If you’re a dentist who regularly replaces crowns, bridges and other types of implants, you’re likely collecting precious metal scrap that holds great potential value. With the daily demands of running a dental business – seeing patients, scheduling and billing, handling suppliers and equipment maintenance– chances are that scrap recycling often falls to the bottom of the to-do list. However, refining your dental scrap on a regular basis is a great way to add extra revenue straight to the bottom line.
Upsides of Frequent Refining
There are several reasons not to hoard your precious metal dental scrap. First of all, refining at routine intervals aligns with Dollar-Cost Averaging, a proven investment strategy that minimizes the impact of market fluctuations. Precious metals like gold, platinum, and palladium see frequent price swings, and refining consistently helps you avoid the guesswork of market timing.
If you are convinced that precious metal prices are headed higher, you can always exchange your refined scrap for bullion and coins, which are much easier to liquidate down the road.
A regular refining schedule can also streamline office operations, simplifying your administrative workload. By establishing a consistent refining routine, you can create a seamless system where no scrap goes unnoticed. Refineries like Garfield make the process as easy as possible, providing free collection materials, insured shipping, and convenient in-office pickups. Moreover, your staff doesn’t have to waste time talking to every Tom, Dick, and Harry cash buyer who walks into the office.
Finally, the longer you hold onto your precious metals, the greater the risk that they are lost losing, discarded, or even stolen. Refining frequently, even small amounts, reduces those risks.
The 2024 Gold Rush
Gold’s record-high prices over the past year have sparked more interest from cash buyers in dental scrap. Chuck Kindler, Associate Director of External Dental at Garfield Refining, has observed this trend firsthand. He shares, “It seems like cash buyers are more persistent these days than ever before. I actually stopped by a client’s office today who told me that six cash buyers had visited them just this morning.”
While the number of buyers is rising, this unfortunately doesn’t mean dental practices are getting paid more for their precious metals. Chuck explains: “Most cash buyers base their offers on the amount of yellow gold they see in scrap jars, but visual assessments are inaccurate. They miss out on paying for other valuable metals like silver, platinum, and palladium.”
Unlike many opportunistic cash buyers who come hunting for scrap when gold prices are high, Garfield Refining has been helping dentists get the most for their scrap for over a century and counting. We know that precious metals always hold significant value, regardless of current market prices.
Gold Buying Gimmicks
Cash buyers often visit dental offices and perform on-the-spot assessments. Don’t fall for them. Even “impressive” looking spot tests are more razzle dazzle than substance. For example, some cash buyers might weigh the material on a small scale and perform an “acid test.” While this test, which has been around since the Middle Ages, can identify gold content, it’s of no value to you since you already know your material contains gold! Moreover, it totally misses any platinum group metals.
If you already know that your scrap contains gold, there’s no need to waste time confirming it with an ancient test (though it does look cool). The real question isn’t whether you have gold or not, but how much of it – along with any silver, platinum, or palladium. While performative cash buyers can be fun and full of magic tricks, their antics rarely help earn you a higher payout.
Cutting Out the Middleman
If a scrap buyer isn’t a refinery, they’re a middleman – and middlemen will must always underpay for precious metals to protect their profit margins. Since they ultimately sell your scrap to a refinery, they need to build in their own fee while also accounting for commodity price risk.
For example: while the spot price of a troy ounce of gold is $2,600 today, a cash buyer knows that the spot price may drop before they’re able to sell it to a refinery – even if it only takes one day. To offset this risk, cash buyers generally discount the price they pay. When you deal directly with a refiner that hedges these risks through a metals trading desk, you can expect a much better price.
Melt and Assay Is The Way to Go
The melt and assay process is the cornerstone of accurate valuation, providing refineries like Garfield with a detailed compositional breakdown of your scrap. By identifying the specific metals present and their quantities, we can calculate a fair payment based on the current market prices of each metal. For instance, many dental implants are made from precious metal alloys that include not only gold but also silver, platinum, and palladium.
A melt and assay process can’t take place in your dental office. It can only be done at a refinery. So cash buyers are simply guessing the value of your dental scrap when they see it at the office. For this reason alone, you should never accept an on-the-spot offer for gold or any precious metal item – whether it’s dental scrap, jewelry or something else!
Choosing the Right Refinery
Not all refineries are created equal, so it’s essential to partner with one that has a proven track record of exceptional service and competitive payouts. Respected refineries like Garfield combine advanced technology with skilled technicians to ensure maximum recovery of precious metals from your scrap. Accurate results, especially for procedures like a precious metal assay, rely heavily on the expertise of the team performing the analysis – another reason experience matters.
Refining For Your Business and the Planet
Extra revenue generated from metal scrap refining can unlock new opportunities. Whether you choose to reinvest in your business – paying employee bonuses, upgrading equipment, or boosting marketing budgets – or treat your loved ones, the possibilities are endless.
While instant cash offers from middleman buyers may be tempting, a fair price for your metal is always worth the wait. With Garfield, you’ll receive your payment via check, direct deposit, or wire transfer – typically within just 1-3 business days.
Beyond the financial benefits, refining your dental scrap is a green choice for your business. By recycling and reintroducing precious metals into the market, you’re contributing to a more sustainable supply chain and reducing waste. It’s a win-win!
Are you a dental professional looking to refine your precious metal scrap? We’re here to help – start refining with us today to see why dental professionals have trusted us for over a century. Get started by downloading a free, insured shipping label!