Last Updated: September 16, 2026

A dental crown can contain anywhere from zero to significant precious-metal content, depending on the type: all-metal and porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns contain metal alloys, while ceramic, porcelain, resin, and zirconia crowns don’t. Gold crowns aren’t as common as they once were, but chances are you know at least one person that has or had one. If you’re familiar with dental gold, you probably know that gold caps and crowns are valuable items that can be sold for cash. Many people think that gold crowns are made of solid gold, but that’s a common misconception – there are actually several different types of metal in a gold crown. Here’s everything to know about gold crowns, whether you have one in your mouth or stored away somewhere.

What’s Inside a Dental Crown?

When dental issues arise, the first stage of treatment is typically a “drill and fill” procedure – like a regular cavity filling. But when tooth decay gets a little worse, more advanced restorations are called for. This is where dental caps and crowns, sometimes referred to as “tooth caps,” come into play. The dentist shaves the decayed tooth matter off, essentially filing the tooth down to a stub, and then places a cap or crown over top.

There are many different types of dental crowns, and only some contain metal. Enamel-colored materials like ceramic, porcelain, resin, zirconia, and e-max (lithium disilicate) have become increasingly popular in recent decades. But when it comes to crowns that do contain metal, there are two main types: all-metal and porcelain-fused-to-metal.

All-Metal Crowns

Metal crowns are made from various alloys (metal mixtures) that may include gold, silver, platinum, palladium, nickel, chromium and titanium. Metal provides superior strength and longevity, making them particularly suitable for back teeth and molars, because those areas are hit the hardest with pressure from chewing and biting. Metal crowns also require less removal of the natural tooth structure compared to other crown types, preserving more of the healthy tooth beneath the crown.

Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal

Porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crowns are hybrids, combining metal and porcelain. They provide the best of both worlds: good durability and a natural appearance. The metal framework is covered by a layer of porcelain, so it’s not very noticeable, but a dark line at the gumline may appear over time, especially if the gums start to recede.

Different Types of Metal Crowns

The word “alloy” simply means a combination of two or more metals. Dental crowns made out of metal are alloys, meaning they contain several different metal types rather than a single pure metal. Precious metals like gold, silver, platinum and palladium are commonly used in dental crowns, and sometimes non-precious metals – aka base metals – are mixed in as well. Certain types of dental alloys contain more precious metals than others. Metal dental crowns can fall into three categories:

– High noble alloys: contain a minimum of 60% precious metals, with gold as the predominant component
– Noble alloys: contain at least 25% precious metal
– Non-noble alloys: contain less than 25% precious metal

Gold Alloy Crowns

Gold has been used in dental restorations for thousands of years and offers exceptional durability, making it particularly suitable for back teeth and molars that withstand the most pressure from chewing and biting. They’re typically a combination of gold and other metals like silver, copper and platinum. Gold crowns can last between 10-30 years before they need to be replaced. And in terms of resale value, gold crowns reign supreme.

Platinum and Palladium Crowns

Platinum dental alloys may contain gold, palladium, silver, copper and zinc, while palladium alloys typically contain gold along with other metals. Crowns containing platinum and palladium can hold significant value. While these metals are generally less valuable than gold, they can contribute to a crown’s overall precious-metal content and value.

Nickel and Chromium Crowns

Base metals like nickel, chromium and titanium are durable and affordable materials for dental crowns, but some patients may experience allergic reactions to them, particularly nickel.

Crowns made of base metals, aka non-noble alloys, generally have little to no metal resale value. If you have an extracted non-noble crown and want to recycle it for environmental reasons, look for a metal recycling company that accepts base metals. Start by calling your local scrap metal yard to see if they’ll take dental scrap.

Why Don’t Solid Gold Crowns Exist?

Crowns made of pure gold are not used for dental restorations because pure gold is too soft to withstand the forces of biting and chewing. This is also why pure 24k jewelry is relatively rare – it’s simply too soft for everyday wear. Because pure gold is naturally soft and malleable, it’s almost always alloyed (mixed) with other metals to increase its strength and durability. Adding other metals to pure gold is a great way to maintain gold’s beneficial properties while making it strong enough for daily use. Plus, using less pure gold can reduce the overall cost of a product.

Who Buys Gold Crowns Near Me?

There’s no shortage of options when it comes to selling gold crowns. In fact, dental offices are frequently visited by cash buyers looking to purchase extracted crowns and other types of scrap material. Some cash-for-gold stores and pawn shops accept dental scrap, and there are online buyers that specialize in mail-in dental scrap purchasing. However, most of these types of buyers don’t refine the metal themselves, which means they’re acting as intermediaries. Dental scrap will eventually need to be melted down and refined in order to determine its precious metal content and reuse the metals.

Precious metal refineries are the best place to sell dental scrap. Unlike middleman buyers who simply estimate a crown’s value and usually present low offers to protect their own margins, refineries have the technology and expertise to accurately evaluate dental scrap. A reputable refinery will pay you based on the precious metal content of your crown and the current spot prices of the metals it contains.

Because most high noble crowns contain more than one type of precious metal, it’s imperative to sell to a refinery that specializes in refining dental scrap. Cash-for-gold businesses and other non-refinery buyers may only account for the gold content in dental scrap, which means you won’t get paid for all of the valuable metals in your crown – leaving money on the table.

Key Takeaways

Metal dental crowns can range widely in value. Here’s a quick recap of what we’ve covered so far:

– Gold crowns are not made of solid gold – they are alloys that contain gold and other metals.
– Gold alloys are the most valuable type of metal crown, followed by platinum and palladium.
– Don’t overlook PFM crowns – even though there’s less metal, it could still be worth something.
– Non-noble alloys made with base metals like nickel and chromium crowns can be recycled, but are not worth selling.
– It’s impossible to determine the value of a metal crown without proper testing at a precious metal refinery. On-the-spot offers for dental crowns are simply guestimates, and are usually much lower than your material’s true value.
– Always sell your precious-metal dental crowns to a reputable precious metal refinery (like Garfield Refining) to get the highest payment.

Garfield: America’s Favorite Dental Refiner

Garfield Refining has specialized in refining dental scrap for decades and has been voted “Best Scrap Metal Refiner” by Dentaltown Magazine for 15 years straight. Established in 1892, we provide expert refining services with industry-leading payouts and exceptional customer service.

Our convenient ship-in program makes selling your precious metals easier than ever. We’ll send you a prepaid shipping label so you can send us your material free of charge. Once your shipment is received and processed, you’ll be paid within 1–3 business days. You’ll also receive an assay report outlining the precise breakdown of precious metals in your material, so you can see how your payout is calculated.

Garfield accepts a variety of precious metal items in addition to dental material. If you have jewelry, sterling silver flatware, gold or silver coins, or other precious-metal items that you’d like to monetize, we’re here to help!

Curious how much your dental crown might be worth? Check out our other articles:

Questions about dental scrap or the refining process? Call 800-523-0968 or email info@garfieldrefining.com.

Ready to sell your precious metals? Get started today with a free shipping label!

Written by

Allie Bowman

Allie Bowman is the Content Lead at Garfield Refining, where she translates 134 years of precious metals expertise into clear, accurate, and practical content for individual sellers, dental professionals, jewelers, and collectors. A Dean's List graduate of the University of Delaware's Media Communication program, Allie has built her career around making complex subjects accessible to a broad audience. Her experience spans nutrition science, lifestyle magazine publishing, and precious metals refining, giving her a unique ability to transform technical information into engaging, trustworthy content. At Garfield, Allie brings editorial rigor and subject-matter expertise to every piece she produces. She works closely with Garfield's refining specialists and senior leadership to ensure that technical topics - from karat markings and assay methods to precious metals markets and spot price mechanics - are explained with both accuracy and clarity. Since joining Garfield's marketing team, Allie has written extensively on precious metals refining, dental scrap recovery, gold and silver bullion, estate and inherited jewelry, and industry-specific topics for dental and jewelry professionals. All content is reviewed by Garfield's leadership team prior to publication, ensuring it reflects the company's standards for accuracy, transparency, and industry expertise.

Reviewed by

Morgan Kerrissey

Morgan Kerrissey is the President of Garfield Refining, one of North America's most longstanding and trusted precious metals refineries. For over two decades, Morgan has built his career at the intersection of commodities markets, metallurgy, and precious metals — earning a reputation as one of the most knowledgeable voices in the refining industry. Morgan joined Garfield in 2008, bringing rigorous operational discipline to a company built on exacting standards since 1892. Named President in 2014, he has guided Garfield through volatile gold, silver, and palladium markets, while modernizing its workforce and technologies and diversifying its metal supply chains. Under his leadership, Garfield has expanded its refining capabilities across the full lifecycle of precious metals recovery, entered new markets, and expanded services while maintaining the same customer forward approach that has made Garfield a mainstay for more than a century. From hedging strategy to daily refinery operations, Morgan commands high levels of technical depth and market fluency. Morgan grew up outside Boston, graduated from Harvard University, and has lived with his family in Philadelphia, PA for almost 20 years.