Short answer
Only for a real dental need, and today other materials usually do the job. In the Hanafi school Abu Hanifa allowed silver but not gold for fixing teeth, while Imam Muhammad allowed gold. Gold grills or caps worn for fashion are not allowed for men.
Binding or replacing teeth with silver is permitted. With gold, Abu Hanifa disallowed it and Imam Muhammad allowed it, based on the hadith of Arfajah. Contemporary Hanafi muftis allow a gold crown where it is genuinely the better treatment, but porcelain and other materials are usually preferred now; decorative gold teeth and grills are haram for men.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- Gold may be used for a lost nose, tooth or fingertip when needed, even by men.
- Hanbali
- Using gold to replace a nose or tie teeth is allowed for need.
Explanation
The Prophet ﷺ said gold and silk are forbidden to the men of his community. But when Arfajah ibn As'ad lost his nose in battle and the silver nose he made began to smell, he told him to make one of gold. This shows that gold may be used to repair a body when there is a real need.
The Hanafi imams differed on teeth. Abu Hanifa allowed tying or replacing teeth with silver but not gold, since silver does the job and the need for gold is not proven. Imam Muhammad allowed gold, taking the hadith of Arfajah more widely. Today's muftis look at the dental facts: if gold is truly the better material for your tooth, there is room to use it; if porcelain, ceramic or another metal works as well, choose that.
- A gold crown you already have: you do not need to remove it. Wudu, ghusl and prayer are valid with a fixed crown.
- Grills and gold caps for style: haram for men, as they are gold jewellery.
- Women: may have gold teeth, since gold is lawful for them.
For gold in general, see is gold haram for men, and for braces and veneers, are braces haram.
Ask a mufti about your own case. This answer explains the general ruling. When the details of your situation matter, as they do here, ask a qualified mufti and give them the full facts. Where to ask a scholar.
The evidence
Sunan Abi Dawud 4057
Graded sahih... إن هذين حرام على ذكور أمتي ...
"These two are forbidden to the males of my community."
Said while holding silk in one hand and gold in the other.
Sunan Abi Dawud 4232
Graded hasan... فأمره النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فاتخذ أنفا من ذهب ...
"The Prophet ﷺ told him, so he made a nose of gold."
Gold may be used for a real bodily need.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Karahiyya, section on clothing. Teeth are not to be tied with gold but with silver according to Abu Hanifa; Imam Muhammad allows gold.
- Minhaj al-Talibin, Kitab al-Zakat, chapter on gold and silver jewellery. The Shafi'i allowance of gold for a nose, tooth or fingertip.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.