You’ve probably heard people throw around the term "carat" when talking about gold jewelry, but what does it actually mean for dental gold? The truth is, there’s no single, one-size-fits-all answer.
Dental gold isn't one specific thing. Instead, it’s a range, usually falling somewhere between 10 to 22 carats. In my experience, most of the dental pieces we see are in the 16K to 18K range. This variation is completely intentional, and it all comes down to creating a material that’s tough enough for the job.
What Carat Tells You About Gold Purity
Let's break down what "carat" really means. It's just a simple way to measure gold purity on a scale of 24 parts.
If something is 24 carats, it's 100% pure gold. Think of it as a solid gold bar—nothing else mixed in. But pure gold is incredibly soft. You could easily bend or dent it with your teeth, which obviously wouldn't work for a crown or bridge.
That's why dentists use gold alloys. An 18-carat dental crown, for example, is made of 18 parts pure gold and 6 parts other metals. These aren't just random fillers; they’re strategic additions like platinum, palladium, or silver. These metals give the alloy the durability it needs to handle decades of chewing and grinding.
This careful blend of strength and precious metal is what gives dental gold its unique value. When it comes to Gold and Jewelry Buying, understanding this alloy is the first step to getting a fair price.
Common Dental Gold Carats and Gold Purity
Here’s a quick reference guide showing the most common carat values we find in dental gold and what they mean in terms of pure gold percentage.
| Carat (K) | Pure Gold Percentage | Typical Use in Dentistry |
|---|---|---|
| 22K | 91.6% | Inlays, onlays (less common due to softness) |
| 18K | 75% | Crowns, bridges (strong, high gold content) |
| 16K | 66.7% | Crowns, partial dentures (a common, durable blend) |
| 14K | 58.3% | Denture frameworks, clasps (very strong) |
| 10K | 41.7% | Denture frameworks (lowest gold content) |
As you can see, the higher the carat, the more pure gold is in the alloy. This directly impacts its value.
Dental gold is almost never stamped with a carat marking like jewelry is. That means the only certain way to know its exact composition is to have it professionally analyzed.
This is exactly why we offer free Xray Scanning and Gold Testing here at Carat 24. It takes all the guesswork out of the equation and gives you a definitive answer on what you have. For a more detailed look at the different types of dental alloys, check out our guide on what is dental gold.
Why Dentists Use Different Gold Alloys
When a dentist chooses a gold alloy, it's a very specific decision, almost like a chef picking the right knife for the job. You wouldn't try to chop through bone with a delicate paring knife, right? In the same way, dentists have to match the gold's properties to the exact task it needs to perform inside a patient's mouth.
The whole decision comes down to striking the perfect balance between durability and biocompatibility. The function of the dental work—whether it's a single crown or a multi-tooth bridge—is what ultimately dictates the type of metal alloy they use.
High-Carat Gold for Single Crowns
For a simple job like a single crown, dentists often reach for a higher-carat gold, usually in the 20K or 22K range. This gold is much softer and more malleable. More importantly, it’s incredibly biocompatible, which means it’s very unlikely to cause any irritation or allergic reactions in the body.
Its softness is a huge advantage. It allows the crown to be molded perfectly to the tooth, and it prevents the gold from wearing down the natural tooth it bites against. That careful balance is absolutely crucial for long-term oral health.
Lower-Carat Gold for Bridges and Frameworks
On the other hand, something like a dental bridge has a much tougher job. It has to span a gap between teeth and handle tremendous chewing forces day in and day out. For that, you need something much stronger, which is where lower-carat alloys come in. An alloy around 16K provides the necessary strength and rigidity to get the job done.
Because dentists use such a variety of alloys, the value of your dental gold can differ quite a bit. This is a big piece of the puzzle when it comes to understanding what affects gold prices.
When it comes to Gold and Jewelry Buying, figuring out the exact composition of your dental gold is the most important step. That's why we offer free Xray Scanning and Gold Testing for any dental pieces you bring in. We provide hassle free offers and are dedicated to giving you the highest payout in Boise. We will even price match, so you can save the hassle and sell locally for more than online shipments.
How to Accurately Identify Your Dental Gold Carat
So, you have some dental gold, but how can you figure out what it’s actually worth? Unlike the gold rings and chains you might find when Gold and Jewelry Buying, dental gold almost never has a helpful stamp indicating its purity or carat. This leaves most people trying to eyeball it, assuming a deeper, more vibrant yellow color must mean a higher gold content.
While that logic makes some sense, color is far from a reliable guide. It's purely an educated guess, and the only way to know for sure what's in your dental gold is to have it professionally analyzed. We’re not talking about a simple acid scratch test, either; this requires precise, modern technology to get an accurate reading without harming the item.
The Power of Professional Gold Testing
The undisputed best method for identifying dental alloys is X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) scanning. This is a completely non-destructive and incredibly accurate process. An XRF scanner sends a beam of X-rays into the metal, which causes each element in the alloy to give off its own unique energy signature. The machine then reads these signatures and provides an exact breakdown of the percentages of gold, platinum, palladium, silver, and any other metals present.
This technology completely eliminates the guesswork. You get a detailed, scientific report of your dental gold’s composition, which is the only way to determine its true value.
The whole process is fast, safe, and completely transparent. We believe you should know exactly what you’re holding before you even think about selling. Here at Carat 24, we proudly offer free Xray Scanning and Gold Testing for free right here in Boise. Our team makes hassle free offers based on this transparent data, guaranteeing you get the highest payout in Boise.
We’ll even price match any local competitor's written offer. You can learn more about the different testing methods in our detailed guide on how to test gold purity. Don't take a chance with mail-in services and the long wait. You can save the hassle and sell locally for more than online shipments.
Calculating the Real Value of Your Dental Gold
So, how do all those carats and grams we've talked about translate into actual dollars? When it comes to dental gold, its value has nothing to do with its original job as a crown or bridge. Instead, it's all about the "melt value"—the pure, intrinsic worth of the precious metals locked inside.
The math behind it is actually pretty straightforward: Weight x Purity (%) x Current Price of Gold. This simple formula gets us to the total raw value of the gold in your dental piece.
Let's say you have an 18K gold crown that weighs 4 grams. Since 18K is 75% pure gold, that crown contains exactly 3 grams of the good stuff. Its base value is simply the going rate for those 3 grams of pure gold on the market today.
From Melt Value to Your Payout
Now, it’s important to know that any buyer’s final offer will be a percentage of that total melt value. This isn't a hidden fee; it's a necessary part of the business that covers the cost of refining the scrap metal back into pure gold, plus the overhead of running a shop. We believe in being upfront about this, so you know exactly how your dental gold is being valued.
From our experience, the average piece of dental gold weighs somewhere between 3 and 4 grams and is most often 18-karat gold. A typical gold crown might weigh anywhere from 2 to 5 grams. While a 3.5-gram 18K crown has a specific bullion value, any selling price for scrap will reflect a percentage of that, depending on the buyer. You can discover more insights about dental gold weight and value to see how all these factors connect.
Our commitment is to give you a clear, fair, and hassle-free offer. We use precise, free X-ray scanning and gold testing to show you the exact composition of your items, putting you in the driver's seat to make a fully informed decision.
Estimated Value of a 4-Gram Dental Crown
To give you a real-world picture, let's break down how the value of a typical dental crown might look based on its carat and a hypothetical gold price.
| Carat | Purity | Gold Weight (grams) | Potential Melt Value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16K | 66.7% | 2.67 g | $201.29 |
| 18K | 75.0% | 3.00 g | $225.86 |
| 20K | 83.3% | 3.33 g | $250.72 |
| 22K | 91.7% | 3.67 g | $276.16 |
*Melt values are estimates calculated using a hypothetical gold spot price of $2,350/ounce ($75.57/gram) for illustrative purposes. Actual market prices fluctuate daily.
As you can see, a higher carat means more gold and a higher value. Remember, the final payout from any buyer will be a percentage of this melt value.
When you're looking into Gold and Jewelry Buying, this kind of clear process is everything. We’re serious about providing the highest payout in Boise and will even price match any local written offer you bring in. Don't risk sending your valuables away in the mail. You can save the hassle and sell locally for more than online shipments with us.
Cashing In: How to Get the Best Price for Your Dental Gold in Boise
So, you’ve figured out your old dental work is probably worth something. What’s next? You have to decide how to turn that metal into actual cash. You could mail it off to a faceless online company, but that comes with a whole host of headaches. Packages get lost, the process drags on, and the final payout can be a real letdown.
Honestly, why put yourself through that uncertainty? When you sell in person, you get paid on the spot, you see exactly what’s happening, and you leave with total peace of mind. Forget the hassle—you can sell locally for more than online shipments and skip the risk and the waiting game entirely.
Why Selling in Boise is a Smarter Move
Here at Carat 24, we’re experts in Gold and Jewelry Buying, and our entire process is designed around transparency and trust. We think you deserve to see every single step of the evaluation for yourself.
Here’s what you can expect when you walk through our doors:
- Free, High-Tech Testing: We don't guess. We use a state-of-the-art XRF scanner to analyze your dental gold while you watch. This machine gives us a precise, scientific breakdown of its exact carat and alloy composition, so there are no mysteries about what you've got. Our Xray Scanning and Gold Testing is always for free.
- No-Pressure Offers: We base our offer directly on those scientific results. It’s instant, straightforward, and comes with zero obligation. You won't find any pushy sales tactics here, just a fair price based on real data. We always make hassle free offers.
- The Best Payout in Boise: We’re committed to offering the most competitive prices you’ll find anywhere in the area. In fact, we're so confident that we offer price matching on any written quote you bring in from a local competitor. We guarantee the highest payout in Boise.
When you choose a local buyer, you’re in the driver's seat. You can ask all the questions you want, witness the testing firsthand, and walk out with cash in hand. It’s simply the safest, smartest, and most profitable way to sell your precious metals.
Picking the right partner makes all the difference in getting the true value from your assets. If you're still weighing your options, our guide on finding the best place to sell gold has even more helpful tips. Avoid the gamble of mail-in services and get paid more, and faster, with a local expert you can trust.
Common Questions About Selling Dental Gold
Dipping your toes into the world of Gold and Jewelry Buying can bring up a few questions, especially when you're dealing with something as unique as dental gold. We hear a lot of the same queries from first-time sellers, so we’ve put together some clear, straightforward answers to help you out.
Should I Remove the Tooth from My Gold Crown Before Selling?
In a word: no. Please don't try to pull out any attached tooth or chip away at porcelain yourself.
It’s a tough, messy job without the right equipment, and you run a high risk of damaging the crown or, worse, losing tiny, valuable flecks of gold in the process. A professional buyer has the proper tools to safely and cleanly separate the metal from any other materials. We evaluate and weigh only the precious metal, so you can be confident you’re getting paid accurately for exactly what you have.
Is White Dental Gold Valuable?
Absolutely. Dental work that looks white or silver is often a high-value alloy, usually made of gold mixed with other precious metals like platinum or palladium.
These "white metals" are also incredibly valuable on their own. Our free Xray Scanning and Gold Testing instantly shows us the exact metal composition of your piece. This guarantees you get a full payout for every precious metal present, not just the gold.
You can learn more by checking out our guide on how much is a gold tooth worth.
The key takeaway is that color isn't a reliable indicator of value. White dental alloys can be just as, if not more, valuable than yellow ones, depending on their platinum or palladium content.
Why Is Selling Locally Better Than Mailing My Gold?
Selling your dental gold here in Boise gives you way more security, transparency, and instant payment. It’s just a better experience all around.
Mail-in services introduce all sorts of risks, from your package getting lost to lowball, non-negotiable offers once it finally arrives. Then you have to wait even longer to get paid.
When you come see us, the entire transaction happens right in front of you. You watch the free testing, and you get one of our hassle free offers on the spot. You walk out with the highest payout in Boise—and yes, we do price matching.
Save the hassle and sell locally for more than online shipments. You'll be glad you did.
At Carat 24 - Trusted Gold Experts, we're committed to giving every client a transparent, profitable, and secure experience. Visit us and see for yourself the difference that professional testing and local expertise make. https://carat24boise.com
