If you have old crowns, fillings, braces, and other dental work sitting in your drawer, you could have some money waiting for you. There’s an established market for selling dental gold, but making the most of it depends on avoiding some critical missteps.
Here are six mistakes novices make that have more experienced sellers shaking their heads.
Not Knowing the Karat or Type of Gold
Each dental alloy is blended differently, and for maximum value, you need to know the type and karat of gold for accurate valuation. Dig out details on that crown from your dentist, or compare the markings on the piece to dental gold karat charts. You’ll get lower asking prices if you can’t identify 10K, 14K, 18K, or higher content.
Accepting Melt Value Only
Jewelry buyers may offer melt value based on weight, but precious metal recycling companies know some dental alloys increase resale value. Getting quotes from both gives you leverage in negotiations when selling dental gold harvested from teeth.
No Comparison Shopping
What one buyer offers could be below 50% of another’s bid. The spread is extreme, even in the same town. You have everything to gain by gathering multiple quotes in writing for your old dental work. Go with the most credible high bidder.
Not Removing Non-Gold Parts
Sellers leaving attached porcelain crowns or metal alloys are leaving money on the table. Scrap gold purchasers will adjust the weight and value downward for non-gold. Do your removal to get 100% of your gold’s worth.
Ignoring large dental labs
Seven-figure commercial dental labs use enormous volumes of precious alloys. Making direct contact gets recycling quotes based on wholesale rates, often 30–50% above scrap gold dealers. Seek them out regionally or nationwide.
Taking Uninsured Shipments
You found the best offer, but don’t put $500+ of dental gold in an envelope. Only use shipping services with tracking, signature confirmation, and insurance. Recording serial numbers proves theft if a package disappears. Avoid this outcome when you choose postal methods wisely. Follow tips like these when the time comes to extracting income from old dental work. Contact Bay Area Metals today and elevate your precious metal transactions to the next level!
