Choosing a Refiner
Working With a Dental Refinery
Working directly with a dental refinery means communicating with the company that processes and evaluates your material. CrownMen is not a broker: it directly processes and assays or evaluates qualifying dental scrap, and customers can speak with CrownMen about their material, evaluation and settlement.
Reviewed by Ron Abboud, President, CrownMen Inc. · 2026
What Direct Refinery Service Means
CrownMen directly handles processing and assay or evaluation of qualifying dental material. Customers can communicate with CrownMen about the material they submit, the findings and the settlement.
For a broader view of CrownMen’s services, see Why CrownMen.
Custody and Processing
Before transferring a lot, ask who receives it, how it is tracked, who processes it, who performs the evaluation and who provides settlement information. These questions clarify responsibility at each stage.
CrownMen directly performs the processing and assay or evaluation of qualifying material. The dental scrap refining page explains the service in more detail.
Testing and Evaluation
CrownMen directly performs assay and evaluation to determine material findings that support settlement. With a direct relationship, customers know which company performs that work and can ask CrownMen about the evaluation.
For an explanation of evaluation rather than the full process here, see the separate guide.
Settlement Transparency
Ask what material was received and evaluated, which weights and metal percentages were reported, what pricing basis was used, what deductions or terms apply, and how the final settlement is presented. Customers can discuss their settlement directly with CrownMen.
A direct relationship does not, by itself, guarantee a higher payment. Review the applicable terms when comparing complete settlements.
Direct Refinery vs Broker/Intermediary
A direct refinery processes and evaluates the material itself and gives customers a direct point of contact for process and settlement questions. CrownMen follows this model for qualifying material.
A broker or intermediary may coordinate between a customer and another processor or refiner. If considering that model, ask who actually processes and tests your material and how the findings and settlement information reach you. Neither model should be judged on its label alone; compare the documented handling, reporting and terms.
Questions to Ask
Use these questions to compare how a prospective refinery or buyer will handle your lot.
- Who actually processes my material?
- Who performs the assay or evaluation?
- Who receives and tracks the material?
- What testing information will I receive?
- What weights and metal percentages are reported?
- What pricing basis is used?
- What deductions apply?
- Who is my point of contact?
Next Steps
Compare the answers you receive about processing, testing, reporting and settlement. If you are considering CrownMen, review its refining service and ask about the qualifying material you have.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CrownMen a broker?
No. CrownMen is not a broker. It directly processes and assays or evaluates qualifying dental material.
Who processes my dental scrap at CrownMen?
CrownMen directly performs the processing of qualifying material. You can communicate with CrownMen about your material and its evaluation.
Who performs the assay or evaluation?
CrownMen directly performs assay and evaluation of qualifying material. The findings support the settlement.
What information should I receive from a refinery?
Ask what material was received and evaluated, what weights and metal percentages were reported, which pricing basis and deductions apply, and how the final settlement is presented.
What is the difference between a direct refinery and a broker?
A direct refinery processes and evaluates material itself, giving customers a direct point of contact for those steps. A broker or intermediary may coordinate a transaction with another processor or refiner; ask who handles each step and how results are communicated.
What should I ask before choosing a dental refinery?
Ask who receives and tracks your material, who processes and tests it, what results you will receive, which pricing basis and deductions apply, and who you can contact about settlement.
References
This guide draws on the following CrownMen Blog articles.
Know who will handle your material
Review CrownMen’s process and ask questions about the handling and evaluation of your specific lot.