Biopsy Procedures

Lenox Hill Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery provides thorough biopsy procedures to diagnose and address various oral health conditions effectively.

What is a Biopsy?

A biopsy is a procedure your oral surgeon performs to examine suspicious tissue for oral health concerns. It involves removing a small sample of tissue from the area in question and sending it to a laboratory for further inspection.

Your oral surgeon recommends a biopsy when they identify abnormal oral tissues or an oral lesion. Oral lesions typically look like white or red spots and are usually benign, but they can sometimes be indicative of a health concern, like oral cancer.

Other medical conditions, like Crohn’s disease and heart disease, can sometimes produce abnormalities in your oral tissues, as well.

There are a few types of biopsies that your oral surgeon can perform, including:

• Incisional biopsy: In an incisional biopsy, your oral surgeon removes a small portion of the suspicious tissue for inspection. These are the most common types of biopsies.
• Excisional biopsy: An excisional biopsy involves removing the entirety of the lesion or suspicious growth and is typically done with smaller lesions that are easy to access.
• Percutaneous biopsy: With a percutaneous biopsy, your oral surgeon removes a tissue sample using a needle, which can be particularly helpful for diagnoses that require a significant amount of tissue.
• Brush biopsy: When you get a brush biopsy, your oral surgeon rubs a small brush against the abnormal tissue to collect a sample. It’s a noninvasive procedure that’s typically performed to get an initial and immediate evaluation.

What to Expect During a Biopsy?

Biopsies are usually outpatient procedures performed in the office. Your oral surgeon numbs your oral tissues with a topical anesthetic, a local anesthetic, or a combination of the two. They might also use a cheek retractor to gain easier access to your suspicious tissue, especially if it’s in the back of your mouth.  After your tissue is biopsied, your provider seals the area and stops any bleeding with either sutures or electrocauterization. You can resume your normal activities immediately after leaving the office, though the biopsied area might be sore for a few days. You should avoid brushing the area for about a week afterward. Your oral surgeon sends your biopsied tissue to a lab and shares your results as soon as possible.

Biopsies are an essential step in diagnosing and treating an array of oral health conditions, including oral cancer, bone infections, and autoimmune disorders. If you need a biopsy, schedule a visit with Scott Goldstein, MS, DDS, and Peter Rosa, DDS, MD, FACS, at Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Associates and Advanced Dental Implants in the New York City neighborhoods of Bayside, Queens, and the Upper East Side, Manhattan. You can book your appointment today by calling either office or requesting an appointment online.