Who Buys Dental Gold & How the Selling Process Works

Dental gold, often found in items like crowns, bridges, and fillings, holds inherent value due to its precious metal content. While not pure gold, these dental materials are alloys designed for durability and biocompatibility within the mouth. Understanding how to sell dental gold involves recognizing its composition and knowing where to find potential buyers. This knowledge helps individuals make informed decisions when liquidating these assets.

Identifying Potential Buyers

Many entities purchase dental gold. Local jewelers and coin dealers offer immediate, in-person assessments and cash payments. These establishments evaluate precious metals and may offer competitive rates.

Online gold buyers offer another avenue, using mail-in kits. Individuals request a kit, securely package their dental gold, and ship it to the buyer with prepaid and insured labels. After receiving the materials, the online buyer evaluates the gold and presents an offer, which the seller can accept or decline.

Specialized dental refiners or dedicated gold buyers focus on processing dental scrap. These companies possess the expertise and equipment to accurately assay mixed alloys, potentially leading to higher payouts. Pawn shops also buy dental gold, providing quick cash, but their offers might be less competitive compared to buyers specializing in precious metals due to their broader business focus.

Determining the Value of Your Dental Gold

The value of dental gold is influenced by several factors, primarily its composition and purity. Dental gold is an alloy, a mixture of gold with other metals like palladium, platinum, silver, copper, tin, or zinc, because pure 24-karat gold is too soft for dental applications. The blend of metals enhances its strength and durability while maintaining properties like corrosion resistance.

Karat purity indicates the proportion of pure gold within the alloy. For example, 18-karat gold contains 75% pure gold, while 10-karat gold contains 41.7% pure gold. Dental gold ranges from 10 to 22 karats, with 16 to 18 karats common for items like crowns. The weight of the dental gold is another factor, measured in troy ounces or grams, not standard avoirdupois ounces.

The current market price of gold, known as the spot price, directly impacts the value. This price fluctuates daily based on commodity markets. The form of the dental gold, such as crowns or bridges, and the presence of non-metal impurities like porcelain or tooth fragments also affect its value, as these materials must be separated during the refining process.

The Selling Process

Selling dental gold involves gathering offers from various buyers. Comparing quotes from local jewelers, online buyers, and specialized refiners is important to ensure a competitive price. While preparing dental gold for sale, it is advised not to aggressively attempt to remove non-gold materials, as buyers handle this during their evaluation.

For in-person transactions with local jewelers or coin dealers, sellers bring their dental gold for an immediate appraisal. The buyer will assess the item’s purity and weight, then present a cash offer. If the offer is accepted, payment is often made on the spot, and identification may be required.

The mail-in process for online buyers involves requesting a free, insured shipping kit. The seller then packages the dental gold securely and sends it back using the provided label. Upon receipt, the buyer evaluates the material and sends an offer, usually within a few business days. If the offer is accepted, payment is processed through methods like checks, bank transfers, or electronic payment services.