We’re able to perform oral pathology and biopsy procedures to test and diagnose the causes of abnormal gum and mouth tissues. Abnormal tissues in the mouth can be caused by a variety of issues including lesions, ulcers, oral cancer, and noncancerous growths.
There are a variety of gum and oral biopsies we can perform including:
Percutaneous Biopsy
This procedure involves the insertion of a needle into the lesion to get a sample of tissue for your doctor to make a diagnosis. There are two types of percutaneous biopsy, fine needle, and core biopsy.
Brush Biopsy
This type of biopsy is the least invasive and is performed by your doctor by rubbing a brush against the gums or oral tissue where the legion or abnormal growth is. This gathers tissues on the brush for the doctor to test. Sometimes your doctor will also perform a second form of biopsy when a brush biopsy is ordered.
Incisional Biopsy
An incisional biopsy is the most common type of gum biopsy where your doctor removes a portion of the abnormal tissue to examine.
After it is removed, a pathologist determines if there are any cancerous cells present in the sample. The pathologist can also determine the origin of the cells to see if they’ve spread to your gums from another location in the body.
Excisional Biopsy
An excisional biopsy involves the removal of the entire growth or lesion from your gums or mouth. This type of biopsy is typically used on lesions that are small and easily accessible. Along with the removal of the growth, your doctor will also take a small amount of healthy tissue.
The goal of every biopsy performed is to test suspicious tissue on the gums.
A gum biopsy can also be performed alongside other tests such as imaging tests like x-rays, CT Scans, and MRI scans.
Your doctor will use the information from a gum biopsy to diagnose any issues as fast and as early as possible. The earlier any disease can be diagnosed can mean less invasive treatment and a higher rate of treatment success.
Scheduling an Oral Biopsy
It’s important to talk to your doctor about the process of having an examination and biopsy performed to discover the root causes of suspicious conditions. The earlier any conditions are found, the higher the rate of success for treatment can be.
Make sure to discuss any problems you may have with your doctor at your next appointment, and they’ll determine if any oral biopsy should be performed.