How to Recycle Dental Materials
Dental supplies including amalgam fillings, crowns, bridges, orthodontic appliances, and dental equipment containing valuable metals like gold, silver, platinum, and mercury. Dental offices generate significant waste, but precious metal recovery from dental materials can yield substantial value - gold crowns alone may contain $20-200+ in precious metals.
- 1Separate different types of dental materials by metal content
- 2Remove tissue and biological material from extracted items
- 3Sort by precious metal content (gold, platinum, palladium)
- 4Handle mercury-containing amalgam as hazardous waste
- 5Clean items thoroughly while maintaining metal integrity
- 6Package different materials separately for optimal recovery
- 7Document approximate quantities for refining assessment
- Precious metal refineries specializing in dental materials
- Dental supply companies with metal recovery programs
- Specialized dental waste management companies
- Dental schools and educational programs
- Medical waste companies offering metal recovery
- Certified dental metal recycling services
Mercury amalgam requires specialized hazardous waste handling due to toxicity. Gold and other precious metal dental work has significant recovery value and should go to precious metal refineries. Used dental equipment may contain valuable metals in electronic components. Some dental schools accept material donations. Modern cosmetic dentistry procedures like crown replacements and veneer installations generate recyclable precious metal materials.
Dental precious metal recycling recovers 95% of gold, silver, and platinum content, preventing mining of new precious metals while properly managing mercury contamination. However, most dental materials (80%) currently go to medical waste incineration, losing valuable metal recovery opportunities.
Modern cosmetic dentistry procedures like crown replacements, veneer installations, and bridge work generate valuable recyclable materials containing precious metals. When dental work is replaced for medical reasons, the old materials—including gold, platinum, and palladium—can be recovered through specialized recycling programs.
While the focus should always be on dental health rather than material value, proper recycling of dental materials helps reduce environmental impact and recovers valuable resources that would otherwise go to medical waste incineration.
- Participate in dental office metal recovery programs
- Use metal-free dental materials where medically appropriate
- Implement dental waste segregation for optimal recovery
- Support dental material recycling education programs
Accepted
- Gold crowns, bridges, and dental restorations
- Platinum and palladium dental work
- Silver-containing dental materials
- Dental equipment with precious metal components
- Orthodontic appliances with metal components
- Extracted teeth with metal restorations
Not Accepted
- Mercury amalgam fillings (require hazardous waste disposal)
- Contaminated dental materials with biological residue
- Non-metal dental materials (ceramics, composites)
- Broken dental equipment with safety hazards
Estimated value: $20-200+ per ounce depending on precious metal content and purity
Manufacturer/Retail Take‑Back
- Mercury in dental amalgam (neurotoxic)
- Heavy metals in some dental alloys
- Biological contamination from oral contact
- Chemical cleaning agents and dental materials
How much gold is typically in a dental crown?
Gold crowns typically contain 0.1-0.3 ounces of gold, worth $200-600+ at current gold prices. However, actual gold content varies significantly based on alloy composition.
Can I recycle mercury amalgam fillings safely?
Mercury amalgam requires specialized hazardous waste disposal due to toxicity. Never attempt DIY mercury recovery - use certified dental waste management services.
Should I have old dental work removed for the metal value?
Never remove functional dental work for scrap value - dental health is far more valuable than metal recovery. Only consider recycling when dental work is replaced for medical reasons.
Can dental offices make money from metal recycling?
Yes - many dental offices participate in precious metal recovery programs that provide revenue for collected dental materials while ensuring proper disposal.