- (206) 207-1525
- (206) 207-1625
- info@seattlejawsurgery.com
- 600 BROADWAY SUITE 460 SEATTLE, WA 98122
- Monday - friday 7:30am - 4pm
It can be a scary thing hearing from your dentist or doctor that you need a biopsy. If you or your dentist notice changes to the soft tissue of your mouth or something abnormal on x-ray, call us for an evaluation today. There are several pathologic processes that can be associated with the soft tissue, teeth, and bones of the mouth. Thankfully, many of these processes are benign (noncancerous). We offer same day biopsy appointments where we look at the area, discuss the likely possibilities and either remove or sample the area. The results of your biopsy take 5-10 days and will guide further treatment.
Depending on the location and size of your lesion, your procedure may be completed with local anesthesia or sedation. There are many factors that contribute to this decision and the type of anesthesia is determined on a case by case basis.
Your surgery may involve complete removal of your lesion or taking a small sample of the lesion to send to a pathologist for a diagnosis. After a diagnosis is made, a final treatment plan is formulated.
The treatment for pathology varies greatly based on diagnosis and so does the recovery process. You will be given post-operative instructions on the day of your appointment and a general idea of what to expect can be determined at your consultation.
For cancer, we will refer you to one of our colleagues in Head and Neck Surgery. For noncancerous lesions, we have many possible treatments available. These can range from decompression, removal, curretage, injection, medication, and ablation. Reconstruction options exist as well, but the first step is diagnosis.