Gold and silver tooth removal in Durban North
Swap a gold or silver tooth for a tooth-coloured one.
Yes, gold teeth can be removed. We take off the gold or silver, check the tooth underneath and rebuild it in tooth-coloured composite that matches your other teeth.
Which kinds of gold and silver we remove
Full caps
Gold or silver caps (gold crowns) that cover the whole tooth.
Open-face designs
Gold or silver that leaves part of the tooth showing, such as the gold slit and the L, T, upside-down T, U, W and star shapes.
Inlays and gold fillings
Gold set into the tooth rather than over it.
Matched to your own teeth
We choose the composite shade with you, so the rebuilt tooth sits in with the teeth beside it. Whitening doesn't change the colour of composite, so if you'd like whiter teeth as well, we whiten them first and match the new tooth to your new shade.
Why people have gold teeth removed
Some people no longer want the gold they chose years ago. For others, the tooth under the gold has started to hurt.
Disadvantages of gold teeth
- The tooth was filed down to fit the gold, and that enamel does not grow back.
- Over the years the edge of a cap can stop sealing well. Decay can then start underneath, out of sight, and left untreated it can lead to losing the tooth.
If you've had your gold for years, read about the signs of decay under old gold caps.
Your tooth after the gold comes off
Once the gold is off, we check the tooth for decay and for how much sound tooth is left. What happens next depends on what we find:
| What we find | What happens next |
|---|---|
| A sound tooth with enough of its own structure | It is rebuilt in tooth-coloured composite. |
| Some decay | The decay is cleaned out, then the tooth is filled and rebuilt in composite, as with tooth-coloured fillings. |
| Deep decay, or too little tooth left for composite to hold | We talk you through what the tooth needs and your options. |
| The gold holds a false tooth (part of a bridge) | Taking it off would leave a gap, so we look at this with you at the assessment. |
How gold tooth removal works
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Step 1: Book
Send us a WhatsApp with a day that suits you, and we confirm a time for your assessment.
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Step 2: Assessment
We look at the gold and the tooth around it, and tell you what to expect.
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Step 3: Taking off the gold
We cut through the gold and lift it off.
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Step 4: Rebuilding in composite
We bond the composite to the tooth, then build it up by hand, shape it and polish it.
What replaces the gold
Composite resin, the same tooth-coloured material we use for composite veneers.
How long a composite rebuild lasts
Composite can chip or stain over time. When it does, it can be polished, repaired or redone, and the care below helps it last.
Looking after the rebuilt tooth
- Brush twice a day with a soft toothbrush and a fluoride toothpaste that is not abrasive, and clean between your teeth every day.
- Avoid biting hard objects or using your teeth as tools, and cut hard food into smaller pieces.
- Go easy on drinks that stain, such as coffee and tea.
- If you grind your teeth, ask about a night guard.
- Keep up your check-ups and cleaning, so we can check the rebuild and polish its edges.
Silver tooth removal
Silver caps and silver designs come off the same way as gold. If you're not sure whether you have a silver cap or an old silver filling, our guide to what silver tooth caps are explains the difference.
If a gold cap comes loose
Keep the cap, avoid chewing on that side and call us on 031 563 2473. If the tooth hurts or has broken, see toothache and broken teeth.
A fixed cap is cemented to the tooth, so don't try to prise it off yourself. Clip-on gold, such as removable grillz, is fine to take out yourself. Read why you should not remove a gold tooth at home.
Investing in your teeth
The cost of gold tooth removal comes down mainly to how much rebuilding the tooth needs once the gold is off. We accept medical aid, card and cash, and you can ask about paying in instalments. Read what gold removal costs in South Africa.
Booking your gold tooth removal
Book your gold removal at Smile Aesthetics by Durban Dental Care, 18 Kenneth Kaunda Road, Athlone, Durban North.
Tell us when you book, and ask for anything on our comfort menu.
Your questions about gold tooth removal
We numb the tooth first if it needs it.
We give you the cost at your assessment, once we've seen the gold and the tooth around it. Our guide to what gold removal costs in South Africa has more detail.
We take off gold and silver caps, slits and inlays at Durban Dental Care in Durban North, and rebuild the tooth in tooth-coloured composite. Call 031 563 2473 or send us a WhatsApp to book an assessment.
Book a gold removal assessment
Related treatments
Composite veneers
Change the colour, shape and size of your front teeth with thin layers of tooth-coloured composite, shaped by hand on your teeth.
Fillings
A cavity, a cracked old filling or a small chip repaired in composite matched to the shade of your tooth.
Teeth whitening
Lighten the natural shade of your teeth in about an hour in the chair, with your teeth and gums checked first.
