In short: there is no single price for a dinosaur tooth. The value depends on the species, the size, the quality of preservation, whether the tip, root and serrations are intact, and how much repair or restoration it has had. Two teeth of the same length can be priced very differently.
Why Moroccan dinosaur teeth are available
Most dinosaur teeth from Morocco come from the Kem Kem beds, Cretaceous river deposits in the southeast of the country. Large predatory dinosaurs replaced their teeth throughout their lives, and shed teeth were buried in river sands. This is why teeth are far more common than bones. Read more in The Kem Kem Beds.
The main factors
Species
Spinosaurus teeth are the most frequently found large theropod teeth in the Kem Kem. Carcharodontosaurus teeth are less common, especially large complete ones, and generally command higher prices. Teeth of rarer animals are scarcer still.
Size
Larger teeth are rarer, and price rises steeply with length for complete teeth. Length is normally measured in a straight line along the tooth.
Completeness
A complete tip, intact edges and a preserved root all add value. Many teeth are found without the root, which is the part that sat inside the jaw.
Preservation and surface
Well-preserved enamel, visible texture, and, for Carcharodontosaurus, sharp serrations along the edges are important. Worn, polished or heavily cracked enamel reduces value.
Repairs and restoration
Many large teeth are broken and rejoined. A clean repair of original pieces affects value less than restoration, where missing parts are filled or sculpted. Composite teeth, assembled from pieces of different teeth, are worth considerably less than a single original tooth.
Same length, different price
At the time of writing, our gallery includes Carcharodontosaurus teeth of 8, 9 and 9.5 cm, and the 8 cm tooth is priced above both of the longer ones. This is typical: length is only one of the factors. Preservation, completeness and the overall quality of the individual tooth often matter more.
Questions to ask before buying
- What is the exact identification, and how certain is it?
- What is the length, and how was it measured?
- Is the root present?
- Are there repairs, and where?
- Has any part been restored or filled?
- Will you receive the exact tooth in the photographs?
A clear answer to each of these questions is worth more than any general price guide.
Spinosaurus or Carcharodontosaurus?
The two are easy to tell apart: Spinosaurus teeth are conical with fluted enamel and no serrations, while Carcharodontosaurus teeth are flat, curved and serrated. See Spinosaurus vs Carcharodontosaurus Teeth.