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If you want to get cash for dental gold without driving anywhere, you are in the right place. Old crowns, bridges, and inlays sitting in a drawer or recently removed by your dentist hold real monetary value – and selling them from home is simpler than most people expect. This guide walks through exactly how dental gold is priced, how to sell it safely by mail, and how to avoid the common mistakes that leave money on the table.
Dental gold is not decorative. It was chosen for practical reasons: it resists corrosion in the acidic environment of the mouth, it does not react with human tissue, and it can be shaped precisely. Dentists have used gold in restorations since the 16th century, and by the 19th century gold crowns had become the standard for durability.
The catch is that dental gold is almost never pure. It is an alloy – a mixture of gold with silver, copper, platinum, or palladium. The gold content determines the value, and it varies widely depending on when the restoration was placed and what type it is.
The Three Alloy Categories
High-Noble Alloys contain at least 60% precious metals, with gold typically ranging from 16K to 22K. These are the most valuable pieces and command the highest offers.
Noble Alloys fall between 25% and 60% precious metal content, often in the 10K to 14K range. They still carry meaningful value.
Base Metal Alloys contain less than 25% gold and are frequently blended with nickel, chromium, or cobalt. The gold content can be low enough that testing costs eat into any payout.
Most dental gold you encounter will be in the high-noble or noble category. If it looks yellow and was placed before the widespread adoption of porcelain and composite resins, there is a good chance it is worth selling.
How Dental Gold Is Priced
Gold is currently trading at $3,993 per ounce at the time of writing. That number is the starting point, not what you receive. The actual payout depends on two things: the weight of your piece and its gold content.
Here is how the math works for a 16K crown weighing 2 grams:
Convert karat to percentage: 16 divided by 24 equals 66.6% gold.
Convert grams to troy ounces: 2 grams divided by 31.1 equals 0.0643 troy ounces.
Calculate pure gold weight: 0.0643 multiplied by 0.666 equals roughly 0.0428 troy ounces of pure gold.
Calculate melt value: 0.0428 multiplied by $3,993 equals about $171.
That $171 is the melt value – what the gold is worth as raw metal. A buyer will offer you a percentage of that figure. The offer reflects the cost of shipping, testing, refining, and the buyer’s operating margin. For small quantities like a single crown, offers tend to be lower on a percentage basis than for larger batches like a full bridge or multiple crowns combined.
💡 Tip: Tip: Bundle everything you have before selling. Sending two crowns and a bridge together almost always results in a better offer per gram than sending one piece at a time.
Types of Dental Gold You Can Sell
Gold crowns – the most common piece. Full cast gold crowns are typically high-noble alloys.
Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns – the metal substructure often contains gold, though less than a full cast crown.
Gold bridges – heavier than individual crowns, often worth more per transaction.
Inlays and onlays – smaller restorations that fit inside or over a tooth. Less common but still valuable.
Gold dental scrap – filings, partial plates, or any other gold-containing material removed during dental procedures.
For a closer look at how dental gold compares to other types of gold jewelry in terms of value, the dental gold vs jewelry comparison breaks down the key differences clearly.
How to Get Cash for Dental Gold Without Leaving Home
Mail-in services have made it straightforward to sell dental gold from anywhere in the United States. The process is well-established, and reputable buyers handle it every day.
How the Mail-In Process Works
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Step 1 – Request a kit Contact a reputable buyer and request a free evaluation kit. Legitimate services send the kit at no charge.
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Step 2 – Prepare your gold Rinse your crown or bridge with water. Do not use chemicals, bleach, or abrasives. Place it in the provided container.
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Step 3 – Ship it Use the prepaid, insured shipping label included in the kit. Drop it at any post office or carrier location.
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Step 4 – Evaluation The buyer weighs your piece and assesses its metal content using XRF analysis or similar methods.
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Step 5 – Receive an offer You get a quote by email or phone. A trustworthy buyer gives you time to decide.
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Step 6 – Accept and get paid If you accept, payment arrives by check, bank transfer, or another agreed method. If you decline, a reputable buyer returns your gold.
⚠️ Warning: Warning: Never mail dental gold to a buyer who does not offer free return shipping if you reject their offer. That policy protects you if the quote is lower than expected.
Accurate Precious Metals offers a straightforward mail-in program for dental gold and other precious metals scrap. The service covers customers across the entire United States, includes insured shipping, and is backed by over a thousand five-star reviews built over more than twelve years in business. You can sell my gold by mail directly through their secure process – local customers in Oregon are also welcome to bring pieces in person to the Salem location.
What to Expect During Evaluation
When your dental gold arrives at a refiner or dealer, it goes through a structured assessment. The piece is weighed on a precision scale. Metal content is then verified through XRF analysis – a non-destructive method that reads the elemental composition of the alloy without damaging the piece.
The buyer combines the weight and composition data to calculate melt value, then presents an offer. At Accurate Precious Metals, offers on dental scrap are competitive and based on current spot prices. At the time of writing, gold sits at $3,993 per ounce, silver at $59 per ounce, and platinum at $1,569 per ounce – all relevant since dental alloys can contain any of these metals.
If your crown contains palladium (currently $1,165 per ounce at the time of writing), that adds to the value as well. Some older dental alloys used palladium extensively, so do not assume a piece is purely a gold story.
Mail-In vs. Selling in Person – Which Is Better?
Both options work. The right choice depends on where you live and how much gold you have.
Mail-In vs. In-Person
Pros
✓ Mail-in works from anywhere in the country – no travel required
✓ Insured shipping protects your gold in transit
✓ Competitive offers from specialized buyers
✓ Convenient for people with limited mobility or busy schedules
✓ In-person allows same-day payment
✓ You can watch the evaluation process
✓ Direct conversation with the buyer if you have questions
Cons
✗ Takes 3-7 days from shipping to payment
✗ You cannot ask questions face-to-face during evaluation
✗ Only practical if you live near a reputable buyer
For anyone in the Salem, Oregon area, Accurate Precious Metals handles dental gold in person at their physical location. For everyone else across the United States, the mail-in service delivers the same competitive offers with the convenience of staying home. You can also explore selling dental gold near you if you want to understand local options before deciding.
Common Mistakes That Cost You Money
Cleaning with chemicals. Some sellers try to polish their crowns before sending them in. Bleach, acid, or abrasive cleaners can alter the surface of the alloy and complicate testing. A simple rinse with water is all that is needed.
Selling to a pawn shop by default. Pawn shops are generalists. They buy everything from electronics to jewelry, and dental gold is not their specialty. Specialized dental gold buyers and precious metals dealers assess the material more accurately and typically make stronger offers.
Sending one piece at a time. If you have three crowns, send them together. The evaluation and handling cost is largely fixed, so a larger batch translates to a better return on each gram.
Accepting the first quote without checking. Get a sense of current spot prices before you receive an offer. The gold scrap calculator above lets you estimate melt value based on weight and karat. That gives you a reference point when evaluating any quote.
Removing crowns yourself. This one matters for your health, not just your wallet. A crown removed incorrectly can damage the underlying tooth. Have a dentist remove it properly. The crown is worth more intact than broken.
The Dental Gold You Might Already Have
People often forget they have dental gold until a dentist removes an old restoration during a routine appointment. If a dentist hands you a removed crown and you are not sure what to do with it, the answer is simple: hold onto it, find a reputable buyer, and sell it.
Other situations where dental gold surfaces:
A dentist upgrades an old gold crown to a porcelain alternative and hands you the original.
You inherit jewelry or personal effects that include removed dental pieces.
A family member passes away and dental scrap is recovered during estate management.
In all of these cases, the gold retains its full melt value regardless of how it was obtained. For more context on what happens to dental gold in end-of-life situations, the article on what happens to gold teeth when someone is cremated covers the topic in detail.
Why Accurate Precious Metals Is the Right Buyer
Accurate Precious Metals is not a pawn shop. It is a specialized precious metals dealer with over twelve years of experience and a track record built on more than a thousand five-star customer reviews. The team evaluates dental gold, crowns, bridges, and scrap using accurate assessment methods, and offers are based on live spot prices – not a fixed formula that ignores market conditions.
The mail-in service is designed for sellers anywhere in the United States. Shipping is insured, the process is straightforward, and payment is fast. If you are local to Salem, Oregon, you can walk in and have your pieces evaluated in person the same day.
For sellers who want to understand the full picture before committing, the guide to selling dental gold for cash covers crown values, alloy types, and what to expect from the selling process in detail.
Accurate Precious Metals also buys gold bullion, silver, platinum, palladium, jewelry, coins, and diamonds – so if you have other precious metals to sell alongside your dental gold, one transaction handles everything.
Call (503) 400-5608 or visit AccuratePMR.com to get started.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sell a crown that is still attached to a tooth?
No. You need a dentist to remove it first. Attempting removal yourself risks damaging the tooth and breaking the crown. Once removed and cleaned, it is ready to sell.
How long does the mail-in process take?
From the day you ship to the day you receive payment, most transactions complete in five to ten business days depending on shipping distance and how quickly you accept the offer.
What if I do not know the karat of my crown?
That is fine. The buyer will assess the metal content during evaluation using XRF analysis. You do not need documentation from your dentist, though having it can help you estimate value in advance.
Is dental gold worth selling if it is just one small crown?
Yes, though a single small crown will yield a modest amount. At current gold prices of $3,993 per ounce at the time of writing, even a 2-gram 16K crown has meaningful melt value. Bundling multiple pieces improves the overall return.
What metals other than gold might be in my dental restoration?
Common additions include silver, copper, platinum, and palladium. Some older restorations contain significant palladium, which is currently trading at $1,165 per ounce at the time of writing. The buyer's evaluation accounts for all precious metals present.
Does Accurate Precious Metals buy dental scrap from dental offices?
Yes. Accurate Precious Metals buys dental scrap from individuals and professionals alike. Dental offices that accumulate crowns, filings, and other scrap over time can use the mail-in service or visit in person.
What payment methods are available?
Payment options vary by transaction. Contact Accurate Precious Metals directly at (503) 400-5608 to confirm available methods for your specific sale.
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