2024 & 2025
Procedures · Restoration
Restoration
Restorative dentistry repairs teeth that are damaged, decayed or missing. At Piedmont Dental By Design that covers five treatments — composite fillings, porcelain crowns, fixed bridges, dentures and dental implants — chosen according to how much healthy tooth is left and whether the tooth is still there at all.
As a rule: a filling repairs a tooth with decay or a small fracture; a crown covers a tooth too damaged to hold a filling; a bridge or an implant replaces a tooth that is already gone. Dr. Jill Martenson, DDS and Dr. David Ma will tell you which category your tooth falls into and what each option costs before anything is scheduled.
5 restoration proceduresi. — Procedures
Treatments under restoration.
5 procedures, all performed in-house. Click any to read what's involved, common reasons, and what to expect at your visit.
- 01
Dental Implants
Titanium artificial roots and teeth surgically placed into the jaw — the gold standard for replacing missing teeth without affecting adjacent ones.
- 02
Composite Fillings
Tooth-colored fillings that repair decay, chips, fractures, and worn teeth — closely matched to natural enamel for a discreet result.
- 03
Crowns (Caps)
Custom porcelain coverings that restore the shape, size, and strength of damaged teeth — the most popular restoration for cracked or large-filling teeth.
- 04
Dentures & Partial Dentures
Removable replacements for missing teeth — complete dentures for full arches, partials for gaps, both crafted to look and feel natural.
- 05
Fixed Bridges
Non-removable porcelain-fused-to-metal appliances that fill the gap left by one or more missing teeth, anchored to adjacent crowns.
Which treatment do you need?
Most people arrive knowing something is wrong, not knowing which treatment fixes it. One question decides it.
The tooth is still there
Repair what is left
- Composite fillingDecay, a chip or a small fracture — repaired in one visit, colour-matched to the tooth.
- Porcelain crownToo little sound tooth left for a filling: a cracked tooth, a large old filling, or a tooth after root canal treatment. The crown covers what remains and takes the chewing force.
The tooth is gone
Replace what is missing
- Dental implantStands alone in the jawbone and leaves the neighbouring teeth untouched — the more conservative choice when those teeth are healthy.
- Fixed bridgeAnchors to the teeth either side. Faster and usually cheaper, but those anchor teeth are filed down permanently and need crowns from then on.
- Dentures & partialsReplaces a full arch, or fills larger gaps where several teeth are missing.
Typical ranges, before insurance
Your figure depends on the tooth, the materials and your plan. We give a written estimate before treatment and submit a pre-treatment estimate to your insurer, so you know your share in advance.
| Treatment | Typical range | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Composite filling | $200–$400per filling | 1 visit |
| Porcelain crown | $1,200–$1,800per tooth | Same day with CEREC®, or 2 visits |
| Fixed bridge | $3,000–$4,500typical three-unit | 2+ visits |
| Dental implant | $4,000–$6,000single tooth | Several visits over months |
| Dentures & partials | Ask usvaries by arch | Several visits over weeks |
Frequently asked questions
A tooth is missing — should I get an implant or a bridge?
A bridge anchors to the natural teeth either side of the gap; an implant stands alone as an artificial root in the jawbone. Bridges are faster (2–3 weeks against 4–9 months) and usually cost less, but the anchor teeth must be filed down permanently and will need crowns from then on. When those neighbouring teeth are healthy and untouched, an implant is the more conservative choice because it leaves them alone.
How much does each restoration cost?
Composite fillings run $200–$400 depending on size. Porcelain crowns are $1,200–$1,800 per tooth. A typical three-unit fixed bridge is $3,000–$4,500. A single dental implant is $4,000–$6,000 in our area; cases needing bone grafting or a sinus lift cost more. We give you a written estimate before treatment, and we submit a pre-treatment estimate to your insurer so you know your share up front.
Can a badly damaged tooth be saved, or does it have to come out?
Usually it can be saved. A composite filling handles decay, chips and small fractures. When too little healthy structure remains for a filling — a cracked tooth, a large old filling, or a tooth after root canal treatment — a crown encases what is left and protects it from breaking. Extraction and replacement is the last option, not the first, and we will tell you plainly which category your tooth falls into.
How long do restorations last?
Composite fillings and bridges last many years with good care; porcelain crowns commonly last 15–25 years and some go beyond 30. Implants are designed to last a lifetime — the titanium root rarely fails, though the crown on top may need replacing after 15–20 years. What usually fails first is not the restoration but the natural tooth underneath, if new decay forms at the margin.
Can any of this be done in one visit?
Composite fillings are a single appointment. Many crowns are too — with CEREC we scan, mill and bond the permanent crown in our office in about 1.5 to 2 hours, with no temporary. Bridges take two or more visits, dentures several over some weeks, and implants span months because the jawbone has to integrate with the implant before the final tooth goes on.
— Trusted in the East Bay —
2025
Best Dental Practice
4.9 / 5
Google Reviews
30 years
Serving the East Bay
iii. — Visit
Take a tour, or schedule your visit.
Experience the practice first-hand. Send us a message, or call us during open hours — most weeks we have same-week availability.
