Are Gold Dental Crowns Worth Anything?
Discover if your gold dental crowns hold value. Understand how their worth is determined and what steps to take next.
Dental gold crowns, often removed during dental procedures or found among old possessions, frequently prompt questions about their potential monetary value. These items can hold value beyond their original use. The interest in their worth stems from the fact that they contain precious metals, primarily gold, which can be recycled and repurposed. Many consider what to do with these dental remnants.
Understanding the Value of Gold Dental Crowns
Gold dental crowns typically possess monetary value because of their inherent gold content. Dental gold is a precious metal, retaining value similar to gold jewelry or bullion. This value is derived from the metal itself, which can be melted down and refined, rather than from its former function as a dental prosthetic. Gold has been a favored material in dentistry for centuries due to its durability, malleability, and biocompatibility, making it suitable for long-lasting restorations.
Determining Gold Content and Purity
Dental gold is rarely composed of pure 24-karat gold, which is too soft for the rigors of chewing. Instead, it is an alloy, a mixture of gold and other metals, designed for enhanced strength and durability. The gold content in dental crowns typically ranges from 10 to 22 karats, with an average yellow-colored crown often around 16 karats, representing approximately 67% gold. Karat indicates the proportion of pure gold in an alloy; for instance, 18-karat gold means 18 parts out of 24 are pure gold, or 75% purity.
These alloys frequently include other precious metals like palladium, platinum, and silver, along with base metals such as copper or zinc. The specific composition varies depending on the type of alloy used, categorized as high noble, noble, or non-noble, each with differing percentages of precious metals. Accurately determining the gold content and purity of a dental crown usually requires professional assessment by a refiner or a specialized buyer, often involving advanced testing methods like X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis or laboratory assays, as it is difficult to ascertain at home.
Factors Influencing Monetary Value
The monetary value of a gold dental crown is primarily influenced by three key factors: its weight, the gold content or purity, and the current market spot price of gold. The weight of the crown, typically measured in grams or troy ounces, directly correlates with the amount of precious metal available for recovery. A heavier crown generally contains more gold, potentially leading to a higher payout. The purity level, expressed in karats, determines the percentage of pure gold within that weight. For example, a 2-gram crown of 18-karat gold (75% pure) contains 1.5 grams of pure gold.
The current spot price of gold, which fluctuates continuously based on global supply and demand, economic indicators, and market speculation, dictates the value of each gram of pure gold. Buyers typically offer a percentage of this melt value, often ranging from 40% to 70%, to cover their operational costs, refining expenses, and profit margins. The presence of other valuable precious metals, such as palladium or platinum, within the alloy can also contribute to the overall value, as specialized refiners can recover these in addition to the gold.
Selling Gold Dental Crowns
Selling gold dental crowns involves several steps to maximize their potential value. Before approaching a buyer, it is advisable to remove any obvious non-gold materials like porcelain, ceramic, or tooth fragments, although many buyers are equipped to handle this.
Several avenues exist for selling gold dental crowns, each with different processes and potential returns. Precious metal refiners specialize in processing and recovering metals from dental scrap and often provide the most accurate valuations due to their advanced testing capabilities. They may melt and assay the material to determine the exact content of all precious metals present, not just gold. Reputable jewelers and online gold buyers also purchase dental gold, often offering a convenient mail-in service with insured shipping for evaluation and payment. Pawn shops can be an option, but they typically offer lower percentages of the market value, sometimes between 30% and 70%, due to their business model and overhead.
When selling, it is important to compare offers from multiple buyers to ensure a fair return. Inquire about the per-gram price offered and any potential fees or deductions that might reduce the final payout. Buyers will weigh the crown, test its purity, and then make an offer based on the current gold price on the day of the transaction. Professional refiners often provide a detailed analysis report of the precious metals found and issue payment, typically within one to three business days, via check or bank transfer.