November 18, 2020

Gold and silver have always been the coveted investments in the precious metals markets until now.

Palladium has been trading higher than gold! So why?

What is driving dental alloy costs up so much?

For one, the auto industry demands a huge amount of Palladium for catalytic converters for reducing automobile emissions. Secondly, electronics.

Yup! Palladium is a major player in the electronics industry.

It is in all of our sought-after devices and keeping those supercomputer circuits running speedy. Hopefully, you have already got some of this precious stuff in your portfolio.

So, what do we do?
Yes, to Zirconia restorative options! They are strong, and the esthetic capabilities are ever evolving for us.
But …zirconia may not provide the best and long-lasting result in certain situations. There is still a need and demand for dental alloy in our industry.
The need for a conservative preparation with less tooth reduction, 360 gold margins, a subgingival margin or a gold occlusal on a 37/47 bridge abutment.
Heavy stuff, right?? (pun intended 😉)
You are always welcome to ask for a base metal dental alloy option for your case too.

OK, now how can we help?
Communication and being well informed is key.  Once our patient understands and accepts that the best treatment option is an alloy-based restoration, send off your case with a request for an estimate of the dental alloy cost.  That way you can pass the info along to the patient. No surprises!
Ballpark estimate: up to $200 per unit or more, depending on weight.
As a nice touch, if your cutting off a crown, offer it back to the patient to recycle. Might be worth a lunch out for them!

Another option we have is a dental alloy called Platinum Plus from Argen.               This is a noble alloy that is palladium free.Platinum 20% Ruthenium 5.7% Cobalt 43.5 % Chromium 29.3% Argen.com for more product info It is a little bit harder, white in color, has an excellent marginal fit and is an excellent option for implant restorations, ideal in fact being that there is an insignificant reaction with titanium. This dental alloy meets our high-quality expectations and is a cost-effective alternative to pass along to your patients. Always feel free to call the lab any time and discuss a case with John. There is a wealth of knowledge and experience there! Written by Roberta Bertram CDA Reviewed by John Zahel RDT