Bone Grafting
HOW MUCH DOES DENTAL BONE GRAFT COST
Huntersville (Charlotte Metro), NC
Real price ranges for simple and complex bone grafts, plus what actually drives the cost up or down.
Real price ranges for simple and complex bone grafts, plus what actually drives the cost up or down.
A simple dental bone graft using synthetic material typically costs $300 to $800 per site. A more complex graft that uses donor or your own harvested bone runs $2,500 to $3,500 per site, and imaging to plan the graft, such as a CT scan, adds another $250 to $1,000. Most patients having a bone graft alongside a dental implant should budget somewhere in the $600 to $4,500 range once everything is accounted for, depending on how much bone needs to be rebuilt.
When a tooth is lost and not replaced, the jawbone underneath it starts to shrink because it no longer gets the stimulation it needs from chewing forces. Given enough time, that bone loss can leave too little width or height of bone to safely place a dental implant. A bone graft rebuilds that missing structure so the implant post has enough solid bone to fuse to. It is one of the most common procedures we do as part of implant planning, not a sign that something went unusually wrong.
A simple graft uses synthetic bone substitute material and is typically done at the time of a tooth extraction or during minor implant site preparation. Because it doesn't require harvesting bone from elsewhere in your body, it's faster, less invasive, and less expensive, generally $300 to $800 per site. This is the most common type of graft and is usually enough when the bone loss is minor to moderate.
When there isn't enough of your own bone structure to work with, a more substantial graft is needed, sometimes using bone harvested from another part of your jaw or body, or a processed donor graft material. These procedures cost more, typically $2,500 to $3,500 per site, because they involve more surgical time, sometimes a hospital or surgical center setting, and additional anesthesia considerations. They're generally reserved for cases with significant bone loss or when multiple implant sites need to be rebuilt at once.
Before any graft, we need to see exactly how much bone is present and where. A 3D CT scan, which gives a far more precise picture than a standard x-ray, typically costs $250 to $1,000 depending on the scope of the imaging needed. This isn't an optional add-on. Planning a graft without proper imaging risks under-treating or over-treating the site, which can affect both the outcome and the final bill.
Most patients encounter bone graft costs because they are pursuing dental implants and don't yet have enough bone at the implant site. In many cases, the graft is placed first and needs three to six months to fully integrate before the implant itself can be placed. In select cases with strong existing bone, a graft and implant can be placed in the same visit. Either way, this step is what allows bone to be replaced ahead of implant placement rather than skipped, which is what gives the implant a lasting, stable foundation.
Coverage varies widely by plan. Some dental insurance covers a portion of bone graft costs when it's tied to a medically necessary procedure, such as grafting after an extraction, while purely elective grafting for cosmetic implant placement may be covered less generously or not at all. We verify benefits before treatment starts so you know your out-of-pocket cost ahead of time rather than after the fact.
For patients paying out of pocket or covering a balance insurance doesn't reach, we offer financing options that break the cost into manageable monthly payments. This is worth asking about upfront, especially if a graft and implant are both part of your treatment plan, since combining them into one financed total is often simpler than paying for each step separately.
Cost shouldn't be the deciding factor in which graft material is used. The right graft type depends on how much bone needs to be rebuilt and where, not on finding the lowest price. Choosing an undersized or lower-cost graft when a more substantial one is actually needed can lead to a failed graft, a failed implant, or the need to repeat the procedure, which costs more in the long run than doing it right the first time.
If you've been told you need a bone graft, or you're not sure whether you have enough bone for an implant, Dr. Raymond J. Haigney II, FACS and the team at Lake Norman Oral and Facial Surgery in Huntersville can evaluate your jawbone with proper imaging and give you a clear, itemized estimate before any treatment begins. Call (704) 987-3132 or request an appointment online to find out exactly what your case would cost.
Related Article: Are Dental Bone Grafts Painful?
Words cannot express enough, how wonderful, caring and professional Dr. Haigney and his staff are! After being rushed to the Huntersville hospital with an orbital fracture, broken nose and other facial damage, Dr. Haigney rushed me into surgery (on his day off I must add) and corrected all my problems. I only wish all doctors cared as much about their patients and their recovery as Dr. Haigney and his staff did. Thank you so much for everything! Your attention and compassion has helped me make my recovery as comfortable as possible. 5 star service!
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