Best Place To Sell Dental Gold

Dental crowns have been used in dentistry for more than a century and are still an active solution to many dental problems. Several dental crowns are used to restore teeth, among them gold crowns. 

Gold crowns use a gold alloy to help retain tooth structure, improve the smile, and cover dental fillings. But you must be wondering “If dental gold is real, can I sell it?” The short answer is yes. As much as 70% of gold can be found in a dental crown. 

But before we see the options of selling dental gold, we must understand its components and how it is valued in the market. Our in-depth review will guide you to knowing the value of your dental crown and options to sell when you need some cash.

Understanding Dental Gold: What Is It?

Although the trend shows otherwise, gold has been used for the restoration of teeth for many years. But in the 80s and 90s, people wore gold on their front teeth as an attribute of wealth and style. Interestingly, it is slowly making a comeback in our cities but for a different reason. 

When you visit the dentist for filling or tooth replacement, composite fillings and porcelain are among the common materials offered. That’s because they are easy to find and affordable. But gold has become an alternative people are willing to try out for good reasons. 

  • Gold is quite tolerant to food acids, corrosion, and oral bacteria, making it a lasting solution to dental restoration. 
  • It is flexible and can hold up to the forces of chewing and biting without deformation or cracking under such pressure. 
  • Also, gold filling and crowns do not affect the wear of teeth above or below; it is softer than the tooth fillings. 
how to sell gold dental crowns

When Is Gold Used In Dentistry?

Small Cavities

Gold used in dentistry is never pure gold and mixed with other metals to create a metal alloy. But in some instances, pure gold can be used for smaller fillings and cavities in the mouth. Installing gold in small cavities is delicate and expensive due to the price of pure gold and its availability. That said, using gold for smaller cavities may not be as popular as other materials. 

Dental Crowns

Gold alloys are also used in dental crowns as the perks outweigh the use of ceramic as an alternative. First, gold offers a tight seal and reduces the chance of being affected by bacteria. Also, gold is good for people with allergic reactions as it rarely reacts with sensitive skin. 

Dental crowns are mainly used for teeth in the back of the mouth, but you may find one or two people who don’t mind flashing their crown in the front of their mouth. 

Inlays and Onlays

Gold alloys are commonly used for inlays and onlays when the dentist identifies large cavities in the teeth. 

In instances where tooth decay is quite extensive to handle normal filling and too shallow for a dental crown, the ideal solution is usually inlay or an onlay to restore the teeth. Both procedures treat large dental cavities without filling or crowning. 

An inlay is used when the decay in the central part of the teeth is too deep and covers that part alone. An onlay covers the extensive parts of a tooth corroded through decay. Onlays are sometimes considered partial crowns due to their extensive reach. 

What Is Dental Gold Made Of?

Typically, dental fillings could be all metal, all resin material, ceramic-fused-to-metal, or all-ceramic. Gold crowns made with pure gold or gold alloys belong to the group “all metal”. 

When dentists use gold alloys as crowns, they are mainly divided into three categories: 

  • High Noble Alloys. These have about 60 percent of precious metals, including palladium, platinum, or gold. In high noble alloys, the purity of gold should be a minimum of 40 percent of the total metal composition. 
  • Noble Alloys. Contains 25 percent precious metals. 
  • Non-Noble Alloys. It mainly uses non-precious metals such as nickel, chromium, and others, while the percentage of precious metals such as gold falls below 25 percent of the total gold crown. 

Dental Gold Vs. Other Materials

As mentioned, there are several materials used for dental crowns today. Let’s look at how these materials stack up against gold. 

Dental Gold Vs. Porcelain Crown

A porcelain crown is often considered a treatment for teeth problems as it has the most natural matching. Porcelain crown uses porcelain in several layers, each with specific shades of white that are the closest-looking to teeth than other materials. 

Folks consider porcelain teeth as it doesn’t have the notable black line seen on porcelain infused to metal crowns. Also, since it has fewer aesthetic concerns, porcelain is used on the front teeth, although it can be used at the back. 

Compared to gold, porcelain crowns are not as durable. They don’t have a strong base layer and can be prone to fractures under pressure or long-term use. In recent times, dentists are opting for a mix of porcelain and Zirconia since both share similar properties. Like teeth, Zirconia is white and has stronger resistance to pressure and excessive wear. However, Zirconia does not match the durability of gold or gold alloys. 

Dental Gold Vs. Porcelain Fused To Metal Crown

Also known as PFM crowns, Porcelain Fused To Metal crowns are porcelain interiors infused with metal alloys. After realizing porcelain is prone to cracks at the bottom, dentists came up with the idea of PFM to help increase the strength of the crown. 






The 1.5mm to 2mm thick porcelain layer is infused over a high-melting-point metal that withstands chewing forces and excessive wear. The type of metal used for infusion depends on the price and quality. 

Here are three common alloys for PFM crowns: 

  • Porcelain-fused-to-titanium alloys. Titanium is an ideal alternative as it has similar properties to noble metals like gold. It is not as common in dental clinics, although most dentists will recommend it as a cheaper alternative. 
  • Porcelain-fused-to-base-metals alloy. As the name suggests, this crown uses porcelain and several base metals such as nickel. It is crucial to check with the doctor if you’re allergic to metals. 
  • Porcelain-fused-to-gold alloys. Perhaps the best alloy to fuse porcelain is gold. It has significant durability and strength and doesn’t cause allergic reactions. Gold used in PFM is around 16 karats, so, you’re going to have a resale value, which we’ll see later on.

Dental Gold Vs. All Ceramic Crown

All ceramic crowns have a natural color matching the human teeth. It is mainly composed of zirconium dioxide and is considered an ideal alternative for people with metal allergies. Due to similarity in color, all ceramic crowns are mainly used in front teeth. 

Apart from zirconium dioxide, all ceramic crowns are made of lithium disilicate and high translucent zirconia. These materials are strong, reliable, and can be used instead of porcelain. However, all ceramic crowns are not as strong as gold crowns, and they may be susceptible to fractures and cracks under pressure. 

Dental Gold Vs. Pressed Ceramic

Pressed ceramic crowns are mainly used in front teeth and are made by pressing ceramic and firing them with enamel porcelain. The result is a product resembling the shape of teeth and its color as well. 

There are two types of pressed ceramic crowns; layered and full-contoured crowns. Full-contoured crowns have incredible aesthetics and are more translucent than layered crowns. Layered crowns need a complex modification process to match the color of teeth. 

One of the disadvantages of this type of dental crown is that it may abrade easily to the opposing tooth. But it can be reversed if the tooth is well-polished which makes gold a better alternative than pressed ceramic. 

Dental Gold Vs. All Resin

All resin crowns are the most affordable type of crowns with a white material. They are mainly made of a mixture of plastic and glass. However, resin dental crowns are not as durable as dental gold as they can easily break or crack under excessive wear. 

All resin crowns are used as a temporary fix rather than a long-term permanent procedure. 

Cost Of Dental Gold 

Dental gold is not cheap, and the whole procedure may cost anywhere between $800 and $1500 per crown without insurance. If you have insurance, these costs may be brought down by up to 50 percent. However, some insurance companies may not award insurance if they suspect the gold crown was placed for aesthetics and not for dental purposes. 

Dental gold crowns are made of gold alloys with karatage ranging from 10 to 22 karats. Typically, most dental gold people use has about 16 karat, which is enough to give its yellow color. 

Apart from gold, people use other precious metals in the alloys including silver, platinum, and palladium. It may not be easy for a patient to know how much gold was used in the dental crown. One way to look at this is to check the paperwork associated with your procedure such as insurance form or dental receipts. 

Dental Gold Has Value

Before you think of throwing away your dental gold scraps, you might want to read this first. The rise in gold prices has made consumers realize that dental gold can be of great value. The media has continuously shown a percentage increase in gold prices. 

So, gold has a significant resale value, and you can sell your dental gold for extra bucks. Plus, it is perfectly legal to sell dental gold scraps to a reliable gold buyer. 

Close to 40 tons of gold is used every year for dental crowns in the US alone. Much of this is never recycled, so many people have started finding places to sell their gold. There may be a couple of dental gold craps hidden somewhere in your grandparents closets, dressers, or drawers. 

As mentioned earlier, dental gold must have an alloy to prevent chewing all the gold away. These alloys contain palladium, zinc, titanium, or platinum. Some gold crowns can weigh as little as 2 grams while others up to 5 grams. 

Bridges contain more gold and generally weigh 10 grams or more. It is clear that whatever the dental procedure, your gold crown or bridge has a significant value, perfect for selling. Let’s have a look at the different values of gold dental works below. 

Dental WorksGold Content Dental Gold Value 
Gold Crown 3 grams 80%$108.64
Gold Crown 3 grams70%$124.15
Gold Crown 5 grams80%$181.06
Gold crown 5 grams70%$206.92
Dental Bridge 10 grams80%$362.12
Dental Bridge 10 grams70%$413.85
Dental Bridge 17 grams 80%$615.60
Dental Bridge 17 grams70%$703.54
Value of dental crowns

Remember this table only shows the average price of dental gold which is subject to change at any time depending on the price of gold. The real market price of gold may not apply to dental gold scraps as the metal is not usable until it’s refined. 






So, the golf buyer will factor in the refining price and charge to cover these costs. The refining fee may be from 15% to 18%, depending on the value of gold at that time. 

Although dental gold has a resale value, some consumers face the problem of not having enough gold in their dental crowns. Indeed some dental crowns are made of base metals although they are “gold-colored”. 

If your dental gold is predominantly made of silver, palladium, or platinum, it may have a low resale value. But dental works made of palladium may be worth more than other base metals since it is more valuable. 

Selling Gold Crowns

Selling your gold teeth is much easier than you may think. You should first know what buyers want and then look out for the different options available to sell your dental gold. 

Take Everything You Have Has Value

Any dental work containing a form of yellow metal is likely to contain gold though others contain silver as well. But both types will show some level of platinum, palladium, and silver. 

In a nutshell, whatever you have as a dental scrape should have some form of value and not just gold alone. This means you should lump everything together when selling your dental gold and assume all have value. 

There are certain types of dental works that have more value, attracting gold buyers. These restorations include: 

  • Caps 
  • Crowns
  • Onlays
  • Inlays
  • Implants 
  • Bridges 
  • Partial dentures

You can also send a fully extracted tooth if it’s still attached to the gold fillings. If the buyer is legitimate, they won’t mind the legwork of actually separating gold from the detached tooth. 

There are a few items that buyers aren’t usually interested in buying. Silver-colored partial dentures have a low resale value, but you may submit them to buyers for recycling purposes. Gold buyers also don’t prefer amalgam dental fillings as they contain low noble metals. They are the kind of dental fillings dentists complete in a single visit. 

Sell Your Dental Work “As Is”

If your dental work still has some porcelain or remaining tooth parts, don’t worry. We understand it is an exhaustive process, and you’d waste precious time. 

Most dental scrap dealers are ready to handle the materials ‘‘as is” since they can melt them down and separate the metals. This process also allows the buyers to determine the composition of your dental works and their value. 

Some small-scale buyers will offer to buy the dental scrap in its “as is” state and even guarantee returns in case you want it back. Although there is a way to identify metal composition in dental scraps, the buyers will give a rough estimate which of course favors their payout equation. 

How To Handle Biological Materials

Your dental gold may be contaminated with biological materials, specifically if the tooth is still attached. Your restoration is likely to have saliva and blood. It is vital to handle and transport your gold tooth with utmost care. 

Ensure the dental scraps are free from biological materials by keeping them in a sealed container or a zip-lock plastic bag. To reduce the contamination, soak the scraps in household bleach and water (mixing ratio 1:10) for about 10 minutes. 

Where To Sell Dental Gold

There are plenty of buyers for dental craps, and a simple Google search can give you hundreds of results on where to sell dental gold, but it is important to do your research. You don’t want to click on the first result without a little bit of research. 

The best way to find the credibility of any buyer is through genuine customer reviews, ratings on Better Business Bureau, and experience in the industry. All this information should be available online. 

Mouth full of gold

Local Buyers

The first place you want to look for a dental gold buyer is in your town. More outlets are accepting dental gold, and you can easily sell it in a coin shop, jeweler, pawn shops, or even dental offices that offer this service. 

But local buyers have a bit of a disadvantage. Once everything is melted and separated, local buyers weigh everything and pay you based on a standard rate. This means no metallurgical assay to determine the actual value of your gold. 

This is a huge problem because the buyer does not tell the purity of the gold, yet the price will still protect their interests. Also, in silver-colored dental work, it is hard to determine the purity of white gold or any precious metal without an assay. 

So, unless you have a refinery nearby, selling scrap gold crowns locally may not give you an attractive value. 

Online Buyers

Online buyers are all over and they want to buy your dental gold! Today, online sellers offer convenience and transparency, a crucial factor in selling dental scrap online. 

If you go this way, you’re likely to cut off the middleman and any fees that may arise due to their presence. Most local buyers purchase dental gold to sell to refineries and are always looking to low-ball your offers. 

You’re more likely to get an assay from an online seller compared to local buyers. If the online company’s main business is dealing with gold, coins, or precious metals, they’re more likely to have intricate testing and assay of your scrap. 

So, you may get better or fair pay both for the dental gold and any other precious metal found in it. Local buyers never check for base metals, and they’ll only buy the gold. 

Online buyers have a specific business model which may affect how you negotiate the price of your dental scrap. 

  • Free shipping. Most companies offer this service and will ask for your home address and other personal information before sending one of their mailers. The envelope is usually strong, containing a special plastic bag for holding the dental scrap. There may be package tracking and insurance as well. 
  • Metallurgical assay. You need to know if your dental scrap is separated and the different metals analyzed. An assay is a typical way to check purity although XRF analysis is considered the most accurate. So, remember to ask which kind will be used.
  • Payout. Most online buyers will offer rates that are at least 70% to 90% of the current market price of the precious metal. It is understandable for such rates considering the process of the meltdown to assay. 

Pro tip: If you’re sending to a company and aren’t sure of the location, use Google street view. So, if it is a refinery, the images of that address should have a building enough to store all refining equipment. If the view shows a small storefront, then you’re likely dealing with a middleman. 






Frequently Asked Questions

What is the value of dental gold?

Assuming the spot price of an ounce of gold is $1000, the typical 2-gram dental gold crown might be about $50 to $92. This value can change depending on the market price, karatage, and metallurgical assay. 

What karat is dental gold?

Generally, dental gold should be about 10 to 22 karats. The bridge is heavier and may not always have a high karatage. If it does, the metal is combined with a precious metal to protect it from damage. 

Can you sell fillings?

Of course. Dental bridges, crowns, and gold fillings have resale value and you can make good money with them. There is a huge market for dental scrap, and as the price of precious metal increases, so does the market. 

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Peter Grantham

Peter Grantham

Peter has been an avid investor in for all his life. Over that time he has accumulated a wealth of knowledge and experience including stocks, bonds, real estate, retirement, precious metals, cryptocurrencies and business investments. As the owner of this site "Small Unites", he aims to bring his knowledge and experience to new investors and seasoned veterans.

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