Dent & Crease Reduction Service

Targeted treatment for dents, creases, bends and surface warping. Our Dent & Crease Reduction service uses specialist tools and controlled techniques to improve structural imperfections in collectible trading cards.

We aim for the greatest improvement appropriate to each card’s condition. Some dents can be reduced significantly and occasionally almost entirely, while others may show only partial improvement. Results depend on the depth, severity and nature of the original damage.

Sending us graded cards? Your order must include one Graded Slab Cracking Service for each graded card you send.

What this service includes

• One card treated per quantity ordered.
• Targeted dent and crease reduction using specialist tools.
• Controlled humidification where appropriate for the card and damage being treated.
• Controlled flat-press techniques to address suitable bends and warping.
• Structural reassessment after treatment to review improvements and remaining concerns.
• A fresh penny sleeve, semi-rigid holder and sealed team bag.
• Protective return packaging with a reusable box.

Treatment is selected to suit the individual card. Not every type of damage is suitable for every technique, and more intervention does not necessarily produce a better result.

Expected outcomes

Some shallow dents and bends respond well to treatment. Deeper damage may remain visible even after improvement, particularly under angled lighting or magnification.

The most difficult damage types to meaningfully improve include:

• Deep dents and compressed areas.
• Sharp or heavy creases.
• Puncture-style impressions.
• Deep pen-pressure or engraved-style indentations.

Reduction does not mean complete removal. Treatment cannot guarantee that a card will appear undamaged or that a grading company will no longer identify the original issue. Some cards may show little or no improvement.

Best suited for

• Cards with light dents, creases, bends or surface warping.
• Collectors seeking improvement to specific structural concerns.
• Cards being considered for grading where dents or distortion are a concern.

This service focuses on structural treatment. Detailed surface cleaning and Holofoil Radiance Restoration are separate services. If your card needs several types of treatment, Ultimate Card Revival combines these services, including Dent & Crease Reduction where suitable. You do not need to book this service separately for a card already receiving Ultimate.

Optional Restoration Report + scans

A Restoration Report + scans can be added to your booking for a record of your card’s condition and the work completed. Reports and scans are not included as standard with this service; they are included with Ultimate Card Revival.

The add-on includes:

• A Restoration Report recording findings, treatment carried out and remaining concerns.
• Front and rear condition maps with labelled points of interest where relevant.
• Front and rear digital scans before and after treatment.

Once shared, your report is available in your Dugz Cards account under Restoration Reports, with a Restoration label beside your card. The condition maps illustrate approximate finding locations; the actual card scans are supplied separately.

For graded cards, before-treatment scans are taken after slab removal. Cards inside graded slabs cannot be scanned using our equipment.

See how to read your Restoration Report for an explanation of the maps, findings and treatment notes.

Important considerations

• All restoration work carries inherent risk, particularly on older, brittle or heavily damaged cards.
• Results vary by card, and complete removal of dents, creases or warping cannot be guaranteed.
• Structural improvement does not replace missing material or reverse every sign of damage.
• Whitening cannot be restored, as it involves missing ink or surface material.
• No particular grading outcome, restoration result or increase in value is guaranteed.

We handle every card with care and select treatment according to its condition. Read our card cleaning FAQ for further information about booking and sending your cards.