Are Gold Tooth Crowns Worth Anything?
Understand the actual worth of gold tooth crowns. Learn what factors determine their value and how to assess their market potential.
Gold tooth crowns, once common dental restorations, often spark curiosity about their monetary value. Many wonder if these dental devices retain financial worth after serving their original purpose. This inquiry stems from the fact that crowns contain precious metals, leading to questions about their composition and whether they can be sold. Understanding the factors that determine their value is important for anyone considering their disposition.
Understanding Gold Crowns and Their Value
Gold tooth crowns are fashioned from gold alloys, not pure gold, to achieve the necessary strength and durability for dental applications. These alloys blend gold with other metals such as silver, copper, palladium, and platinum, which contribute to the crown’s structural integrity. The purity of the gold in these crowns is commonly measured in karats, with purities including 10K, 14K, 16K, 18K, 20K, and 22K. For instance, 14K gold means 14 parts out of 24 are pure gold, or approximately 58.3% gold content.
The value of a gold crown stems from its precious metal content and the market price of gold. Unlike other items, a gold crown’s value is not derived from its original function as a dental prosthetic or any perceived antique status. Its worth is solely based on the weight of the gold and other precious metals it contains. The current market price for gold, usually quoted per troy ounce or gram, directly influences the return from a crown.
Determining the Value of Your Gold Crown
Estimating the value of a gold crown involves several steps, starting with metallic composition confirmation. Visual inspection might reveal a distinct yellow or gold color, and a simple magnet test can differentiate true gold alloys from non-precious metals, as gold is not magnetic. Crown density also offers a preliminary indication, as gold is a relatively dense metal.
Accurate weighing is a subsequent step, requiring a precise digital scale capable of measuring in grams or troy ounces. Remember that any non-gold components, such as porcelain facings or residual dental cement, will add to the overall weight but do not contribute to the precious metal value. Ideally, non-metallic elements should be removed or their weight estimated and subtracted for accurate assessment.
Ascertaining gold purity, or karat, is an important factor in valuation. Some crowns may have small hallmarks or stamps indicating their karatage, though these can be difficult to locate or interpret. Consulting a dentist or seeking a professional appraisal from a reputable jeweler or precious metal buyer helps confirm the gold content. Once the weight and purity are known, the melt value can be estimated by multiplying the crown’s pure gold weight by the current gold market price. For example, if a crown weighs 3 grams and is 14K gold (58.3% pure), it contains approximately 1.749 grams of pure gold; if gold is trading at $70 per gram, the melt value would be around $122.43.
Selling Gold Crowns
After determining the melt value of a gold crown, the next step involves finding a suitable buyer. Various types of purchasers specialize in acquiring dental gold, including:
Local jewelers
Dedicated precious metal dealers
Dental refiners
Online gold buyers
Obtain quotes from multiple buyers to compare offers and understand variations in pricing.
The selling process involves deductions or fees. These can include refining costs for gold extraction and purification, and assaying fees for metal composition testing. Buyers also factor in their operating margins, influencing the final payout. These fees can range from 10% to 30% of the melt value, depending on the buyer and the complexity of the refining process.
When selling precious metals, including gold crowns, buyers require identification to comply with federal regulations designed to prevent theft and money laundering. This means presenting a valid government-issued ID. Payment methods can vary, with some buyers offering immediate cash, while others may provide checks or electronic transfers within a few business days. Verifying the reputation and legitimacy of any buyer through reviews or professional affiliations is prudent before transacting.