Got some extra gold around the office? If you don't do gold restorations any more, it could be the time to cash in for a minivacation -- or at least a fancy outfit.
According to a recent Associated Press (AP) article, patients are using the current surge in the value of gold to cash in old dental caps, fillings, and bridgework. In March, gold topped $1,000 an ounce on the market, its all-time high, though it dropped slightly afterward.
Dental gold is worth a bit less.
"A gold crown typically uses about one-tenth of an ounce of 16-karat gold, which would fetch around $40 to $50 at today's prices," said a source quoted in the AP story. "Heavier pieces of dental gold can command prices of several hundred dollars."
