Common Reasons for an Oral Biopsy from an Oral Surgeon

If a disease or abnormality in your mouth is discovered during a checkup, your provider may choose to perform an oral biopsy. This is a surgical operation in which a tiny portion of tissue from the area is taken to identify the anomaly’s source and whether it is malignant. The oral surgeon will take a sample from your gum, jaw, or tooth if the lesion is in the bone or soft tissue of your mouth.

The need for an oral biopsy

The following are reasons why a dental professional might recommend an oral biopsy:

Presence of lesions: Some lesions might make it difficult to eat and speak. A biopsy may be necessary to establish what is causing the lesion and give an appropriate diagnosis and treatment.

Oral cancer: If the dentist has reasons to suspect a patient has oral cancer (which affects the head, neck, and mouth), a biopsy can be done to confirm the diagnosis. A biopsy can help establish the stage and extent of oral cancer and its source if the patient has already been diagnosed.

Conducting the oral biopsy

Oral surgeons specialize in diagnosing and treating diseases and injuries of the mouth, face, neck, and jaw. During the appointment, a comprehensive examination of the neck and head will be conducted, as well as the oral biopsy. An oral biopsy involves removing a tiny sample of suspicious tissue from the mouth and sending it to a lab to be examined for disease. Based on the facts in the final report, a personalized treatment plan will be created.

Types of biopsies

In general, the dentist will choose between two types of oral biopsies. An incisional biopsy is the first option. In this process, the dentist takes tissue from the lesion and another sample from the healthy gum or tooth region around it and compares the healthy and potentially diseased tissue.

On the other hand, an excisional biopsy is a technique in which the surgeon takes out the whole lesion. Excisional biopsies are usually done on tiny growths in easy-to-reach areas of the mouth. Excisional biopsy is a diagnostic technique that also stops the issue from spreading further.

The tissue sample might be taken from the mouth region using a variety of methods. This decision is based on a thorough evaluation of the type of growth and its precise location. A needle must be inserted to extract a sample in certain biopsies. A tiny needle biopsy is one of the options accessible to the surgeon. In this procedure, a needle attached to a syringe is introduced into the mouth, and a cell sample from the affected tissue is collected. A core needle biopsy, on the other hand, utilizes a blade to extract a tissue sample.

The dental professional may also do a brush biopsy. This is a noninvasive technique for growths in areas of the mouth that are easily accessible, such as the gums. A brush is scraped vigorously on the lesion to obtain tissue samples.

In conclusion

If you have noticed certain signs around your oral cavity like sores or lesions, you may need to undergo an oral biopsy from an oral surgeon. Book an appointment today to get additional information about the procedure.

Request an appointment here: https://www.centralcoastoms.com or call Wilson Oral Surgery at (805) 910-1213 for an appointment in our Santa Maria office.

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