Gold crown cost in NZ: price, pros and cons, and what an old gold crown is worth

The gold crown tooth price varies more than other crowns because it depends on the weight of the crown, the gold content of the alloy and the gold price when the lab buys the metal. Your dentist will quote the full fee, which also covers the preparation, temporary crown and fitting.

What is a gold crown?

A gold crown is cast from a dental gold alloy, not pure gold, which would be too soft. High-gold alloys contain at least 40% gold, with palladium, platinum, silver and copper added for strength. The crown is cast in one piece and polished, so there is no porcelain to chip.

Gold crown tooth vs porcelain: gold needs the least tooth removed of any crown, is gentle on the opposing teeth and almost never chips. Porcelain and other ceramics look like natural teeth, which is why most people choose them for visible teeth. Compare all the materials in zirconia vs porcelain vs E.max vs gold crowns.

A white gold crown tooth is usually made from a white, palladium-based dental alloy that looks silver rather than yellow. A rose gold tooth crown is a cosmetic choice; alloy colours vary, so ask your dentist what the lab can make. A gold crown on a front tooth, chosen for style, is prepared and fitted like any other crown.

How to get a gold crown: the steps

1. Assessment. Your dentist examines and x-rays the tooth and agrees the alloy and colour with you.
2. Preparation. Gold is strong in thin sections, so the tooth needs less reduction than for porcelain-fused-to-metal. A scan or impression is taken and a temporary crown is fitted.
3. Lab work. The technician designs the crown in wax or CAD software, casts it in gold alloy using the lost-wax method, then trims and polishes it to a high shine.
4. Fitting. Your dentist checks the fit and bite and cements the crown, usually one to two weeks later.

Looking for a gold crown tooth near me? Your dentist arranges the crown with a dental laboratory. Universal Dental Laboratory in Blockhouse Bay, Auckland, makes gold crowns, inlays and onlays for dental clinics across New Zealand.

How to use and care for a gold crown

• Eat normally once the crown is fitted; gold handles chewing forces very well.
• Brush and floss daily around the edge of the crown, where the tooth can still decay.
• Expect brief sensitivity to hot and cold at first, because metal conducts temperature.
• Wear a bite splint at night if you grind; gold resists grinding well, but your teeth and jaw still benefit.

Gold has the longest track record of any crown material, and with good care many gold crowns last for decades.

Tips & gotchas

• Gold crown tooth side effects are uncommon. A few people are allergic to metals in the alloy, such as palladium; some notice a brief metallic taste or a small electric “zing” when gold touches a different metal filling; and gold shows when you smile or laugh.
• The price moves with the market. Because gold dental crown cost includes the metal, a quote can change if the gold price moves sharply before the crown is cast.
• Ask about an onlay. If the tooth only needs its cusps covered, a gold onlay keeps more tooth than a full crown. See inlays and onlays.
• Keep your old crown. If a gold crown is replaced, ask your dentist to give the old one back; it belongs to you.

Gold crown tooth value: a single crown usually weighs about 2 to 4 grams, and dental alloys are often 40 to 75% gold, so an old crown holds only a few grams of gold at most. A buyer works out its value from the weight, the gold content and the day’s gold price, then deducts refining costs. To sell a gold tooth crown, clean it, get quotes from more than one reputable gold buyer or refiner, and ask whether they test (assay) the metal, because the alloy cannot be identified by eye. A porcelain-fused-to-metal crown is worth much less, as it has only a thin metal layer.

Choosing between gold and zirconia for a back tooth? Compare cost and strength in zirconia crown lifespan, types, pros and cons and cost.