diff --git a/src/backend/core/models.py b/src/backend/core/models.py
index 8d21b85b..9cd1e2bf 100644
--- a/src/backend/core/models.py
+++ b/src/backend/core/models.py
@@ -792,6 +792,9 @@ class Document(MP_Node, BaseModel):
                 }
             )
 
+        # save the current deleted_at value to exclude it from the descendants update
+        current_deleted_at = self.deleted_at
+
         # Restore the current document
         self.deleted_at = None
 
@@ -804,23 +807,12 @@ class Document(MP_Node, BaseModel):
             .first()
         )
         self.ancestors_deleted_at = ancestors_deleted_at
-        self.save()
+        self.save(update_fields=["deleted_at", "ancestors_deleted_at"])
 
-        # Update descendants excluding those who were deleted prior to the deletion of the
-        # current document (the ancestor_deleted_at date for those should already by good)
-        # The number of deleted descendants should not be too big so we can handcraft a union
-        # clause for them:
-        deleted_descendants_paths = (
-            self.get_descendants()
-            .filter(deleted_at__isnull=False)
-            .values_list("path", flat=True)
-        )
-        exclude_condition = models.Q(
-            *(models.Q(path__startswith=path) for path in deleted_descendants_paths)
-        )
-        self.get_descendants().exclude(exclude_condition).update(
-            ancestors_deleted_at=self.ancestors_deleted_at
-        )
+        self.get_descendants().exclude(
+            models.Q(deleted_at__isnull=False)
+            | models.Q(ancestors_deleted_at__lt=current_deleted_at)
+        ).update(ancestors_deleted_at=self.ancestors_deleted_at)
 
 
 class LinkTrace(BaseModel):
diff --git a/src/backend/core/tests/test_models_documents.py b/src/backend/core/tests/test_models_documents.py
index d0ea0f68..b8500637 100644
--- a/src/backend/core/tests/test_models_documents.py
+++ b/src/backend/core/tests/test_models_documents.py
@@ -796,3 +796,122 @@ def test_models_documents_nb_accesses_cache_is_invalidated_on_access_removal(
         new_nb_accesses = document.nb_accesses
     assert new_nb_accesses == 0
     assert cache.get(key) == 0  # Cache should now contain the new value
+
+
+def test_models_documents_restore(django_assert_num_queries):
+    """The restore method should restore a soft-deleted document."""
+    document = factories.DocumentFactory()
+    document.soft_delete()
+    document.refresh_from_db()
+    assert document.deleted_at is not None
+    assert document.ancestors_deleted_at == document.deleted_at
+
+    with django_assert_num_queries(6):
+        document.restore()
+    document.refresh_from_db()
+    assert document.deleted_at is None
+    assert document.ancestors_deleted_at == document.deleted_at
+
+
+def test_models_documents_restore_complex(django_assert_num_queries):
+    """The restore method should restore a soft-deleted document and its ancestors."""
+    grand_parent = factories.DocumentFactory()
+    parent = factories.DocumentFactory(parent=grand_parent)
+    document = factories.DocumentFactory(parent=parent)
+
+    child1 = factories.DocumentFactory(parent=document)
+    child2 = factories.DocumentFactory(parent=document)
+
+    # Soft delete first the document
+    document.soft_delete()
+    document.refresh_from_db()
+    child1.refresh_from_db()
+    child2.refresh_from_db()
+    assert document.deleted_at is not None
+    assert document.ancestors_deleted_at == document.deleted_at
+    assert child1.ancestors_deleted_at == document.deleted_at
+    assert child2.ancestors_deleted_at == document.deleted_at
+
+    # Soft delete the grand parent
+    grand_parent.soft_delete()
+    grand_parent.refresh_from_db()
+    parent.refresh_from_db()
+    assert grand_parent.deleted_at is not None
+    assert grand_parent.ancestors_deleted_at == grand_parent.deleted_at
+    assert parent.ancestors_deleted_at == grand_parent.deleted_at
+    # item, child1 and child2 should not be affected
+    document.refresh_from_db()
+    child1.refresh_from_db()
+    child2.refresh_from_db()
+    assert document.deleted_at is not None
+    assert document.ancestors_deleted_at == document.deleted_at
+    assert child1.ancestors_deleted_at == document.deleted_at
+    assert child2.ancestors_deleted_at == document.deleted_at
+
+    # Restore the item
+    with django_assert_num_queries(8):
+        document.restore()
+    document.refresh_from_db()
+    child1.refresh_from_db()
+    child2.refresh_from_db()
+    grand_parent.refresh_from_db()
+    assert document.deleted_at is None
+    assert document.ancestors_deleted_at == grand_parent.deleted_at
+    # child 1 and child 2 should now have the same ancestors_deleted_at as the grand parent
+    assert child1.ancestors_deleted_at == grand_parent.deleted_at
+    assert child2.ancestors_deleted_at == grand_parent.deleted_at
+
+
+def test_models_documents_restore_complex_bis(django_assert_num_queries):
+    """The restore method should restore a soft-deleted item and its ancestors."""
+    grand_parent = factories.DocumentFactory()
+    parent = factories.DocumentFactory(parent=grand_parent)
+    document = factories.DocumentFactory(parent=parent)
+
+    child1 = factories.DocumentFactory(parent=document)
+    child2 = factories.DocumentFactory(parent=document)
+
+    # Soft delete first the document
+    document.soft_delete()
+    document.refresh_from_db()
+    child1.refresh_from_db()
+    child2.refresh_from_db()
+    assert document.deleted_at is not None
+    assert document.ancestors_deleted_at == document.deleted_at
+    assert child1.ancestors_deleted_at == document.deleted_at
+    assert child2.ancestors_deleted_at == document.deleted_at
+
+    # Soft delete the grand parent
+    grand_parent.soft_delete()
+    grand_parent.refresh_from_db()
+    parent.refresh_from_db()
+    assert grand_parent.deleted_at is not None
+    assert grand_parent.ancestors_deleted_at == grand_parent.deleted_at
+    assert parent.ancestors_deleted_at == grand_parent.deleted_at
+    # item, child1 and child2 should not be affected
+    document.refresh_from_db()
+    child1.refresh_from_db()
+    child2.refresh_from_db()
+    assert document.deleted_at is not None
+    assert document.ancestors_deleted_at == document.deleted_at
+    assert child1.ancestors_deleted_at == document.deleted_at
+    assert child2.ancestors_deleted_at == document.deleted_at
+
+    # Restoring the grand parent should not restore the document
+    # as it was deleted before the grand parent
+    with django_assert_num_queries(7):
+        grand_parent.restore()
+
+    grand_parent.refresh_from_db()
+    parent.refresh_from_db()
+    document.refresh_from_db()
+    child1.refresh_from_db()
+    child2.refresh_from_db()
+    assert grand_parent.deleted_at is None
+    assert grand_parent.ancestors_deleted_at is None
+    assert parent.deleted_at is None
+    assert parent.ancestors_deleted_at is None
+    assert document.deleted_at is not None
+    assert document.ancestors_deleted_at == document.deleted_at
+    assert child1.ancestors_deleted_at == document.deleted_at
+    assert child2.ancestors_deleted_at == document.deleted_at