Dental gold is not pure gold — it is an engineered alloy designed to withstand years of chewing force. A yellow dental crown typically contains 40–88% gold in a high-noble alloy. At spot gold of $4,134.80 per troy ounce on October 7, 2026, a single crown weighing 3 grams with 67% gold content has a melt value of about $267. Most dental refiners pay 75–90% of that figure after assaying.
Use the scrap gold calculator to estimate value based on weight and assumed gold fraction, but read the important caveat below: only a melt-and-assay tells you what your crown actually contains.
Types of Dental Alloys and What They Are Worth
The American Dental Association classifies dental alloys into three categories based on precious metal content:
| Alloy class | Precious metal minimum | Gold content range | Scrap value |
|---|---|---|---|
| High noble | 60%+ precious metals; gold dominant | 40–88% gold | High |
| Noble | 25%+ precious metals | Variable | Moderate |
| Base metal (non-noble) | Less than 25% precious metal | 0% | Low or none |
High-noble alloys were the dominant standard through the 1970s and most of the 1980s, when gold was inexpensive relative to today’s price. Older crowns — especially those placed before 1990 — are significantly more likely to contain high-noble gold alloy.
Noble alloys became more common after gold prices rose. They may contain palladium, platinum, or silver instead of or in addition to gold. White or silver-colored crowns that look like base metal may actually be valuable if they contain palladium or platinum.
Base metal alloys (nickel-chromium, cobalt-chromium) became dominant after the 1990s and contain no precious metals. They have no scrap value.
Worked Value Example
A high-noble yellow crown weighing 3.5 g with approximately 67% gold content:
- Gold in the crown: 3.5 × 0.67 = 2.345 g pure gold
- At $132.94/g pure gold (October 7, 2026 spot prices): 2.345 × $132.94 = $311.74 melt value
- At 80% payout from a dental refiner: approximately $249
A PFM bridge with three teeth weighing 8 g total, containing 30% palladium and 20% gold:
- Gold: 8 × 0.20 × $132.94 = $212.70
- Palladium: 8 × 0.30 × ($1,176/ozt ÷ 31.1035) = 8 × 0.30 × $37.81 = $90.74
- Total melt: $303.44; at 80% payout ≈ $243
These are estimates. The only way to know precisely is through assay.
Why You Cannot Know the Value Before Assay
Dental crowns are not stamped with a karat mark in the way jewelry is. As Garfield Refining explains, even when a stamp is present, it indicates the intended alloy at manufacture, not the actual current composition after years in the mouth. The crown’s metal content can only be accurately determined by:
- Melt: The crown is melted in a crucible above 1,800°F along with other material, creating a uniform liquid.
- Sample: Small samples are drawn from multiple points in the melt.
- Assay: Fire assay or XRF analysis determines the precise percentage of each precious metal.
- Calculation: Gold, palladium, platinum, and silver weights in troy ounces are multiplied by their spot prices to arrive at the offer.
Do not accept a “per-gram” flat rate from a pawn shop or general gold buyer without an assay. They cannot know what the crown contains and will price conservatively — often at a fraction of the actual value.
Do Not Discard White Metal Crowns Without Testing
Palladium trades at $1,176/ozt (October 7, 2026 spot). A white crown or bridge containing significant palladium may be worth more per ounce than a yellow crown with moderate gold content. Specialist dental refiners test for all four precious metals: gold, palladium, platinum, and silver.
Where to Sell Dental Gold
| Buyer type | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Specialist dental refiner (mail-in) | Full assay; pays on all precious metals; highest payout | Requires shipping; takes 3–10 days |
| General precious metals refiner | Full assay available | May not specialize in dental alloys |
| Local coin dealer or gold buyer | Immediate cash | Usually offers flat rate without assay; typically low |
| Pawn shop | Immediate cash | Highest risk of undervaluation; no assay |
For a few crowns, a specialist mail-in dental refiner is the best option. Reputable services provide free shipping materials, insured transit, and a written assay report before you accept payment. You can decline and request your material back if the offer is unsatisfactory (confirm this policy before sending).
Accumulating Crowns as a Dentist or Patient
If your dental practice places and removes crowns, accumulating scrap and sending it in batches to a specialist refiner is more economical than sending individual pieces. Larger batches reduce per-piece handling costs and often qualify for slightly higher payout percentages.
As a patient, ask to keep each extracted crown at the time of removal. Store them in a labeled container — even a dozen crowns over the years can be worth several hundred dollars at today’s gold and palladium prices.
Tax Note
The IRS treats proceeds from selling precious metals, including dental scrap, as capital gain or ordinary income depending on your situation. For significant amounts, consult a tax professional. This article does not constitute tax advice.