What grade of gold is used in dental crowns?

I have been told that I have decay under a gold crown on a molar tooth. It will have to be removed and a new crown placed. Can they use the same gold for the new crown or do they not do that? I would like to keep the gold crown if they cannot reuse the gold for my tooth. It is worth anything. I was told by someone that gold is now worth about $800 per ounce . I have insurance, but it only pays about 1/3 of the cost of most of the things I am having done. I have quite a lot of other work that needs to be done also. Does the actual work of making the gold crown make it more expensive or is it just the cost of the gold that makes it so. Is a gold crown made of 10 K gold? My crown is all gold, not anything else, and it covers a large molar. Is it likely to be worth anything?

What grade of gold is used in dental crowns?
A lab. will not use your old crown to make a new one as it would have to be mixed with new gold to insure an adequate casting and then they would have leftover gold of unknown composition. Your old crown should be returned to you and you may be able to sell it at a jeweler but you will not get much for it.....probably in the neighborhood of $10-$20 even with the cost of gold @ $800/oz as they, in turn, have to sell it to a scrap gold dealer.


The cost of a gold crown is dependant on the cost of gold at the time and also the overhead of the office.
Reply:Wow, lots of questions here. They will not use the same crown to make your new one and you are certainly entitled to your old crown. Depending on the lab that made your crown it would be as high as 18K. The work of making a gold crown is actually easier. Your crown definitely has worth and it will depend on the weight and price of gold at the time. Most reputable jewelers can appraise it for you. It will not be worth near what you think, probably less than $50. Hope this helps.