Dental Bone Graft Cost and Procedure Guide

For those dealing with missing or damaged teeth, a dental implant can provide a permanent solution — but that implant will likely require a dental bone graft first. In fact, around 58% of all dental implants require a dental bone graft, a figure expected to grow to around 60% by 2027.¹

Learn more about how a dental bone graft works, the costs involved and other factors to see if this procedure may be right for your needs.

What Is a Dental Bone Graft?

Dental bone grafts are used to increase the amount and density of bone in your jaw to repair bone loss, creating a sturdy amount of bone for a dental implant and supporting your existing teeth. Your dentist may recommend this procedure prior to a dental implant to improve the appearance of your mouth or as a way to stabilize your existing teeth if you've experienced bone loss.²

The dentist — though alternatively you may see a specialist like a periodontist or oral surgeon to perform your dental bone graft — uses your own bone, human or animal donor bone or synthetic bone materials to stabilize the area of bone loss and encourage your body to produce new bone growth.³ Some dentists may also combine the graft material with platelet-rich plasma to promote healing and encourage your body to produce new bone tissue.⁴

Who Needs a Dental Bone Graft?

Dental bone grafting treats several conditions caused by bone loss in the jaw, and your dentist will recommend a dental bone graft for those who:⁵

• Are getting a tooth extracted to prevent bone loss from occurring after the dentist removes the tooth
• Experienced bone loss that has negatively impacted the appearance of their face and jawline³
• Have bone loss caused by periodontal disease
• Need a dental implant to replace a damaged or missing tooth but don't have enough bone to support the implant
• Require dentures but need more stable jawbone to support them

How Much Does a Dental Bone Graft Cost?

The national average cost* of a dental bone graft can vary between $549 and $5,148, depending on the type of graft.⁶

Factors that affect the cost of your bone graft

Several factors affect the cost of your bone graft, including:⁶

• How much reconstruction you need. More complex cases will cost more than simpler ones.
• The experience of your dentist. A more experienced dentist will likely charge more for their services than one with less experience.
• The type of bone graft used. A bone graft that does not utilize your own bone will likely be less expensive since no additional surgery is required to harvest the bone from your body.
• Where you live. Procedures performed in major cities like New York and Los Angeles may carry a higher price tag than those in smaller cities.
• Whether you need a dental implant. Note that a dental implant will add between $1,450 and $3,875 to the total price of your costs on top of the cost of your bone graft.⁷

Average cost of an autograft by state/district

Below is a breakdown of the average cost* of an autograft by all 50 states and the District of Columbia.⁶ Prices do not include potential insurance coverage.

Is a Dental Bone Graft Covered by Dental Insurance?

Your dental insurance will likely only cover your dental bone graft if it is done for medical rather than cosmetic reasons.⁸ For instance, a procedure to prevent tooth loss would likely be covered, while one to improve the appearance of your jaw would not.

Depending on your insurance plan, it may cover some or all of the procedure, so check with your provider to see what your coverage allows.

Most dental insurance plans don't cover the cost of a dental implant if you are planning on getting one.⁸ Check with your provider to see if they do provide any coverage for dental implants.

Dental bone graft cost without insurance

Without dental insurance coverage, expect to pay around $549 on the low end for your dental bone graft.⁶ On the high end, expect to pay around $5,148 for your dental bone graft.⁶ The same is true if your insurance denies your coverage for procedures that are considered cosmetic in nature.

Types of Dental Bone Grafting Procedures

There are five types of dental bone grafting procedures:⁹

• Block bone graft. For those with bone loss toward the front of the jaw, your dentist will take bone from the back of the jaw to replace it.
• Periodontal bone graft. Those with infections due to gum disease can experience loose teeth due to the erosion of bone supporting them. To repair the existing teeth, a periodontal bone graft provides much needed support for them.¹⁰
• Ridge augmentation. This procedure increases the width and volume of thinned-out jawbone caused by missing teeth. Dentists usually perform this procedure to prepare the area for dental implants.¹¹
• Sinus lift. If you've lost your upper back teeth, it could lead to the sinuses dropping down into the tooth root area, making it unsafe for dental implants. To repair this, your dentist places a dental bone graft under the sinuses to lift them back into position and prepare the area for dental implants.
• Socket preservation graft. This type of bone graft is also known as ridge preservation, performed directly after a tooth extraction to prevent bone loss from occurring.

What Are Dental Bone Grafts Made From?

Your dentist will use bone material from four possible sources for your dental bone graft, including:¹²

• Autografts. Your dentist uses bone from your own body — typically from another part of the jaw or your hip — in your dental bone graft. It stimulates the formation of new bone in the area.
• Allografts. Your dentist uses donated cadaver bone in your dental bone graft. It stimulates the formation of new bone in the area.
• Xenografts. Your dentist uses bone from an animal, such as a cow, in your dental bone graft. Unlike autografts or allografts that stimulate your body to produce new bone, xenografts allow your existing bone to grow into the area, acting as a framework for this bone.
• Alloplasts. Your dentist uses synthetic material made of calcium, phosphorus and hydroxylapatite in your dental bone graft. Like xenografts, alloplasts allow your existing bone to grow into the area, acting as a framework for this bone.

Candidates for Dental Bone Grafting

Your dentist may recommend that you're a good candidate for a dental bone graft if you:¹²

• Are generally healthy
• Are not going through radiation or chemotherapy
• Are not pregnant or breastfeeding
• Don't have a compromised immune system and conditions like diabetes
• Don't smoke
• Have experienced jawbone loss due to missing teeth³
• Have experienced jawbone loss due to periodontal disease
• Need a dental implant and don't have enough jawbone to support it³
• Need to rebuild your jaw for dentures

How Does a Dental Bone Graft Work?

Before your surgery, your dentist will examine your mouth and take X-rays of the area to see the extent of your bone loss. They will then determine a treatment plan for you, including bone graft surgery.⁵

Preparing for surgery

Prior to your dental bone graft surgery, you'll need to consult with your dentist to see if there is anything special you need to do to prepare for it. Usually, you can expect to:¹³

• Arrange for a ride home after the procedure, especially if you are getting IV sedation, as you may be groggy.
• Fast after midnight the night before surgery.
• Quit smoking prior to your surgery.
• Talk to your dentist about the current medications you are taking. You may need to stop taking certain medications prior to your surgery, such as blood thinners.

Dental bone grafting procedure

Dental bone graft surgery is typically an outpatient procedure done in your dentist's office. The procedure takes around 45 minutes to an hour to complete.¹⁴

During surgery, you can expect the following steps to occur:⁵

• Your dentist will provide you with anesthesia or IV sedation.
• If any teeth need to be removed, your dentist will extract them.
• Your dentist will make an incision into the gum to reach the bone and clean that area out of any infected tissue.
• For autografts, your dentist will remove the bone from your own body at this stage. They do this with a separate incision to remove the bone that they will transplant.¹³
• The dentist will transplant the bone material to the original incision site in the gum and top it with a special membrane to protect it and secure it in place.¹²
• Your dentist will suture the gum closed.

Potential Side Effects of a Dental Bone Graft

A dental bone graft is generally considered safe and has a high rate of success. In fact, dental bone grafts have a 95% success rate.¹⁵ Xenografts have a 100% success rate.¹⁶

Possible complications

As with any surgical procedure, you may experience potential complications and side effects. These include:¹³

• Blood clots
• Complications from anesthesia and sedation
• Damage to the surrounding nerves
• Heavy bleeding after surgery
• Infection at the surgical site(s)
• Infection from donated bone (rare)
• Your body rejecting the bone graft¹⁴

Possible side effects

After surgery, it's normal to have some potential side effects that will go away with time, usually within a few days or weeks, including:

• Difficulty speaking¹²
• Pain and swelling in the area(s) operated on¹⁴
• Minor bleeding¹⁴
• Trouble chewing¹²

Signs of a failed dental bone graft

While most dental bone grafts are successful, there is a chance that they will fail. Signs that your dental bone graft has failed include:⁵

• Gum recession
• No improvement in the volume of the jawbone
• Pain and swelling at the surgical site that becomes worse over the course of the first week

Consult your dentist immediately if you experience any of these symptoms.

Recovery From a Dental Bone Graft

After your dental bone graft surgery, you should start to feel better within a week or two. You'll usually be able to return to your normal activities within a day or two. Complete recovery will take between two and eight months.¹⁴

Tips to speed up your healing after dental bone graft surgery

To ensure a smooth and speedy recovery during the first few weeks after surgery, your dentist may recommend the following aftercare instructions:¹⁴

• Apply ice packs to the area to control pain and swelling.
• Avoid crunchy or hot foods and liquids.¹⁷
• Avoid eating and drinking dairy products.
• Avoid strenuous physical activities for the first few days.¹⁷
• Change the dressing for the incision site as directed by your dentist within the first 24 hours of surgery.
• Do not smoke.¹³
• Do not touch the incision area with your fingers or tongue.¹⁵
• Eat only soft foods for the first few days after surgery.
• Sleep with your head elevated for the first few days to prevent blood from pooling at the incision site.¹⁷
• Take your antibiotics as directed by your dentist, if they prescribe them, to prevent an infection from forming.
• Take your pain medication as directed by your dentist to control any discomfort in the area.
• Visit your dentist regularly for checkups and X-rays to ensure the area is healing.¹³

Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Bone Grafts

Still have questions about dental bone grafts? Here are some answers to commonly asked questions about the procedure.

Financing Dental Bone Grafts With the CareCredit Credit Card

Whether you're getting a dental bone graft or you're simply paying for a dental exam, the CareCredit credit card can help you pay for costs not covered by insurance.** Use our Acceptance Locator to find a dentist or oral surgeon near you that accepts CareCredit. Use the CareCredit credit card, again and again, to pay for your health and wellness wants and needs, and download the CareCredit Mobile App to manage your account, find a provider on the go and easily access the Well U blog for more great articles, podcasts and videos.

In addition to dental care, you can also use your CareCredit credit card for pet care, cosmetic, vision, hearing, health systems, dermatology, pharmacy purchases, spa treatments and so much more within the CareCredit network. How will you invest in your health and wellness next?

Author Bio

Susan Paretts is a freelance writer with 19 years of experience covering health and wellness, pet care and more. Her work has been published by the American Kennel Club, Bayer Animal Health, Elanco, LIVESTRONG.com, The San Francisco Chronicle, Chewy and more.