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Truckee-Tahoe dentists help families in need by cashing in metal from extracted teeth

Special to the Sun

TRUCKEE, Calif. — Each year, Drs. Dan Martin and Rachel Appelblatt from Tahoe Oral Surgery and Implant Center extract thousands of teeth. If patients request to keep their extracted teeth, they are always offered them (cleaned!) as keepsakes, but most patients prefer to not take them home.

Much of the time, the teeth they are extracting have had significant dental work and have crowns or inlays. Many of these restorative materials contain small amounts of precious metals, such as gold.

There are companies who specialize in removing and purifying these precious metals from teeth so that the metals can be reused and sold. Alone, the materials from each extracted tooth is worth very little, but when combined with the thousands of other teeth extracted every year, it can add up to a substantial amount.



Tahoe Oral Surgery and Implant Center feels this money should be used for the good of our community, so each year they donate the entirety of these funds to families in need for Christmas.

They generally collect between $500 and $1,000 from extracted crowns each year. Teaming up with local family resource centers, Tahoe Oral Surgery and Implant Center is matched to two families (one in South Lake and one in Truckee) in need of Christmas magic.



This year, their adopted Truckee family is getting much needed baby supplies and a specialized stroller to help with a two year old son and infant twins.

This article was submitted on behalf of Tahoe Oral Surgery and Implant Center, with locations in Truckee and South Lake Tahoe. Visit tahoeoralsurgery.com or call 530-587-5440 to learn more.


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