Oral Cancer Check: What to Expect During and After Your Gum Biopsy

The Oral Cancer Foundation estimates that 58,500 Americans are diagnosed with oral cancer each year, and like all cancers, oral cancer is easiest to manage when caught early. This is why oral cancer screenings are so important. 

During your oral cancer check, our team looks for any suspicious spots and then schedules a biopsy to confirm (or rule out) the presence of cancerous and precancerous changes.

When Dr. Jenny Herman and her team recommend a gum biopsy, it’s natural to feel a bit nervous—especially if it's part of an oral cancer screening. But understanding what to expect can help ease your worries and empower you to take the next step confidently.

Why you might need a gum biopsy

A gum biopsy is a simple procedure that allows Dr. Herman to examine a small piece of tissue under a microscope. It’s often performed when:

• You have a suspicious sore, lump, or lesion that hasn’t healed
• There’s unusual discoloration or thickening of your gum tissue
• Dr. Herman notices abnormal growths during a routine exam
• You have risk factors for oral cancer, like tobacco use or a history of HPV

A biopsy helps determine whether tissue changes are benign (non-cancerous), precancerous, or cancerous, so you can get the right treatment as soon as possible.

What to expect during your gum biopsy

At Baton Rouge Perio, gum biopsies are quick, minimally invasive, and typically done in our office. Here’s what you can expect:

Step 1: Numb the treatment area 

We start by applying a local anesthetic to keep you completely comfortable. You may feel pressure but no pain during the procedure.

Step 2: Remove the tissue sample

Dr. Herman uses specialized tools to gently remove a small piece of gum tissue. This step may look different depending on the type of biopsy. 

The three options we offer include:

1. Excisional biopsy (the entire lesion and some surrounding tissue are removed)
2. Incisional biopsy (part of the lesion is removed and sent to the lab)
3. Brush biopsy (a brush is used to collect cells from the lesion)

Before your procedure, Dr. Herman explains which type of biopsy you need and what to expect from it.

Step 3: Suture the wound closed

For large excisions—particularly excisional biopsies—you may need stitches to close your wound. Our team will explain how to care for the incision site if you require stitches.

Step 4: Send the sample to the lab

The tissue is sent to a pathology lab, where experts carefully examine it for signs of inflammation, infection, or cancerous changes.

What to expect after your gum biopsy 

Healing is usually straightforward. You might experience:

• Mild tenderness or swelling at the biopsy site
• Slight bleeding or soreness for a day or two
• Temporary numbness as the anesthetic wears off

If you had sutures placed during your biopsy, Dr. Herman and her team will share your specific post-biopsy care instructions. Regardless of whether or not you had stitches, be gentle with your gums and avoid vigorously scrubbing the biopsy site when brushing your teeth.

When to expect your biopsy results

Lab results typically come back within 7–10 days. Once they’re ready, we schedule a follow-up to review the findings and discuss your next steps. If the tissue is benign, we may just continue monitoring your oral health. If anything abnormal is found, we’ll create a treatment plan together and guide you every step of the way.

It’s understandable to feel nervous as you wait for your results. It’s important to know that just because you had a biopsy doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re destined to have oral cancer. 

In fact, in a study of more than 5,000 mouth sores, about 1 in 5 were found on the gums, most often in women, especially between the ages of 30 and 50. Most of these gum sores weren’t cancerous. The most common type was a harmless growth called a pyogenic granuloma. When cancer was found, the most common kind was oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Your oral health is too important to ignore

Gum biopsies are the best way to catch problems early before they become more serious. At Baton Rouge Perio, our team combines advanced technology with personalized care to give you peace of mind and the best possible outcomes.

If you've noticed changes in your gums or been advised to get a biopsy, don’t wait. Schedule your appointment today or call our office at 225-769-1444.