Precious metals can be found in old dental appliances, especially in old crowns, bridges, porcelain-to-metal facings, fillings, and gold wire.

How much gold, silver and other precious metals can you find in dental scrap, and what kind of appliances should you be looking for? Let’s break it all down by looking at the precious metals that have been used to make dental appliances.

If you have experience recycling and profiting from precious metals, chances are you have some familiarity with dental scrap. In years past (and less often during about the last 25 years), gold was often used to make fillings, caps, and even larger gold bars that were used to make bridges that were installed in patients’ mouths. Also in years past, it was common practice for dentists and dental labs to keep used gold items and, when they got around to it, to have those pieces of gold dental scrap recycled.

We have noticed that it is relatively difficult to find scrap gold in dentists’ offices that are closing, probably because those dentists are savvy enough to capture and sell gold items, not sell them at bargain prices. Silver, however, is another matter. Where can you find silver to buy, and then recycle using a qualified precious metals recycler like Specialty Metals Smelters and Refiners?