Quick answer
One site usually costs $250–$1,500 depending on the procedure. A second site in the same quadrant is often charged at 40–60% of the first because the surgical setup, anaesthesia and often the donor material are shared. A four-site quadrant commonly lands between $1,200 and $3,500.
At a glance
- One socket site
- $250 – $900
- Two adjacent sites
- $500 – $1,600
- Four-site quadrant
- $1,200 – $3,500
- Second site discount
- Often 40–60% of the first fee
- Billed per
- Site, not tooth root
“Dental bone graft cost per tooth” is a reasonable search, but it is not quite how the bill works. Practices price a bone graft by site — a surgical area — not by the number of teeth or roots inside it. That distinction explains most of the confusion when two patients compare quotes for what sounds like the same procedure.
What counts as a site
A site is the area the surgeon opens, prepares and grafts. It can be:
- One extraction socket after a single tooth is removed.
- One tooth with bone loss on two or three surfaces.
- Two or three adjacent teeth treated through one surgical field.
- A ridge segment prepared for one or more implants.
A lower molar with two roots is one site. Two adjacent premolars grafted through one incision may be billed as one site plus an additional-site fee, or as two sites, depending on the practice and the payer’s rules.
The per-site fee structure
Most practices use a first-site and additional-site structure because the expensive parts of surgery are shared:
| Line | First site | Each additional site |
|---|---|---|
| Surgical time | Full | Shorter |
| Anaesthesia | Full | Shared |
| Setup and sutures | Full | Incremental |
| Graft material | Full volume | Additional volume |
| Membrane | Per site | Per site |
That is why a second site often costs 40–60% of the first. It is not a discount for being a good customer; it reflects the actual work.
Typical totals
| Situation | Planning range |
|---|---|
| One socket preservation | $250 – $900 |
| Two adjacent socket sites | $500 – $1,600 |
| One periodontal graft, natural tooth | $650 – $1,500 |
| Two adjacent periodontal sites | $1,000 – $2,400 |
| Four-site quadrant | $1,200 – $3,500 |
| Full-arch staged grafting | Quotes vary widely; request a phased plan |
These are cash-pay planning ranges for 2026. They exclude the extractions, implants, sedation, CT imaging and any membrane billed separately.
Why four teeth are not four times one tooth
A four-site quadrant shares one anaesthetic, one surgical field and often one packet of graft material. The surgeon also works more efficiently than four separate appointments would allow. The total is higher than one site, but the per-site cost is lower.
That is also why comparing a per-tooth quote with a quadrant quote without converting them is misleading. If one practice quotes $800 for one tooth and another quotes $2,400 for four, the second is not necessarily three times more expensive per tooth — it may be $600 per site.
When a molar costs more
Tooth type alone does not set the fee, but it changes the surgery:
- Upper molars sit under the maxillary sinus. If bone height is short, a sinus lift is added, typically $800–$2,500 depending on the approach.
- Lower molars sit above the inferior alveolar nerve. A cone-beam CT may be needed to plan safely, adding $150–$400.
- Infected sockets may need debridement and a longer healing interval before grafting.
- Previously grafted sites that failed may need re-treatment, which is a new surgical fee.
What the estimate should show
Ask for a line for each of these:
- Tooth number and site description.
- CDT code for the graft.
- Graft material and volume.
- Membrane, if used.
- Extraction, if done at the same visit.
- Sedation or anaesthesia.
- CT scan or other imaging.
- Follow-up visits included.
If the office quotes a single lump sum “per tooth,” ask what happens if the surgeon finds a second defect during surgery. A good estimate states the revision policy before you pay a deposit.
Staging to manage cost
A surgeon may recommend treating one side at a time. Staging has real advantages: you can chew on the untreated side, and the graft gets an undisturbed healing period. It also splits the cost across two dates.
The trade-off is a second consultation, a second anaesthesia fee and a longer overall timeline. Ask for both a single-stage and a staged estimate so you can compare the total, not just the first payment.
The bottom line
A single site is $250–$1,500 for most bone grafts; a four-site quadrant is roughly $1,200–$3,500. The second site usually costs less because the setup is shared, and a molar may cost more only when it needs a sinus lift or extra imaging.
For the procedure-level breakdown, see the dental bone graft cost guide. For the extraction-specific version, read socket preservation.
Frequently asked questions
Is a bone graft charged per tooth or per site?
Per site. A site is a surgical area, which may be one tooth, one extraction socket or several adjacent teeth treated as one field. A molar with three roots is still one site. Ask the office how it defines a site on your estimate.
Why is the second tooth cheaper?
The surgeon uses one anaesthetic, one surgical setup and often one donor site or material vial. Many practices charge the full fee for the first site and 40–60% for each additional site in the same quadrant.
How much does a four-tooth bone graft cost?
A four-site quadrant commonly falls between $1,200 and $3,500, depending on the procedure, material and city. It is less than four single-site fees, but it is still a larger operation than one socket.
Does a bone graft cost more for a molar?
Not usually by the tooth type alone. A molar socket may need more material and a longer healing check, and an upper molar may need a sinus lift, which is a separate procedure with its own fee.
Can I spread the cost over two appointments?
Sometimes. A surgeon may stage grafting on opposite sides of the mouth to let one side heal while you eat on the other. Staging can split the cost, but it also adds a second consultation and anaesthesia fee.
Is the extraction included in the graft price?
Usually not. The extraction is a separate procedure with its own CDT code. A socket preservation graft is often done at the same appointment, but it appears as a separate line on the estimate.