Why Dental Labs Lose Millions by Under-Valuing Scrap Dental Gold (and How to Prevent It)

Why Dental Labs Lose Millions by Under-Valuing Scrap Dental Gold (and How to Prevent It)

For Dental Labs • Dental Technicians • Prosthetic & Milling Labs • Regional & National Dental Labs
Bulk Dental Scrap Only — $10,000 to $1,000,000+ Sellers

If your dental lab processes crowns, PFMs, bridges, and precious metal restorations… there is a very real chance you’re losing money — and a lot of it.

Across the industry, dental labs unknowingly leave tens of thousands to millions of dollars behind every year simply because their scrap program is outdated, inconsistent, or controlled by the wrong refinery.

Most labs assume:

• “Scrap is just extra money.”

• “Whatever we get is fine.”

• “All buyers basically pay the same.”

Those assumptions cost labs massive amounts of profit.

This isn’t “bonus money.”
For many labs, this is a legitimate six- or seven-figure revenue stream hiding in plain sight.

This blog will show you:

• Why most labs get underpaid

• The hidden traps most refiners use

• The truth about scientific testing

• And how your lab can finally protect every dollar of value

The #1 Reason Dental Labs Lose Money: Trusting the Wrong Refinery

The biggest problem in the dental precious metal world isn’t the metal itself…

It’s refineries and buyers who profit by underpaying labs that don’t demand full transparency.

Here’s what happens all the time:

A “refinery”:

• Quickly melts your material

• Makes an internal calculation

• Provides a number you can’t verify

• Pays whatever benefits them

And because most labs never question it… the cycle continues.

You deliver material.
They melt it.
They “tell” you what it’s worth.
You get paid.

Simple?

Yes.

Fair?

Usually not.

Dental Scrap Is NOT Junk — It’s One of Your Most Valuable Assets

Many labs unintentionally treat scrap like trash instead of a financial asset.

High-value scrap materials include:

• PFM crowns

• Full gold crowns

• Bridges

• Casting buttons

• Sprues / trees

• Bench sweeps

• Grindings

• Vacuum bags

• Polishing dust

• Floor sweeps

Dental precious metal scrap can contain:

• Gold

• Platinum

• Palladium

• Silver

Labs generating steady casework can easily accumulate:

• $10,000+ without realizing it

• $50,000 in a short period

• $100,000+ annually

• And major labs: six and seven figure potential

Yet most labs don’t operate a professional scrap control system — and that’s where losses begin.

The Hidden Reasons Labs Get Underpaid (Nobody Talks About This)

Let’s be honest:

The dental scrap industry has many “buyers” who make their profit by paying you less than the material is truly worth.

Here are the most common traps…

❌ Trap #1 — No Scientific Testing

If your dental scrap is not being scientifically analyzed…
you are not being paid correctly.

Many buyers simply:

• Melt the metal

• Guess value

• Provide a payout that benefits them

Real valuation requires:

• Laboratory-grade testing

• Professional equipment

• Transparent results

This includes advanced XRF technology such as the ThermoFisher Scientific Niton™ Analyzer, trusted in aerospace, medical, and industrial applications for precise elemental testing.

Anything less leaves room for manipulation.

❌ Trap #2 — Blending & Diluting Scrap

Some refiners blend your scrap with tons of other material before testing.

Why?

Because mixing higher-value metals with lower-grade scrap:

• Reduces measurable purity

• Lowers reported value

• Decreases your payout

• Increases their profit

And because you never see YOUR material individually verified, you can’t dispute the results.

The lab loses.
The refinery wins.
Every. Single. Time.

❌ Trap #3 — Instant Quotes & Mail-In Programs

If a buyer gives:

• A “flat price per pound”

• A guaranteed number without testing

• A mail-in program with “trust us” results

That number was not created to help you.

When tens of thousands to millions of dollars are possible, professional labs cannot afford convenience-based guessing.

Dental Scrap Is a Revenue Stream — Treat It Like One

The most profitable labs treat dental scrap as a formal business division — not an afterthought.

Elite labs use scrap revenue to:

• Reinforce profit margins

• Invest in technology

• Improve equipment

• Reward teams

• Strengthen financial stability

Unlike traditional revenue, scrap profit:

• Is already being generated

• Does not require new patients

• Becomes pure additional income when maximized correctly

This is one of the single most overlooked profit centers in dentistry.

What a Professional Dental Scrap Program Should Look Like

To protect your value, your scrap program should be:

1️⃣ Centralized

All scrap should flow to a controlled, documented system.

No:

• Random jars

• Multiple buyers

• Informal collection habits

Centralization = protection.

2️⃣ Secure

Scrap should be treated like high-value inventory.

That means:

• Secure storage

• Locked containers

• Controlled access

Labs lose shocking amounts every year from unprotected scrap.

3️⃣ Documented

Every transfer should be:

• Logged

• Weighed

• Tracked

Professional labs track scrap like they track casework.

4️⃣ Scientifically Tested — No Exceptions

This is the difference between guessing and knowing.

Professional assay testing includes:

• Advanced analyzer technology

• Exact metal composition

• Transparent reporting

• Real verification

You deserve precise accuracy… not estimates.

Why Dental Labs Choose Us

Dental labs don’t just need “a gold buyer.”

They need:

• A trusted professional partner

• Private, secure handling

• Transparent scientific testing

• Clear, verifiable results

• Highest-value settlements

We are:

• Professional

• Confidential

• Trusted by serious sellers

• Experienced with high-dollar transactions

And most importantly:

We pay the highest for dental gold and precious metal scrap.

Bulk Only.
Professional Labs Only.
$10,000 – $1,000,000+ Sellers.

Your Lab Could Be Leaving Money on the Table — Fix It Now

If you are a lab owner, manager, or executive, ask yourself:

• Do you truly know if you’re being paid correctly?

• When was your scrap program last evaluated?

• Are you trusting a buyer simply because “you always have”?

• Could your lab be missing six figures a year without knowing it?

Most labs don’t discover the truth until they finally work with a professional testing partner — and the difference is often shocking.

Schedule a Confidential Dental Scrap Audit

If your lab processes crowns, bridges, PFMs, casting materials, or precious metal restorations… your scrap deserves professional handling.

We provide:

• Secure & private appointments

• Scientific analyzer testing

• Transparent verification

• Highest payouts

• Trusted long-term lab relationships

This isn’t casual scrap buying.
This is precision. Integrity. Maximum value.

Bulk Dental Labs Only — $10,000 to $1,000,000+ Scrap

📞 Call: (949) 461-9191
📧 Email: Amy@GlitterGoldGold.com

Schedule your confidential lab audit and professional valuation today and protect every dollar your lab has earned.