How Long Does Oral Biopsy Take to Heal?
You never can tell if a lesion is cancerous or not. A lesion is an abnormal cell growth that looks like a flat patch in your mouth. The lesion may contain pus, which can be painful. Usually, hormonal changes, stress, food allergies, and spicy foods may cause lesions. However, in some cases, the cause is unknown.
The dentists at 650 Heights recommend an oral biopsy for patients with persisting lesions, especially when the cause is unknown and they interfere with chewing, swallowing, or speaking. In addition, an oral biopsy is necessary for diagnosing oral tissue and developing a suitable treatment plan.
Although an oral biopsy near you takes roughly 15 to 20 minutes to carry out, it involves cutting your oral tissue. Therefore, you may be curious to know how long it takes to heal.
Fortunately, this article discusses the oral biopsy procedure, the healing period, and aftercare tips. So kindly read on to find out.
What Is an Oral Biopsy?
An oral biopsy Houston, TX, is a procedure where your dentist removes a small piece of tissue from your oral cavity for further studies under a microscope. An oral biopsy aims to diagnose a problem and develop an appropriate treatment plan.
Why Do Dentists Perform Oral Biopsies?
Reasons, why dentists carry out biopsies include determining the cause of persisting inflammatory changes in the oral cavity and identifying if an oral lesion has malignancy tendencies. Furthermore, your dentist may carry out a biopsy of a lesion that is affecting your mouth’s proper function.
How Does a Biopsy Happen?
Before getting a biopsy, you must discuss your medical and dental history with your dentist 77007.
A dentist near you will administer a local anesthetic during the procedure, numbing you to the pain. After the anesthesia kicks in, the dentist Houston, TX will extract soft tissues surrounding the lesion. Then, the dentist places the lesion in a sterile specimen jar.
Because the biopsy leaves a large hole, your dentist will apply manual pressure to the surgical site, reducing bleeding. Afterward, the dentist will stitch the small hole. Although there may be slight bleeding from the surgical site for approximately 24 hours, you can apply sterile gauze to the site every 20 to 30 minutes. However, it is essential to note that keeping the gauze in your mouth overnight is not ideal.
How Long Does It Take an Oral Biopsy to Heal?
Healing after an oral biopsy near you is gradual. After the procedure, you may feel uncomfortable for the first two days and experience some swelling. However, by the third day, you should feel more comfortable and begin a substantial diet.
However, although color changes around the biopsy site are normal, it is best to contact your dentist immediately if you don’t see continued improvement. Even if you notice improvements, you need to visit your emergency dentist Houston Heights two weeks post-surgery for a follow-up
Aftercare Tips
The effects of an oral biopsy Houston, TX, are usually minimal. However, the aftercare tips discussed in this section can help speed up your recovery and reduce the risk of complications.
First, on the day of your surgery, you may experience slight bleeding. You can bite down on the surgical site using gauze to suppress the bleeding. Also, avoid disturbing the surgical area by rinsing your mouth vigorously or probing it with an object – this may lead to a dry socket
Because you will experience swelling within the first two days, apply an ice pack wrapped in a towel to the cheek for 20 minutes at a time. Also, take your prescribed medications to relieve you of pain. Furthermore, avoid hot and spicy foods.
Additionally, it is best to rinse your mouth with a salt solution at least twice a day and continue regular oral hygiene. However, take care not to brush vigorously.
Conclusion
A lesion may make chewing, swallowing, and speaking difficult. Therefore, you need to visit your dentist for an oral biopsy. An oral biopsy helps a dentist near me diagnose the cause of your lesion and develop an appropriate treatment plan