There are several reasons why a dentist may use precious metals, like gold or silver, instead of other materials like zirconia or porcelain. For example, it’s significantly harder for oral bacteria to grow on gold. When it comes to materials used in dentistry, you should know what offers the best value from implant to extraction.
Gold
Dentists commonly use gold to make dental crowns. Its corrosion resistance and malleability create a stronger seal to the tooth. Perhaps the two biggest advantages of gold are longevity and recyclability, which are huge drivers for the average dentist. A gold crown can last for over 20 years, and you can send them to a refinery for extra income. Learn how dental scrap recycling can benefit your practice.
Palladium
Over the last 50 years, palladium has gained a lot of traction in dentistry. It’s highly valuable and doesn’t rust or let much bacterial growth occur. Palladium is also fused to porcelain (PFMs) because it’s more rigid than gold and has a longer lifespan than all-porcelain or zirconia crowns.
Platinum
Since platinum has a higher density than other precious metals, it is usually combined with gold to reinforce dental crowns. Mixing two or more metals together creates an alloy. Non-gold items might look less valuable, but they could be alloys that contain platinum, palladium, or silver.
Silver
The dental industry uses silver to make alloys because of its durability. Just like other precious metals, it shows a high resistance to wear. Silver fillings also harden quickly and can strengthen the underlying tooth, which is beneficial for “chewing teeth” like molars.
Conclusion
Sending your dental scrap to a refinery can increase your cash flow, which our customers have used to buy new equipment or update their facilities. When you ship your dental scrap to Garfield, we’ll melt it down and include a detailed breakdown of precious metal content with your payment. Contact us if you have any questions or would like to start an order!