Is gold really dead or making a comeback 2025?
Are zirconia and biomimetic dentistry sounding the final bell for precious metal restorations?
Is there still a place for gold in modern practice—and when is it actually the best option?
Dr. Lane Ochi joins Jaz for a rare live podcast episode to unpack the current and future role of gold restorations. From skyrocketing costs and lost lab skills, to emerging alternatives like milled cobalt chrome, this episode covers everything you wish dental school taught about gold.
They even dive into clever tricks for temporizing gold and discuss the surprising lab workaround that may save your patient money—without compromising function.
https://youtu.be/QWhY2_Oghd0
Protrusive Dental Pearl: You can achieve profound anesthesia for lower molars—including cracked, heavily worn ones—using Articaine buccal infiltrations instead of an ID block, even in dense bone cases.
🔑 Key nuance: Ensure blanching of the attached gingiva and infiltrate through the papillae for better effectiveness.
Watch the detailed technique breakdown (including patient feedback):
https://youtu.be/cCXacw5DE4M?si=gDmYTKiFYxhYvbj3
Articaine works—master the nuances!
Key Takeaways
- Use gold in tight spaces, short preps, or when longevity matters.
- Simpler preps = better milling, easier seating.
- Burnish when needed—but focus on great impressions.
- Talk to your lab. Explain your margins, internal spacing, and cement plans.
- Treat the patient, not just the prep: comfort, cost, and communication matter.
Highlights of this episode:
- 0:00 Introduction
- 2:06 Protrusive Dental Pearl
- 06:19 Welcoming Dr. Lane Ochi
- 09:40 The Resurgence of Gold in Dentistry
- 14:11 The Importance of Preparation and Cementation
- 18:17 Cost-Effective Alternatives to Gold
- 21:39 Burnishing Gold Margins
- 26:53 Partial Coverage Margin Designs
- 29:04 Retention vs. Resistance in Tooth Preparation
- 43:14 Vertical Preps with Gold
- 45:05 Immediate vs. Delayed Dentin Sealing
- 47:23 Challenges with Temp Bonding and Solutions
- 49:13 Recap
- 50:02 Lab Considerations for Gold Crowns
- 54:53 Perforated Gold Crowns
- 57:24 Temp Bond Troubles and Fixes
- 59:59 Gold vs. Ceramic Longevity
- 1:06:25 Gold Crowns on Implants
- 1:08:44 Wrapping Up and Final Thoughts
Studies Mentioned in the Episode:
- Marginal Gap of Milled versus Cast Gold Restorations
- Marginal Fit of Gold Inlay Castings
- Longevity of the Tooth Restoration Complex : A Review
#PDPMainEpisodes #BreadandButterDentistry #OrthoRestorative
This episode meets GDC Outcomes B and C.
AGD Subject Code: 250 OPERATIVE (RESTORATIVE)DENTISTRY – Preparation technology
Aim: To provide clinicians with a comprehensive understanding of the rationale, techniques, and clinical considerations for using gold restorations in modern restorative dentistry, including when and how to use them, cost-effective alternatives, and how to communicate value to patients.
Dentists will be able to –
1. Justify the use of gold restorations based on their mechanical properties, clinical longevity, and adaptability under occlusal forces.
2. Compare gold with alternative materials (e.g., zirconia, cobalt chrome) in terms of fit, performance, and cost-effectiveness.
3. Explain the principles of traditional and modern gold preparation designs, including vertical margins, bevels, and resistance features.