What Happens During and After a Tongue Biopsy?
As noted, you'll receive the appropriate anesthesia for your type of tongue biopsy. The best part: Expect the entire procedure to last 15-30 minutes.
Local anesthesia or another numbing agent: Because the tongue is a very sensitive organ, there's a possibility you might feel the needle prick even with the anesthetic. (Please don't worry about it, though.) Post-procedure, until the numbness wears off, avoid eating and talking, so you don't bite your tongue.
General Anesthesia: You'll be "put under" for pain-free slumber. If undergoing a surgical biopsy, you might need sutures – such as dissolvable stitches – to close the incision. These usually dissolve in 10-14 days.
Before you leave your oral surgeon's office, schedule a follow-up visit for a biopsy area check-up a week or two after the procedure. You can also discuss the biopsy results at that time.
Once the anesthesia wears off, expect little to no pain. However, if you need pain relief, usually over-the-counter medicine does the trick.
Post-tongue biopsy recovery might also include slight swelling or discomfort in the biopsy area, but it should subside within a few days. Bleeding should be minimal, especially if sutured. But if the area continues to bleed or ooze, applying pressure with a washcloth, gauze, or cotton swab for 10 minutes should stop the bleeding.
You'll be able to resume eating, brushing, and flossing normally on the same day as the procedure. Just take care not to bite or irritate the area. Most likely, you'll be able to return to work or school the next day.
While you're out living life, a pathologist will examine your tissue sample in a lab.
Identifying a tongue abnormality on time is just one more reason for routine dental visits. Your dental professionals might be able to notice slight changes on your tongue, as well as recognize more obvious conditions. By referring you for a tongue biopsy early enough, you might be able to rule out dysplasia (benign but premalignant changes on your tongue) or early oral cancer.
No one likes dental or medical surprises, so knowing what to expect pre-op, during the tongue biopsy, and post-op can help put your mind at ease.