Rebuild Your Smile’s Function, Health, and Natural Beauty
When teeth become damaged, decayed, or lost, the impact extends far beyond appearance. Difficulty chewing, persistent pain, and declining confidence can significantly affect your quality of life. At Pristine Dental, our restorative dentistry services in Scottsdale combine advanced techniques with compassionate care to repair damaged teeth, replace missing ones, and restore full oral function. Dr. Keith Cooper, DDS, brings over three decades of specialized prosthodontic training to our patients throughout Scottsdale and the surrounding communities of Paradise Valley, Fountain Hills, and Phoenix.
Located conveniently on East Thomas Road, our modern dental practice in Scottsdale offers same-day appointments and flexible scheduling to address your restorative needs promptly. Whether you require a single crown, multiple restorations, or complex full-mouth rehabilitation, our experienced team utilizes state-of-the-art technology and premium materials to deliver results that look natural and function flawlessly. Call (480) 935-2424 today to schedule your comprehensive evaluation and discover how restorative dentistry can transform your oral health and restore your confidence.
Why Choose Pristine Dental for Restorative Dentistry
Dr. Cooper’s Prosthodontic Expertise Sets Us Apart
Dr. Keith Cooper’s specialized training as a board-certified prosthodontist and Diplomate of the International Congress of Implantologists brings exceptional skill to complex restorative cases. Prosthodontists complete three additional years of advanced training beyond dental school, focusing specifically on restoring and replacing teeth. This specialized education provides deep knowledge of occlusion (bite relationships), dental materials, and advanced restorative techniques that general dentists may encounter only occasionally.
Dr. Cooper’s three decades of experience since 1992, combined with prosthodontic residency training at Baylor College of Dentistry, position him as one of the most qualified restorative dentists in the Scottsdale area. His teaching experience through Seattle Study Club and Spear Center demonstrates his commitment to staying current with evolving techniques and materials. For patients with complex restorative needs—multiple missing teeth, bite problems, failed previous dental work, or full-mouth reconstruction requirements—Dr. Cooper’s prosthodontic specialization provides the advanced expertise necessary for predictable, long-lasting results.
What is Restorative Dentistry?
Restorative dentistry encompasses all dental procedures that repair or replace damaged, decayed, or missing teeth to restore proper oral function and health. Unlike cosmetic dentistry, which primarily focuses on aesthetic enhancement, restorative treatments address structural problems that affect your ability to chew comfortably, speak clearly, and maintain overall oral health. These procedures range from simple tooth-colored fillings that repair minor decay to complex full-mouth reconstructions that rebuild entire dental arches.
The primary goal of restorative dentistry is to return your mouth to optimal health and function while preserving as much natural tooth structure as possible. Modern restorative techniques utilize biocompatible materials and advanced technology to create durable, natural-looking results. When teeth cannot be saved through conservative treatments, replacement options such as bridges and implant-supported restorations prevent the bone loss and shifting that occur when tooth loss goes untreated.
Our Comprehensive Restorative Dentistry Services
Dental Crowns
Dental Bridges
Dental bridges replace one or more missing teeth by anchoring artificial teeth to the natural teeth on either side of the gap. Traditional bridges consist of crowns placed on the supporting teeth with pontic teeth suspended between them, creating a fixed restoration that cannot be removed. This treatment option prevents the shifting and tilting of adjacent teeth that commonly occur when tooth loss goes untreated, maintaining proper bite alignment and facial structure.
Inlays and Onlays
Inlays and onlays represent intermediate restorations for teeth with moderate damage that’s too extensive for a simple filling but doesn’t require a full crown. These custom-fabricated restorations preserve more natural tooth structure than crowns while providing superior strength and longevity compared to traditional fillings. Inlays fit within the cusps of the tooth, while onlays extend over one or more cusps to protect the biting surface.
Root Canal Therapy
Root canal therapy saves severely infected or damaged teeth that would otherwise require extraction. When decay or trauma reaches the tooth’s inner pulp chamber, bacteria can cause painful infection and abscess formation. During root canal treatment, we remove the infected pulp tissue, thoroughly clean and disinfect the root canals, and seal them to prevent reinfection. A crown typically protects the treated tooth, which becomes more brittle after losing its blood supply.
Tooth-Colored Fillings
Composite resin fillings repair cavities and minor tooth damage with material that matches your natural tooth color, making restorations virtually invisible. These modern fillings bond directly to tooth structure, requiring less removal of healthy enamel than traditional amalgam fillings. The bonding process also strengthens the remaining tooth structure, reducing the risk of future fractures.
Dentures
Advanced Tooth Replacement Options
While the restorative treatments above address many dental concerns, two advanced solutions deserve special attention for patients facing tooth loss:
Dental Implants
Dental Implants represent the gold standard for tooth replacement, offering permanent solutions that look, feel, and function like natural teeth. Unlike bridges that require altering adjacent teeth or dentures that rest on your gums, dental implants replace both the tooth root and crown. The titanium implant post integrates with your jawbone through osseointegration, providing stable anchorage for individual crowns, bridges, or denture attachments. Dr. Cooper’s extensive implant training and certification from the prestigious Temple Dental/Misch International Implant Institute ensure optimal implant placement and restoration. Learn more about our comprehensive dental implant services.
Stabili-Teeth
Stabili-Teeth offers revolutionary full-arch restoration for patients needing complete upper or lower tooth replacement. This advanced treatment combines the stability of dental implants with the aesthetics and function of natural teeth, creating fixed prosthetics that don’t require removal for cleaning. The procedure can often be completed with fewer implants than traditional approaches, and many patients receive temporary teeth the same day as implant placement. Discover how Stabili-Teeth can transform your smile.
Experience Comprehensive Restorative Care in Scottsdale
The combination of Dr. Cooper’s prosthodontic specialization and Dr. Smith‘s comprehensive general dentistry expertise provides patients with complete restorative care under one roof. Rather than requiring referrals to multiple specialists, most restorative procedures can be completed at our Scottsdale location, saving you time and ensuring coordinated care. Our modern facility features the latest diagnostic technology, including digital X-rays and intraoral cameras that allow precise treatment planning and execution.
Ready to restore your smile’s function and beauty? Contact Pristine Dental today at (480) 935-2424 to schedule your comprehensive restorative consultation. Serving patients from Paradise Valley, Fountain Hills, and Phoenix, our Scottsdale practice is committed to delivering exceptional restorative care that transforms both smiles and lives.
Benefits of Restorative Dental Treatments
Restorative dental treatments provide advantages that extend far beyond repairing individual teeth, improving your overall health, comfort, and confidence in ways that impact daily life.
- Restored Chewing Function and Comfort: Damaged or missing teeth make eating difficult and uncomfortable, often forcing you to avoid nutritious foods. Restorative treatments return full chewing ability, allowing you to enjoy a varied, healthy diet without pain or limitation.
- Prevention of Further Dental Damage: Small problems rarely stay small when left untreated, as a minor cavity can progress to require root canal therapy or extraction. Timely restorative treatment stops damage progression, often preventing the need for more extensive and expensive procedures later.
- Protection of Remaining Natural Teeth: When one tooth is damaged or missing, adjacent and opposing teeth experience abnormal forces that can cause accelerated wear and premature failure. Restorative treatments distribute chewing forces properly across your dental arch, protecting your remaining natural teeth from excessive stress.
- Improved Speech Clarity: Your teeth play an essential role in forming certain sounds, particularly “s,” “th,” and “f” sounds. Properly designed restorations ensure clear, natural speech without the lisping or whistling sounds that can occur with missing teeth or ill-fitting dentures.
- Maintained Facial Structure and Appearance: Teeth provide crucial support for facial soft tissues, and when multiple teeth are missing, facial collapse creates a sunken, aged appearance. Restorative treatments, particularly those involving dental implants, preserve facial contours and prevent the premature aging associated with tooth loss.
- Enhanced Confidence and Quality of Life: Many people with dental problems avoid smiling, feel self-conscious during meals with others, and experience decreased self-esteem. Restorative dentistry eliminates these concerns, allowing you to smile, laugh, and eat confidently without worrying about your teeth.
- Long-Term Cost Savings: While restorative treatments require initial investment, they typically cost significantly less than treating the extensive damage that results from neglecting dental problems. A filling that costs hundreds of dollars today prevents the need for a root canal and crown costing thousands of dollars next year.
When Do You Need Restorative Dentistry?
Recognizing when you need restorative dental treatment helps you address problems before they worsen and require more extensive care. Common signs that indicate you may benefit from restorative dental treatment include:
Persistent tooth sensitivity to hot, cold, or pressure- Pain when chewing or constant toothache
- Visible chips, cracks, or discoloration on teeth
- Missing teeth affecting your ability to eat comfortably
- Loose or ill-fitting dental work
- Difficulty chewing on both sides of your mouth
- Gaps between teeth that have recently appeared
Patients with multiple dental concerns often benefit from comprehensive treatment planning that sequences procedures logically. Dr. Cooper excels at creating phased treatment plans that address urgent problems immediately while establishing a timeline for completing all necessary restorative work. This approach allows you to achieve optimal oral health without feeling overwhelmed by the scope of treatment.
Restorative vs. Cosmetic Dentistry: Understanding the Difference
While restorative and cosmetic dentistry often overlap, understanding their distinct purposes helps you make informed decisions about your dental care needs.
Restorative Dentistry: Repair damage, treat disease, restore function
Cosmetic Dentistry: Enhance appearance of healthy teeth
Restorative Dentistry:Crowns, bridges, fillings, root canals, dentures
Cosmetic Dentistry: Teeth whitening, veneers, cosmetic bonding
Restorative Dentistry: Typically covered when medically necessary
Cosmetic Dentistry: Rarely covered; considered elective
Restorative Dentistry: Pain, decay, infection, missing teeth, bite problems
Cosmetic Dentistry: Discoloration, minor chips, gaps, alignment
Restorative Dentistry: Often required for oral health
Cosmetic Dentistry: Elective aesthetic improvement
Many treatments fall into both categories. A crown following root canal therapy is clearly restorative, while a crown placed solely to improve a tooth’s appearance is cosmetic. However, a crown that corrects both damage and poor aesthetics serves both restorative and cosmetic purposes. At Pristine Dental, we discuss both the functional and aesthetic aspects of treatment, ensuring you understand how each procedure will improve your oral health and appearance.