What is a gum biopsy?
A gum biopsy is a medical procedure in which a doctor removes a sample of tissue from your gums. The sample is then sent to a laboratory for testing. Gingiva is another word for gums, so a gum biopsy is also called a gingival biopsy. The gingival tissue is the tissue that immediately surrounds and supports your teeth.
Doctors use a gum biopsy to diagnose causes of abnormal gum tissue. These causes can include oral cancer and noncancerous growths or lesions.
Types of gum biopsies
There are several different types of gum biopsies.
Incisional biopsy
An incisional gum biopsy is the most common method of gum biopsy. Your doctor will remove a portion of suspicious tissue and examine it under a microscope.
A pathologist can determine if there are cancerous cells in the removed gum tissue. They can also verify the origin of the cells, or if they’ve spread to the gum from somewhere else in your body.
Excisional biopsy
During an excisional gum biopsy, your doctor may remove an entire growth or lesion.
This type of biopsy is normally used to take out a small lesion that’s easy to reach. Your doctor will remove the growth along with some of the nearby healthy tissue.