Thars GOLD in them thar mouths

[BULLO12]

Piles Of Teeth, Fillings Hit Pawn Shops In Dental Gold Rush

Gold Crowns Sell For $50 Each; Heavy Dental Work Prices Reach Hundreds Of Dollars

ORLANDO, Fla. -- A dental gold rush is being reported at pawn shops in Florida and elsewhere as people sell piles of gold teeth, dental caps, fillings and even bridgework to cash in on the metal's high prices.

Local 6 reported that people are getting as much as $50 for each gold crown they turn in to pawnshops.

Some people are bringing piles of gold teeth into dealers across the U.S. because of the economy and the metal's historic price run.

"People are really cashing in. If a dentist passes away, their kids come in with a big pile of gold teeth," said Scott Taber, owner of Taber Coins, a coin dealer who buys dental gold and then resells it to a gold smelter.

He said he used to see only a few customers a month selling gold teeth but now gets that many each week. "People are digging up the gold and starting to sell it," he said.

Taber said heavier pieces of dental gold can command prices of several hundred dollars.

Local 6 reported that pawn shops are reporting no shortage of people willing to cash in on dental work.

Gold set a record of $1,038.60 an ounce on March 17 and has since fallen to about $920, but experts say it could soon resume its upward climb.