A Guide to Understanding, Valuing, and Selling Your Dental Scrap
If you’ve recently had a crown or bridge replaced, you might have walked out of the dentist’s office with a small piece of metal. While it might not look like much at first glance, that small piece of “dental scrap” metal could be worth significantly more than you realize!
Dental Gold Throughout the Ages
When we think of gold, our minds often wander to jewellery store windows lined with golden, shimmering bracelets, necklaces, and earrings, or vaults full of bullion bricks and coins.
The concept of gold appearing in dental work or dental accessories has actually been dated back to the early 7th to 6th Century BCE, when the Etruscans would wrap gold wire around natural teeth and loose teeth to keep them in place. Many other ancient civilizations (Egypt, Rome, Southeast Asia) would use similar tactics for functional use and would also use gold inlays and disks to adorn their front teeth for cosmetic purposes.
The 1980s saw a resurgence for accessorizing gold teeth when Eddie Plein – son of a local jeweller – began crafting and customizing removable gold caps. These removable caps gained popularity within the Hip-Hop scene of the 80s, but really shot to fame around the early 2000s. Rapper Nelly donned these caps during one of his music videos for his newest hit, named after the golden accessories, which hit #1 on Billboards across the country. The name of the hit: Grillz.
Dental gold is still used today, although a demand for options that have a more natural resemblance to real teeth has seen other materials (porcelain, ceramic, composite resins, etc.) used. While these are still excellent options for a more blended smile, gold still reigns the superior choice for longevity and durability.
In the fashion world, gold “Grillz”, caps and teeth are used by musicians, celebrities (Beyoncé and Madonna, to name a few) and even in the fashion industry to accentuate an outfit or create a picture-perfect smile, ready for any photo opportunity.
Is Dental Gold Actually Real Gold?
14K Yellow Gold Tooth Charm from 100Ways.com
The secret to dental gold’s value lies in its composition. Dental gold is rarely made from pure gold alone. Because pure gold is relatively soft, it is typically combined with other metals to create an alloy strong enough to withstand the everyday pressures of biting and chewing.
What makes dental gold particularly interesting is that its value may extend beyond its gold content. Depending on the alloy, it can contain a combination of other valuable precious metals, including:
- Platinum: A rare, dense precious metal valued for its strength and high melting point.
- Palladium: A member of the platinum group of metals known for its durability and resistance to corrosion.
- Silver: Often incorporated into dental alloys to contribute to their strength, workability and overall composition.
Dental gold can have a purity of anywhere between 10k to 22k, though the average purity used is 16k.
How We Value Your Dental Gold
Because dental gold is an alloy, the purity can vary wildly between different pieces. To ensure transparency and accuracy, Canada Gold uses specific categories to evaluate your items based on their precious metal content:
State-of-the-Art Testing
You might be used to seeing jewellery “scratch tested” with acid, but dental gold requires a more sophisticated approach. At Canada Gold, we mandate testing all dental scrap using X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) technology.
This advanced equipment allows us to see through the alloy and determine the exact percentage of gold, platinum, and palladium without damaging the item. It’s the only way to guarantee you receive a fair price based on the true market spot price of the day.
Ready to Turn Your Dental Gold into Cash?
Whether you have a single crown or a collection of dental scrap, we make the process easy and transparent.
- Visit Us In-Person: With locations across Canada, our experts are ready to test your items right in front of you.
- GoldBox Program: For our customers who prefer to ship their items, our GoldBox program offers a secure way to send in your dental gold for evaluation.
Don’t let your hidden treasure gather dust in a drawer. Bring it into Canada Gold today and see what your smile is really worth!
