If you have a tooth pulled with a gold crown on it, should they give you the crown?

I always ask for the gold from dental work. There is ever any issue. But no dentist in my memory (past or future) has offered it.

Of course, ask someone for it.

YES. The crown, along with the tooth, belongs to your father. It is his property. The dentist essentially stole it from him!

This is assuming the crown was completely paid for at the time of the extraction.

@FutureMemory it was a very old crown so yes it was paid for and also a purer dental gold than what is used nowadays. Do I have any recourse if they won’t give it back?

Yes. It might not have more than 2 grams but even so it’s called theft.

It sounds as if you are or were a dentist, or at least have experience in this venacular. As a layperson, it seems reasonable to ask for the tooth, be it crowned in gold or not.

Please let us know the outcome, in addition to the country you are in. It could very well help others in a similar situation.

(What’s a venacular and what does it have to do with dentistry?)

Yes, they should give the crown or at least ask if you want it.

It may not be the dentist’s choice.

In some states, dentists can no longer give teeth back. They have been defined by law as a biohazard and thus must be disposed of in an appropriate manner, which is usually defined by law.

Did your father ask for it back? The dentist may have just assumed that he wouldn’t to keep an old tooth. Obviously an error, but perhaps not malicious thievery.

Also, there’s a chance that the dentist might not have been allowed to give the tooth back. Most doctors won’t give back body-bits that have been removed. My doctor wouldn’t let me keep my foot wart, or my tumour. Maybe the local laws prohibit it.

@Pied_Pfeffer if you were saying that to me No. I’m not and never been a dentist. But taking something [be it valuable or not] from someone without his accept it’s called theft. Indeed it depends on the country but here that thing is not tolerated and a few dentists lost their license because they did not bother to ask the patient if he wants his gold tooth/teeth back.

With the price of Gold being what it is these days… He had nerve NOT giving it to him.

Yes, you have a perfect right to ask for it. I would even suggest calling again and saying something like “When I come pick up his records, I’d also like to pick up the crown that was removed on his last visit. It’d be great if you could have that ready for me.”

I am a retired dentist. Patients used to ask me, for whatever reason, for their recently pulled tooth. If said tooth had any precious metal, I would ask if they wanted it. It was then put into a small evelope and given to them. Yes, pulled teeth are biohazard material but only if you keep them in the office. These teeth were put into solution in a sealed container and then the scrap metal sold. I think. ( I saw them but thats all because seeing it made me vomit ). I am just curious why my father wasn’t offered his tooth with the gold crown.

@trailsillustrated: Have you asked your dentist?

In 2014, do you have the right to get your extracted teeth back that contain gold or not? I am about to have eleven teeth extracted, six of which have a fair amount of gold. When I spoke with the nurse to set up the operation I asked if I could have the teeth back and she said no, that they are a biohazard and had to be disposed of is this true???????????? I cant believe this!