You need a bone graft when there is not enough bone in your jaw to hold an implant securely. As Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust puts it, to have an implant you must have sufficient bone at the implant site. Small grafts can often be done at the same time as the implant. Larger ones are done first and add months to treatment. UK clinics that publish prices charge from £200 for a small graft to £3,750 for complex block grafting, and a sinus lift costs from £300 to £2,386.71 at the clinics in our table below.
When is a bone graft needed?
A graft is needed when your dentist’s assessment shows the bone is too thin or too short at the implant site. The Cambridge leaflet on dental implants in restorative dentistry says patients need certain amounts of bone height and volume, that this will be assessed, and that bone can be built up with your own bone or a substitute. The back of the upper jaw is a common problem area: Cambridge notes that many people who have lost their upper back teeth do not have enough bone there for implants, because the sinus sits just above.
What types of bone graft are there?
The method depends on how much bone is missing and where. These are the main options described in Cambridge’s bone grafting leaflet and sinus lift leaflet:
| Procedure | What it is | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Guided bone regeneration | Bone, often mixed with a substitute such as Bio-Oss, is placed over any part of the implant not covered by bone | Often done at the same time as the implant, usually with no extra healing time |
| Block graft | A block of bone, from a bone bank or more commonly your own hip, jaw, chin or scalp, is screwed onto the jaw | Done first; Cambridge’s example heals for four months before the implant, which is then left three months before the crown |
| Sinus lift | Bone is packed under the sinus lining in the upper jaw, either through a small window opened in the bone (external) or by gently tapping up the sinus floor while the implant is placed (internal) | External: the graft can take 4-9 months to mesh before implants go in. Internal: done at the same time as the implant, where only around 3mm of extra height is needed |
| Bone expansion (ridge splitting) | Narrow bone is split and widened, and the gap is filled with graft | Cambridge says it is rarely used |
| Distraction osteogenesis | The bone is split and a device is turned every few days so new bone fills the gap | An alternative to block grafting |
What is the graft made of?
It can be your own bone, human donor bone, animal bone or a synthetic material. Cambridge says the graft acts as a scaffold for your own bone to grow into, which can take between four and twelve months. Its most commonly used material is Bio-Oss, which comes from bovine (cattle) bone, and the most commonly used membrane over it is Bio-Gide, which comes from pigs. If you have concerns about animal-based products, the leaflet asks you to raise them with your surgeon as soon as possible.
How much does a bone graft cost in the UK?
Published prices run from £200 to £3,750 depending on the size and type of graft. These are prices from clinics’ own fee pages, either directly or as recorded on our verified city price pages. Most are “from” prices, so your quote will depend on your scan.
| Clinic (city) | Procedure | Published price |
|---|---|---|
| Elite Dental Practice (Belfast) | Bone graft | From £200 |
| Seren Dental (Cardiff) | Bone grafting | £300 |
| St Vincent Smile (Glasgow) | Bone graft, small or large | £535 small, £998 large |
| Perfect Smile Reading (Reading) | Bone graft | £575 |
| Marylebone Smile Clinic (London) | Bone graft | From £995 per site |
| Appledore Dental & Implant Centre (Milton Keynes) | Socket preservation; complex grafting, ridge augmentation or block graft | From £500; from £2,000 |
| Marylebone Implant Centre (London) | Socket preservation; block graft | From £595; from £2,115 |
| Clifton Dental & Implant Clinic (Glasgow) | Bone grafting | From £2,178 |
| Mark Tangri Dental Excellence (Birmingham) | Socket preservation; complex vertical or block bone grafting | From £850; from £3,750 |
Sinus lift prices vary even more, partly because the internal approach is a smaller procedure than the external (lateral window) approach:
| Clinic (city) | Sinus lift type | Published price |
|---|---|---|
| Exeter Dental Care (Exeter) | Sinus lift | From £300 |
| Little Way Periodontics (Nottingham) | Indirect sinus floor elevation; lateral window sinus graft (grafting materials included) | From £432.63; from £2,386.71 |
| Appledore Dental & Implant Centre (Milton Keynes) | Internal; external (per side) | From £750; from £1,700 |
| Mark Tangri Dental Excellence (Birmingham) | Internal; lateral window | From £950; from £2,250 |
| Hartley Dental (Plymouth) | Sinus lift | £995 |
| Marylebone Implant Centre (London) | Lateral wall | From £1,568 |
| Dental & Implant Centre (Plymouth) | Sinus grafting | From £1,750 |
A graft is usually charged on top of the implant, but not always. On our Leicester page, The Windsor Dental Practice adds £250 if a graft is required. On our Bournemouth page, SmileKind quotes an implant with a crown from £2,600 including any minor bone grafting at placement. Always ask whether your quote includes grafting, and whether it is based on a scan of your jaw.
How much longer does treatment take with a graft?
Anything from no extra time to many months. Cambridge says minimal grafting can be done at the same time as the implant, while more extensive grafting is done at least four months before the implant goes in, and its restorative leaflet says grafting prolongs treatment by at least four months. Graft material can take four to twelve months to mature, and a block graft from the hip needs an overnight hospital stay and around four weeks of rest afterwards.
What are the risks of bone grafting?
Most problems are minor, but a graft can fail. Cambridge expects minor problems in around 30% of cases and says severe ones are rarer. Its list includes infection, graft exposure, the graft not taking (more likely in smokers), not enough new bone for the implant, and, rarely, long-term numbness or an opening between the sinus and mouth that needs further surgery. A hip graft leaves a scar of around 8cm.
For sinus lifts, the main risk is a tear in the sinus lining: Cambridge gives a 19% chance with the external approach and 3.8% with the internal approach, and infection in 2.9% and 0.8% respectively. Implants placed in grafted sinuses do well in the research: a 2026 meta-analysis in Cureus of 22 studies and 6,860 implants found a pooled failure rate of 3%, a survival rate of 97%, and fewer failures with the internal (crestal) approach than the lateral window. The authors graded the certainty of this evidence as low.
Does a bone graft hurt?
Expect some pain and swelling for a few days. Cambridge says a sinus lift is normally done under local anaesthetic as an outpatient and is not normally painful, and that pain in normal healing is controlled with simple painkillers such as ibuprofen or paracetamol, swelling is at its worst after two days, and bruising is common. After a sinus lift, it says most people feel back to normal after two to three weeks, and you should not blow your nose for two weeks.
Are there alternatives to a bone graft?
Sometimes. Cambridge lists angled implants (to avoid simple grafting), zygomatic and pterygoid implants anchored in the cheek and facial bones, bridges, dentures, and leaving the gap. Read our guides to zygomatic implants, All-on-4 and implant vs bridge to compare. If grafting makes the total too expensive, see dental implant finance and our guide to reducing the cost of implants.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if I need a bone graft for an implant?
Your dentist assesses the height and volume of bone at the implant site, usually with a scan. If there is not enough bone to hold the implant securely, a graft or sinus lift will be part of the plan. Ask whether your quote is based on a scan.
How much does a bone graft cost in the UK?
At the clinics in our table, published prices start at £200 for a bone graft and reach £3,750 for complex block grafting. Sinus lifts run from £300 to £2,386.71. Most are starting prices, so get an itemised written quote.
How long after a bone graft can I have an implant?
Small grafts are often done at the same time as the implant. Cambridge University Hospitals says more extensive grafting is done at least four months before the implant, and graft material can take four to twelve months to mature.
Does a bone graft hurt?
Cambridge says pain in normal healing is controlled with simple painkillers such as ibuprofen or paracetamol, and swelling is at its worst after two days. A sinus lift is normally done under local anaesthetic and is not normally painful during the procedure.
What is bone graft material made from?
It can be your own bone, human donor bone, animal bone or a synthetic material. Cambridge’s most commonly used material, Bio-Oss, comes from cattle bone, and its usual membrane, Bio-Gide, comes from pigs. Tell your surgeon early if you have concerns about animal products.
Can a bone graft fail?
Yes. Cambridge lists the graft not taking among the later problems, with a higher risk in smokers, and says minor problems are expected in around 30% of cases while severe ones are rarer.
Related guides
- Zygomatic Dental Implants UK
- All-on-4 Dental Implants UK 2026
- Dental Implant Complications and Risks
- Cheap Dental Implants UK
- Dental Implant Finance UK 2026
- Full Mouth Dental Implants UK
- Full Arch Dental Implants UK 2026
- Same-Day Teeth Implants UK
- Mini Dental Implants UK
- Dental implants over 60 uk
- Dental Implants Cost UK 2026