Cost guide · Updated November 2026
How much does a dental bone graft cost?
A single-site dental bone graft usually costs $250–$1,500 without insurance. The procedure — socket preservation, ridge augmentation or sinus lift — explains most of the difference, not the surgeon's reputation alone.
By the Dental Bone Graft Cost Editorial Team · Planning ranges, not dental advice.
Quick answer
Socket preservation: $250–$900.
Ridge augmentation: $400–$3,000.
Sinus lift: $800–$2,500.
Periodontal graft: $650–$1,500.
Dental bone graft cost by procedure
These are cash-pay planning ranges for one site in the United States. They include the surgeon's fee and standard sutures, and exclude sedation, imaging, the extraction or implant, and separately billed material.
| Procedure | Typical range | Best suited to | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Socket preservation | $250 – $900 | A fresh extraction site where an implant may follow | Graft placed in an extraction socket to limit bone loss; the extraction is usually billed separately. |
| Minor ridge augmentation | $400 – $1,200 | A narrow ridge with enough bone height | Rebuilds a narrow or shallow ridge before an implant; may use allograft or xenograft particles. |
| Major ridge augmentation (block graft) | $1,200 – $3,000 | A severe ridge defect or a site needing a block | A block of bone, often taken from the chin or ramus, fixed to the ridge; the most involved ridge procedure. |
| Sinus lift — internal (crestal) | $800 – $1,500 | A small sinus floor lift through the implant site | Bone is added through the implant site to raise the floor of the maxillary sinus a few millimetres. |
| Sinus lift — lateral window | $1,500 – $2,500 | Less than 4–5 mm of bone below the maxillary sinus | A side window in the upper jaw gives access to lift the sinus membrane; often staged before implants. |
| Periodontal bone graft (natural tooth) | $650 – $1,500 | Bone loss around a natural tooth from periodontal disease | Rebuilds bone lost around a natural tooth from periodontal disease; often combined with other surgery. |
Also called alveolar bone grafting, ridge preservation or guided bone regeneration depending on the technique. Ranges are planning estimates for 2026, not quotes. Multiple sites are often discounted per site but billed as one surgical fee.
What the surgical fee usually includes
- Local anaesthesia and the grafting procedure
- Preparing the recipient site
- Placing the graft material
- Standard sutures and a protective dressing or membrane, at some practices
- One post-operative check, at most practices
What is often billed separately
- Consultation, periodontal charting and radiographs
- Cone-beam CT, often $150–$400
- Graft material: allograft, xenograft or synthetic, often $200–$800
- Barrier membrane or growth factor, often $300–$800
- Tooth extraction, implant placement or sedation
- Additional follow-up visits or a second-stage surgery
How to compare two quotes
Ask each office for the same four lines: the CDT code, the graft material and its source, whether a membrane is included, and whether the extraction or implant is part of the same fee. A quote that omits the material or the second surgical site is not cheaper — it is incomplete.
Red flag: a phone quote with no examination and no code. Bone volume and the shape of the defect cannot be assessed over the phone, and a practice that guesses is guessing with your money.
Graft material: the line people forget
| Material | Typical material fee | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Autograft | Included in the surgical fee | Your own bone, taken from the chin, ramus or another site. Requires a second surgical site. |
| Allograft | $200 – $600 | Processed donor bone from a tissue bank. No second surgical site. |
| Xenograft | $300 – $800 | Bovine-derived mineral. Slow resorption; often used for ridge preservation. |
| Synthetic | $150 – $500 | Calcium phosphate or bioactive glass. Resorption and handling vary by product. |
| Membrane or biologic | $300 – $800 | Barrier membrane for guided bone regeneration, or a growth factor such as rhBMP-2 or PRF. |
Material fees vary widely by product and region and are frequently quoted separately from the surgical fee. Ask which material is planned and why, and whether a less expensive option is clinically appropriate.
Insurance: what to expect
Dental plans treat bone grafting differently depending on why it is done. When the graft is part of periodontal therapy or a medically necessary implant, a plan may pay 50–80% of its allowed fee after a deductible, subject to an annual maximum.
The maximum — often $1,000–$2,000 per year — is the number that decides how much you actually recover. A plan that pays 80% of a $1,200 graft but caps at $1,000 pays $1,000, not $960 more.
Grafting performed only to improve the appearance of a ridge, or as an exclusion under the implant benefit, is commonly not covered.Full insurance guide →
Paying over time
Many surgical offices work with third-party financing or offer in-house plans. Before you sign:
- Ask whether the monthly payment includes interest or an origination fee.
- Confirm whether the deposit is refundable if surgery is postponed.
- Check whether the financing company reports to credit bureaus.
- Ask for the cash-pay discount in writing; it is often 5–10%.
- Ask whether the graft and the implant can be paid for in stages.
Dental bone graft cost by state
We do not publish invented state averages. Local fees vary with the number of practicing specialists, rent and lab costs. Use the directory to find practices in your state, then ask each for a written estimate.
615 practices across 55 cities.See every state →
Questions about dental bone graft cost
How much does a dental bone graft cost per tooth?
A socket preservation graft at one extraction site usually costs $250–$900. A periodontal bone graft around a natural tooth runs about $650–$1,500. When the graft is part of implant preparation, the graft line is commonly $500–$1,500 and the implant is billed separately.
Is a bone graft cheaper than an implant?
Yes. A single-site bone graft is typically $250–$1,500, while an implant with an abutment and crown commonly runs $3,000–$5,000 or more. They are not alternatives: the graft rebuilds bone so an implant can be placed, and many implant patients need both.
Does insurance pay for a dental bone graft?
Sometimes. Plans may cover grafting as periodontal surgery or as part of an implant when it is medically necessary, often at 50–80% after a deductible and subject to an annual maximum of $1,000–$2,000. Grafting done purely to improve appearance is usually excluded. Ask for a pre-treatment estimate with CDT codes.
Why is a sinus lift more expensive than a socket graft?
A sinus lift is a more involved operation. A lateral-window approach requires a side access, careful elevation of the sinus membrane, graft material and usually a cone-beam CT. It takes longer and carries a different risk profile, so the fee is higher — typically $1,500–$2,500 per side.
What does the graft fee include?
Most surgical fees include local anaesthesia, the grafting procedure and standard sutures. They often exclude the extraction, the implant, cone-beam imaging, the graft material itself, a membrane or biologic, sedation, and additional follow-up visits. Ask for a line-item estimate.
Can I pay for a bone graft in installments?
Many periodontal and oral surgery offices offer third-party financing or in-house payment plans. Ask whether the quoted monthly payment includes interest or an origination fee, whether the deposit is refundable, and whether a cash-pay discount is available in writing.
This page is general information, not a dental diagnosis or a binding quote. Confirm fees and coverage with a licensed periodontist or oral surgeon and your insurer.