In most cases, you’ll need a biopsy because your dentist has noticed a potentially concerning growth or abnormality in your mouth. Issues like strange lumps, discolorations, or patches of irregular tissue can be early signs of oral cancer. We work with referring doctors all over Lebanon and the surrounding areas to provide mouth and lip biopsies.

Like all other types of cancer, there are certain risk factors that may increase your likelihood of developing oral cancer. Oral tobacco use, including smoking and chewing tobacco, heightens your risk of oral cancer. Excessive sun exposure, overuse of alcohol, HPV infection, and poor diet/oral hygiene are also contributing factors.
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In addition, oral cancer is more common in men than in women. It is recommended that you have an oral cancer screening with your dentist at least once per year if you are 40 years of age or older, or if you conform to one or more of the above risk factors.
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Routine oral cancer screenings will help ensure that any areas of concern are recognized. By coming to Tennessee Implant & Oral Surgery for a biopsy, you can confirm whether a growth is benign or cancerous, and get the care you need.

No. We usually conduct biopsies using a local numbing agent and we only remove a minimal amount of tissue. Most patients experience no pain during the procedure. For larger biopsies or areas of tissue, some minor discomfort is common afterward. However, this will usually go away after a day or so and can be treated with over-the-counter pain medication.

Typically, your results will be back within 2-3 days of the procedure, but it may occasionally take up to a week or more to complete the biopsy analysis. During your procedure, we’ll let you know how long you can expect to wait before your biopsy is completed, and when you will get your results.