service available through our office, contact our team. 

As always, if you have questions regarding the cost of your dental treatment or how to approach your dental care in a way that fits into your budget, give us a call! We are always happy to help! 

We strive to be up front about the cost of your treatment. It is important to remember that treatment costs are an estimate! If anything changes, we will let you know right away so that you can avoid surprises.

Your child should have their first dental visit by their first birthday. While this seems like an early age to take your child to the dentist, it is an important time to discuss some important topics with you, the parent.

We will discuss how to best care for your child’s teeth and gums at home. By starting off early with excellent oral care, we can work together to protect your little one’s smile! Prevention is the best approach! 

This is the time to discuss your little one’s habits, such as thumb-sucking and bottle use. We can talk with you about how to avoid decay and when it is time to break the habit of thumb-sucking so that your child’s development is not negatively impacted.

Dr. Jessie Scott will also do an exam to ensure that your child is on track with their development and talk with you about what to expect in the coming months and years.

This early childhood dental appointment is a great way to help your child become accustomed to the dental office, our team, and dental exams. Our office is fun, friendly, and experienced with treating children. We strive to always make this a positive experience for you and your child.

A dental crown, also known as a cap, are one and the same! Dental crowns are dental restorations used to repair and stabilize your tooth in the event of disease or damage. At Scott Family Dentistry, Dr. Jessie Scott creates custom dental crowns for the health and comfort of our patients. Custom dental crowns fit better and are longer-lasting than prefabricated crowns. 

Some instances where a dental crown may be necessary include:

• Deep decay
• Broken tooth
• Stability for a root canal tooth
• Cracked tooth
• Fixed dental bridge

Crowns cover your tooth structure and absorb some of the force of chewing. Each crown fits over your tooth like a protective helmet and holds your tooth structure together while also reducing sensitivity in damaged teeth. Dr. Scott seals your crown permanently to your tooth in order to keep out decay and bacteria.

Crowns are made from a variety of materials, including metals such as gold, porcelain and metal blends, and full tooth-colored porcelain. The type of material that will work best for your crown depends on the location, your bite, and your needs. We can discuss your options with you at your dental appointment so that you can make the best decision for your oral health.

At Scott Family Dentistry we offer white tooth-colored fillings to protect the health and beauty of your smile.

Many patients express concerns over amalgam metal fillings because they are concerned about mercury or having a dark-colored restoration that affects their smiles. We completely understand!

Though metal fillings have been deemed safe by the U.S. Public Health Service, many patients still seek an alternative.

Composite resin (tooth-colored) fillings are made of a BPA-free plastic and glass mixture. Composite comes in a wide variety of colors that Dr. Scott can match to your natural teeth. In addition to being the more attractive choice, they also provide a number of other benefits:

Conservative – Composite fillings require the removal of less of your tooth structure as compared to amalgam fillings, making them the more conservative option.

Versatile – If you have small chips or other damage to your teeth, we can make repairs using composite that matches your tooth structure. Since composite adds to your tooth structure with minimal prep work, it is both conservative and affordable.

Long-lasting – Composite fillings are longer lasting than ever. Most dentistry will need to be replaced at some point, but you can count on an esthetic and durable restoration with tooth-colored fillings.