Need a Biopsy? What to Expect

Dental biopsies are fairly common. If your dentist sees an irregular area of tissue inside of your mouth, the best thing to do is for them to order a biopsy.

Sometimes your family dentist will perform the biopsy. Other times, they’ll refer you to a specialist to have the biopsy conducted. At Torrance Oral Surgery and Dental Implant Center, we accept referrals for dental biopsies and can provide the answers that you’re looking for.

Dental biopsies come in all shapes and sizes. Some are strictly soft-tissue and restricted to the outer layer of cells of your soft oral tissues. A “brush biopsy” can collect a limited number of soft tissue cells at the atypical area. They are then inspected under a microscope for abnormalities.

Punch biopsies involve removing a larger area of tissue at a specific point of your mouth. They do collect a deeper level of tissue, so it’s fairly common to have some tenderness at that area after the biopsy is collected. Like a brush biopsy, the tissue is sent to a pathology lab where an expert will segment out the different layers of tissue and analyze it under a microscope.

A surgical biopsy may be required if there is an abnormality down inside of the jaw or bone, such as a cyst or tumor. Typically, the cyst is removed and a portion of it is sent to the lab for analysis.

Most pathology reports are returned to our oral surgery clinic within about 2-4 weeks. At that time, we’ll have you return to our office to review the findings and explain what they mean.

Early diagnosis of abnormal tissue is often a lifesaving step when it comes to combatting deadly diseases. If you need a biopsy, contact us immediately.