Dental Gold
Also: Dental alloy gold, Tooth-replacement gold, Dental alloy
Dental gold is the gold alloy found in dental restorations such as crowns and bridges - usually with a fineness between 750 and 900, often with valuable additions of platinum and palladium.
Dental gold refers to the precious-metal alloys from which dental restorations such as crowns, bridges and inlays are made. It is one of the most common ways in which private individuals come into precious metal unexpectedly: after a dental procedure, or from an inheritance, old dental gold ends up in a drawer and can be turned into cash.
What dental gold contains
Dental alloys are designed specifically for oral tolerability and durability. The fineness usually lies between 750 and 900 (75-90 % gold). Unlike jewellery, dental gold is rarely hallmarked - the exact content can hardly be read off without analysis. What also makes dental gold valuable is that it frequently contains platinum and palladium, which likewise command high precious-metal prices.
Why a simple estimate is difficult
Because fineness and composition vary, and because remnants of tooth, ceramic or solder joints often cling to the piece, a valuation "by eye" is unreliable. The dental gold calculator gives a realistic range by assuming typical dental alloys and applying the current gold price. For a rough first orientation, the total weight on a fine scale is enough.
From dental gold to the payout amount
The actual payout depends on two things:
- The pure precious-metal value (weight x fineness x daily price) - that is the melt value.
- The buyer's deduction for analysis, refining and margin.
Reputable buyers and refineries determine the fineness precisely by analysis and pay out a fair share of the material value. What is realistic in the end is shown by the purchase price calculator; the pure material value is given by the melt value calculator.
Tax note (Ireland)
Unlike investment gold, dental gold enjoys no special tax privilege as an investment product. A private sale of scrap gold is usually straightforward, but for larger amounts it is worth noting the tax position: in Ireland, a gain on disposal is liable to Capital Gains Tax at 33 %, after the annual personal exemption of EUR 1,270, with no one-year holding-period relief such as Germany applies. This is not tax advice - consult a tax adviser or the Revenue Commissioners for larger sums.
In short
Dental gold is valuable scrap gold of unknown but usually high fineness - often enriched with platinum and palladium. Because the exact content is unknown, an expert analysis and a calculator-based expectation are the best route to a fair price.