Precious Metal Donation
Donate precious metals.
Make a difference.
Dental gold, scrap gold, and other precious metals still have value even when they are no longer needed. When donated, they support the work of Dentists for Africa in Kenya.
For dental and oral surgery practices | For individual donors
Why donate dental gold and precious metals?
Old crowns, bridges, and other dental prosthetics often contain valuable precious metals. Items that are no longer needed or have been lying unused in a drawer for years can provide tangible help when donated.
Providing Dental Care: The proceeds support, among other things, DfA’s dental work in Kenya—at dental clinics, during school visits, and on mobile outreach missions.
Supporting children and young people: Donations of precious metals also help fund educational programs and other DfA projects.
Making Wise Use of Existing Resources: By recovering valuable precious metals such as gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, existing resources are reused and the demand for newly mined raw materials is reduced.
A particularly effective way to donate: Our partner Kulzer refines the precious metals for DfA free of charge. Since no refining costs are deducted from the proceeds, more money goes toward our projects in Kenya.
What can I donate?
Dental gold and dental prosthetics: crowns, bridges, and other restorations that may contain precious metals—even those with remnants of teeth.
Other scrap gold: You can send jewelry containing precious metals (even if it is broken or incomplete), gold watches and watch parts, gold bars and gold coins (no circulation coins or gold-plated replicas), as well as other gold items such as gold buttons, gold eyeglass frames, gold cutlery (only if of the appropriate fineness), or genuine medals.
Collecting dental gold and precious metals—it's that easy
DfA provides you with the materials and offers personalized support if you have any questions. The process can be easily integrated into your daily practice routine.
Receive your starter kit
Request a free collection box, informational materials, a waiver, and instructions on the process for donating precious metals to DfA. Dr. Andreas Pathe is available to answer any questions in person.
Gather Info & Collect Data
When removing dental prostheses, inform patients of the option to donate them voluntarily. Donated dental prostheses should be placed in the DfA collection box. There is no need to remove any remaining tooth material or to test the precious metal content.
Send to Sömmerda
Please send the collected donations in a padded envelope or box, along with the completed waiver form, exclusively to the DfA partner practice. We recommend insured shipping—in early July or early December. You will be notified by phone upon receipt.
Find out the proceeds
Mailing Address: DfA Partner Practice
Dr. Schinkel, Pietschmann, Dr. Prauser & Dr. Sauer
Dental Practice, Dentists for Africa e.V.
Bahnhofstraße 21
99610 Sömmerda
Good to Know
You don’t have to remove any tooth debris or estimate the precious metal content yourself. Just collect the items – professional processing will take care of the rest later.
Here's how other practices do it
“It doesn’t get any simpler or more cost-effective than this.”
Dr. Bocker has been collecting donations for DfA at his practice since 2024. In his experience, about 90 percent of the patients he approaches decide to donate. In less than a year, this effort raised 4,833.72 euros. The key, he says, is simply bringing up the option in the first place.
‘To me, that donation that goes literally from one mouth to another.’
Since 2016, Dr. Herzog has been on four missions with DfA in western Kenya. He knows from personal experience what this on-the-ground support makes possible. In his practice, he brings up the possibility of donating right at the dental chair—some patients even bring in old gold from home later on.
What Happens to Your Precious Metal Donation?
1 · Weighing
The collections from the medical practices are first weighed individually, documented, and safely transported by secure courier to our partner, Kulzer.
The scrap is prepared for professional recycling and melted down at high temperatures to separate precious metals from base metals.
After the ingots are cast, the laboratory takes samples to determine the exact percentage of gold, silver, platinum, and palladium.
A particular advantage: Kulzer waives the sheath costs for DfA.
Our long-standing partner Kulzer, an international dental company with extensive expertise in precious metal processing, handles the professional separation and analysis of the collected precious metals free of charge. This means that donating precious metals has a twofold benefit: Recycling returns valuable raw materials to the cycle and reduces the need for newly mined precious metals. At the same time, the proceeds support Dentists for Africa’s projects in Kenya.
Do you have any questions? Dr. Andreas Pathe is here to help.
“A small effort for the dental practices—with a big impact in Kenya.”
The retired dentist is familiar with DfA from numerous missions and from his many years of volunteer work for the dental project. Today, he oversees the precious metal donation program, advises dental practices, and sends out materials and collection boxes. Just send a quick message using the form below—he’ll call you back personally if you’d like.
Do you have dental gold or scrap gold at home? You can donate it right away.
You don’t need a participating dental practice to do this. You can send us any dental prostheses that have already been removed or jewelry containing precious metals that you no longer need.
Pass on what you no longer use to a good cause. What you no longer need can support the work of Dentists for Africa in Kenya and make a big difference in the lives of individuals.
Recycle valuable raw materials: The precious metals they contain are recovered and reused—Kulzer handles the separation process for DfA free of charge.
Download the Waiver
Download, print, and fill out the waiver for individual donors. If you would like a donation receipt, please provide the necessary information.
Include Old Gold
Securely pack dental gold or other precious metals accepted by DfA, along with the completed and signed waiver, in a padded envelope. Dental prostheses do not need to be cleaned; any remaining tooth debris may stay in place.
Send to the partner practice
Send everything, including the return address, to the practice in Sömmerda that collects items for DfA.
We recommend insured shipping, especially for more valuable shipments.
Mailing Address: DfA Partner Practice
Dr. Schinkel, Pietschmann, Dr. Prauser & Dr. Sauer
Dental Practice, Dentists for Africa e.V.
Bahnhofstraße 21
99610 Sömmerda
Good to Know
You will be notified by phone once your donation is received, and you can request a donation receipt if you wish.
What Your Donation Achieves
Many individual crowns, bridges, and other precious metal donations come together to provide tangible support: The proceeds help make dental treatment possible, support children in their education, and open up new long-term prospects for people in Kenya.
Detecting and Treating Dental Problems Early
“I always held my hand over my mouth when I laughed.”—During a DfA school program, the cause of Jeffrey’s dental malformation was identified, and the necessary treatment was started.
Dental Care After an Accident
After a serious accident on his way to school, seven-year-old Norbert suffered injuries to his jaw and teeth. Through DfA, he received the necessary dental treatment and today, he can smile again..
Enabling Education and Independence
DfA supported Sharon, a half-orphan, throughout her educational journey for many years. Today, she works as a fashion designer, supports her mother, and pays for her son’s schooling.
Providing Access to Treatment
Many people in rural areas can barely afford the trip to a dental clinic. That’s why DfA organizes mobile outreach clinics: Kenyan staff and volunteer dentists provide treatment on-site, thereby reaching patients who would otherwise have little access to dental care. During an outreach in Rangwe, for example, nearly 70 people were treated in a single day by our intercultural team.
Improving Oral Health in the Long Term
DfA regularly visits schools in western Kenya. The children learn how tooth decay develops, the impact of diet, and how to brush their teeth properly. Preventive care is a central component of the dental project—with the goal of preventing dental disease as much as possible before extensive treatments become necessary and of strengthening the children’s oral health in the long term.
Strengthening the Kenyan Dental Workforce
DfA supports the training and continuing education of Kenyan dental professionals and organizes continuing education seminars several times a year for the staff of the 14 dental clinics established in western Kenya. There is a particular emphasis on practical skills, complemented by professional, social, and personal competencies. This ensures that care is provided in the long term by qualified local professionals.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
For Dental Practices
For Individual Donors
What can our practice collect?
You can collect removed dental restorations such as crowns and bridges for Dentists for Africa—regardless of whether they contain precious metals or how much is in them. Restorations with attached tooth, ceramic, plastic, or cement residue can also be collected. There is no need for the dental practice to sort or evaluate them beforehand.
Who owns removable dentures?
Removed dental prostheses generally belong to the patient. Donations to Dentists for Africa are therefore always voluntary and require the patient's consent.
How do we document consent for a precious metal donation?
Dentists for Africa provides participating dental practices with the necessary documents. You will receive these, along with the collection box and additional information, in the free starter kit.
Do tooth fragments need to be removed?
No. Tooth debris and other residues do not need to be removed. Nor is it necessary to clean or separate different materials. Professional processing will take place later as part of the precious metal recovery process.
How can we get a donation box and informational materials?
Simply request our free starter kit. You’ll receive a DfA collection box, information for your patients, the necessary documents, and instructions on the process. If you have any questions, our volunteer liaison, Dr. Andreas Pathe, is available to assist you personally.
How do we store the donated precious metals in practice?
Donated restorations are collected in the collection box provided by Dentists for Africa. The box should be kept in the dental office in a secure location that is inaccessible to patients and other unauthorized persons.
When and where should we send our collection?
You do not need to send each donation individually. Once you have collected a sufficient amount, please send the collection together with the waiver to:
Dr. Schinkel, Pietschmann & Dr. Prauser
Dental Practice, Dentists for Africa e.V.
, Bahnhofstraße 21
, 99610 Sömmerda
Once your package has been received, you will be notified by phone that the donation has arrived.
How should we package and ship the precious metal donation?
Pack the collection, along with the waiver, securely in a padded mailing envelope and list your practice as the sender. We recommend insured shipping so that the package can be tracked if necessary.
What happens after we receive our donation?
You will be notified of the arrival of your donation by phone. The collection will then be assigned to your practice and weighed separately. Later, the collected precious metal donations will be handed over collectively to our partner, Kulzer, for professional processing and separation. After recycling, DfA will inform you of the proceeds calculated for your collection.
How are the proceeds from our fundraiser calculated?
Prior to joint recycling, the gross weight (including tooth remnants and waste) of each dental practice collection is determined individually. The total proceeds are then allocated according to each collection’s share of the total weight. Since the collections may contain varying amounts of dental debris and other non-recyclable components, the amount calculated in this way is an estimate.
Are there any costs associated with the division of precious metals during a divorce?
Not for Dentists for Africa: Our partner, Kulzer, handles the professional refining of the collected precious metals free of charge. This means that no refining costs are deducted from the proceeds—so more of the precious metal donation goes toward our projects in Kenya.
Will we find out how much our collection raised?
Yes. After the precious metals have been processed, Dentists for Africa will inform your practice of the proceeds calculated based on your collection. This way, you can also show your practice team and your patients what has become of the collected precious metal donations. We ask for your patience here—Kulzer sorts the precious metal donations received on behalf of Dentists for Africa twice a year.
Will our practice receive a donation receipt?
No. The practice collects precious metal donations from its patients and is therefore not a donor itself. For this reason, it does not receive a donation receipt for the collected precious metals.
Can I donate dental gold directly to Dentists for Africa?
Yes. You do not need a participating dental practice for this. If you already have removed dental prostheses at home, you can send them directly to our collection center in Sömmerda.
Who owns removable dentures?
Removed dental prosthetics generally belong to you. You decide for yourself whether you want to keep them, use them for another purpose, or voluntarily donate them to Dentists for Africa.
Can I also donate old gold or jewelry?
Yes, in addition to dental gold, you can also donate other precious metals or items made of precious metals. You can send jewelry containing precious metals (even if it is broken or incomplete), gold watches and watch parts, gold bars and gold coins (no circulation coins or gold-plated replicas), as well as other gold items such as gold buttons, gold eyeglass frames, gold cutlery (only if it meets the required fineness), or genuine medals.
Do I need to clean dental gold or remove any dental debris before shipping it?
No. You can send in your old dentures as they are. There is no need to remove any remaining teeth or other debris. Professional cleaning will be done later.
How can I send in my dental gold or scrap gold?
First, download our waiver form for private precious metal donations, print it out, and fill it out. Include a letter explaining your precious metal donation and pack both securely in a padded mailing envelope. If you have any questions, our volunteer liaison, Dr. Andreas Pathe, is available to assist you personally.
Where should I send my precious metal donation?
Please send your donation along with the waiver to:
Dr. Schinkel, Pietschmann & Dr. Prauser
Dental Practice, Dentists for Africa e.V.
, Bahnhofstraße 21
, 99610 Sömmerda
Please include your return address. We recommend insured shipping, especially for more valuable items.
Can I receive a donation receipt for my precious metal donation?
As a private donor, you can request a donation receipt, provided that Dentists for Africa has all the necessary information on file. Please indicate your request and provide the required contact information in the waiver form.
What happens to my dental gold after I send it in?
The collected precious metals are professionally processed and separated twice a year. Our partner, Kulzer, handles the separation process for Dentists for Africa free of charge. This means that no separation costs are deducted from the proceeds, and a larger portion of your donation can go toward our projects in Kenya.
How does Dentists for Africa use the proceeds from precious metal donations?
The proceeds support Dentists for Africa’s projects in Kenya. Among other things, they help provide dental care and support children and young people in their educational journeys. Examples include Norbert, Jeffrey, and Sharon, whose stories we share on this page.
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