Tooth-related restorations using metal crowns and caps are common procedures in the dentistry world. Did you know that dental crowns often contain valuable precious metals like gold, silver, platinum, and palladium? That’s right – if you have a dental crown in your mouth, it may be worth something!
If you ever have a metal dental crown extracted, make sure to ask the dentist if you can keep it. Although it may seem like an odd request, it’s actually pretty smart – this seemingly useless material often contains significant value.
Dentists are typically obligated to return a patient’s dental crown upon request. Although legal obligations can vary based on local laws and regulations, it’s generally considered good practice and part of the dentist’s policy to do so.
How much gold is in a dental crown?
Dental crowns can be made from a variety of materials. Different types include porcelain, ceramic, PFM (porcelain-fused-to metal), zirconia, composite resin, and metal.
Many dental crowns contain some form of precious metal, such gold, silver, platinum or palladium. But this varies widely depending on the type of crown you have, and some crowns contain much more precious metal than others.
Porcelain crowns, for example, don’t contain any gold or precious metals. Porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crowns may contain a combination of gold and palladium.
In terms of metal crowns, there are three main types: high noble alloys, noble alloys and non-noble alloys. High noble alloys are made from a minimum of 60% precious metals, with gold being the predominant component. Noble alloys contain at least 25% precious metal, and non-noble alloys contain less than 25% precious metal.
How Much Do Gold Crowns Cost?
The price of a metal crown is determined by how much gold or other precious metal it contains. Most dentists don’t know the exact material makeup of the crowns they extract, as dentists rarely fabricate crowns themselves anymore. Instead, materials like crowns, bridges and inlays are outsourced to dental laboratories. Because crowns vary so much in composition, it’s nearly impossible to determine the value without the assistance of a precious metal expert like Garfield Refining.
On average, we’ve seen dental crowns valued anywhere from $0-$100. But lately, the price of gold has reached record highs – around $2,777 per troy ounce (as of October 2024)! So now is a better time than ever to sell your gold dental crown.
How do I sell my Dental crown?
Selling a gold crown to a precious metal refinery is a simple process. If you choose to sell to Garfield, you’ll just fill out a quick form on our website and we’ll send you free shipping materials to mail your material to us.
We’ll carefully assay your crown to determine its precise precious metal content and calculate its value based on current market prices for gold and any other metals it contains. You’ll then receive your payment within just 1–2 business days!
Remember that any precious metal-containing item you have will rarely be pure, and will need to be refined in order to extract the precious metals. All refineries charge a small refining fee to cover operating costs, but Garfield takes pride in offering the industry’s lowest fees and highest payouts.
Can I sell my other dental scrap?
Garfield accepts all dental scrap that contains precious metals, including:
- Dental crowns
- Bridges
- PFMs
- Inlays and onlays
- Partial dentures
- Dental implants
We accept dental material “as is,” so there’s no need to worry about cleaning your material before sending it in. Whether you have a sizable collection of dental scrap or just a single cap or crown, we’re here to help you turn your scrap into cash!
If you’re looking to sell a gold dental crown, download a label and start your shipment today.
Garfield Refining has been refining precious metals since 1892. We’ll get you the best value for your gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, and we have the industry’s best customer service. Though we serve various industries, we excel in dental refining. For the past thirteen years, Garfield has been named North America’s “Best Dental Refiner” by leading dentists!
Stay tuned to Garfield’s blog for more helpful and fun insights on precious metals, such as articles like 3 Fun Facts about Gold, The Best Place to Sell Dental Gold, and The Major Factors that Drive the Gold Price.