Repair damaged teeth and replace missing ones with care planned around your bite, your budget, and your comfort.
Restorative Dentist in San Diego, CA
Sedation Available
Same-Day Consults
Restorative dentistry repairs teeth that are decayed, cracked, worn, or infected, and replaces teeth that are missing, so you can chew comfortably and keep the rest of your mouth healthy. Treatment ranges from a single tooth-colored filling to crowns, bridges, root canal therapy, extractions, gum disease treatment, and dental implants.
At Sunrise Dental Arts in Hillcrest, Dr. Andy Keith starts with an exam and X-rays, explains what he finds in plain language, and lays out your options in order of urgency. Some patients come in with one problem tooth, while others have put off care for a while and need a step-by-step plan. Either way, you will know the cost and the sequence before anything begins. Restorative care is one part of the full range of dental procedures we offer.
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How to Tell Which Treatment a Tooth Needs
The right repair depends on how much healthy tooth is left and whether the nerve is involved. A small cavity can often be fixed with a filling. When decay or a crack has taken a large part of the tooth, a crown holds what remains together. If the nerve inside is infected, root canal therapy treats the infection first, and a tooth that cannot be saved is removed and, in most cases, replaced.
Tooth decay is common at every age. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research reports that most adults ages 20 to 64 have had decay in their permanent teeth. Finding it early usually means a smaller, simpler repair, which is one reason regular checkups matter.
Restorative Treatments We Provide
Each treatment below has its own page with more detail on what to expect.
Crowns and Fillings
Tooth-colored fillings repair small to moderate cavities. When a tooth is cracked, heavily filled, or weakened after a root canal, custom porcelain crowns cover and protect it while matching the teeth around it.
Bridges and Implants
A dental bridge fills a gap using crowns on the neighboring teeth for support. Dental implants replace the root itself and support a crown, bridge, or denture without relying on nearby teeth. When most or all teeth in an arch are missing or failing, All-on-4 dental implants can support a full set of fixed teeth.
Root Canal Therapy
When decay or a crack reaches the nerve, root canal therapy removes the infected pulp, relieves the pain, and lets you keep the tooth. Most treated back teeth then get a crown for protection.
Extractions and Gum Care
If a tooth cannot be saved, we provide simple and surgical tooth extractions, including wisdom tooth removal. Gum disease treatment protects the gums and bone that hold every other restoration in place.
Meet the Team
Dr. Andy Keith is the dentist who examines you, explains your options, and does your restorative work at Sunrise Dental Arts. He takes time to understand your concerns and dental history before recommending treatment. As your dedicated Hillcrest dentist, he and our support team keep each visit comfortable and organized from check-in to follow-up.
Our team handles the details around your care, from checking insurance benefits to explaining aftercare, so you know what to expect at each step.
Services
Our Sunrise Dental Arts Care Process
- Initial Consultation
- Customized Treatment Plan
- Implementation of Treatment
- Aftercare & Maintenance Tips
- Follow-Up
Initial Consultation
Your first visit includes an exam, X-rays, and a conversation about any pain, sensitivity, or trouble chewing. Dr. Keith checks each tooth, your gums, and your bite so the plan covers the whole picture, not just the tooth that hurts.
Customized Treatment Plan
We explain each finding and your options for treating it, starting with anything urgent. You receive a written estimate, and our team checks your insurance benefits so you can decide what to do now and what can wait.
Implementation of Treatment
Treatment is scheduled in the order that protects your teeth best, which often means treating infection or decay before replacing missing teeth. Local anesthetic keeps you comfortable, and nitrous oxide, oral conscious sedation, or IV sedation are available if you feel anxious.
Aftercare & Maintenance Tips
After each procedure, you receive instructions for that specific treatment, such as caring for a temporary crown, eating after an extraction, or cleaning under a bridge. Call us with any questions while you heal.
Follow-Up
Regular checkups and cleanings let us check crowns, bridges, and fillings for wear, catch new decay early, and keep your gums healthy, which helps your restorations last.
Testimonials
What Happens When Repairs Are Put Off
Dental problems rarely stay the same size. A cavity that could be filled today may need a crown later, and an untreated infection can turn a root canal into an extraction. A missing tooth can let the teeth around it tip into the space, which changes how your teeth meet and can make the eventual replacement more involved.
Treating problems early usually keeps treatment simpler and more affordable. If you have been putting off care because of cost or nerves, tell us. We are in-network with Delta Dental and can bill most other PPO plans out-of-network. We also offer Cherry and CareCredit financing and sedation options for anxious patients.
Schedule a Restorative Dentistry Visit in San Diego
Our office is at 3645 Fourth Avenue in Hillcrest and is open Monday through Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Thursday from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Dr. Keith will review what is going on with your teeth and help you decide where to start. Same-day consultations are often available.
Contact our team or call (619) 291-2980 to schedule your visit.
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FAQs
What counts as restorative dentistry?
Restorative dentistry covers treatments that repair or replace teeth, including fillings, crowns, bridges, root canal therapy, extractions, gum disease treatment, implants, and dentures. Cosmetic treatments such as whitening focus on appearance, although many restorations improve both.
How do I know if I need a filling or a crown?
It depends on how much of the tooth is left. A filling works well for small to moderate cavities. When a large part of the tooth is missing, cracked, or weakened by a root canal, a crown usually protects it better. An exam and X-rays tell us which applies to your tooth.
What if I need several restorative treatments?
We put the work in a sensible order, usually treating pain, infection, and gum disease first, then restoring damaged teeth, then replacing missing ones. Treatment can be spread over several visits, and we will show you what is urgent and what can be planned for later.
Does insurance cover restorative dentistry?
Many PPO plans pay part of the cost of fillings, crowns, root canals, extractions, and bridges, with coverage that varies by plan and procedure. Our team checks your benefits before treatment, and Cherry and CareCredit financing can help with the remaining balance.
Can I be sedated for restorative treatment?
Yes. Along with local anesthetic, we offer nitrous oxide, oral conscious sedation, and IV sedation. If you choose oral or IV sedation, you will need someone to drive you home.
