Gold Restorations: Why, When, and How with Lane Ochi – PDP23
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.
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):
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
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Studies Mentioned in the Episode:
Catch another episode from Dr. Lane Ochi: Cracked Teeth and Dentistry’s Tough Questions with Dr Lane Ochi – PDP175
#PDPMainEpisodes #BreadandButterDentistry #OrthoRestorative
Join the world’s leading organization dedicated to occlusion, temporomandibular disorders (TMD), and restorative excellence — the American Equilibration Society (AES).
AES Annual Meeting 2026 – “The Evolution of the Oral Physician”
February 18–19, 2026 · Chicago, Illinois
Don’t miss Dr. Jaz Gulati and Dr. Mahmoud Ibrahim as featured speakers, presenting on “Occlusion Basics and Beyond”
This episode is eligible for 1 CE credit via the quiz on Protrusive Guidance.
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.
