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16775 Yonge Street Suite 400 Newmarket, ON L3Y 8J4(905) 830-1230

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Oral Cancer Exams and Biopsies

Online Dental Education Library

Our team of dental specialists and staff strive to improve the overall health of our patients by focusing on preventing, diagnosing and treating conditions associated with your teeth and gums. Please use our dental library to learn more about dental problems and treatments available. If you have questions or need to schedule an appointment, contact us.

Oral Cancer Exams and Biopsies

Every visit to our office includes an oral cancer screening exam. However, you are the most important person in an early diagnosis. You should look for any sores or lesions in your mouth that do not heal within two weeks. If you notice these, contact us for an appointment as soon as possible.

Symptoms to Watch For:

  • A lump or thickening in the cheek
  • A white or red patch on the gums, tongue, tonsils, or lining of the mouth
  • A sore throat or a feeling that something is caught in the throat
  • Difficulty chewing or swallowing
  • Difficulty moving the jaw or tongue
  • Numbness of the tongue or other area of the mouth
  • Swelling of the jaw that causes dentures to fit poorly or become uncomfortable

These symptoms may be caused by other, less serious problems, but they also indicate the possible presence of oral cancer. After the physical examination of your mouth, if we find any areas that are suspicious, we may recommend a biopsy. In this procedure, we simply take a small portion of the suspicious tissue and send it to an oral pathologist for examination under a microscope.

Types of Biopsies

Incisional

The most traditional type of biopsy is incisional. In an incisional biopsy, we remove part of or the entire lesion, depending upon its size and extent. The sample of tissue is then sent to a pathologist who examines the tissue under a microscope to check for abnormal or malignant cells.

Fine Needle Biopsy

When dealing with an area of significant mass, such as an enlarged lymph node, fine needle aspiration cytology (fine needle biopsy or FNB) is reliable and relatively inexpensive. A small needle attached to a syringe is inserted into the questionable mass, and cells are aspirated, or pulled out into the syringe.

Punch Biopsy

In this case, a very small circular blade is pressed down into the suspicious area to cut a round border, allowing us to remove a perfect plug of cells from the sampled area. The area where the plug was removed is small, will not bleed much, and heals normally without the need for stitches.

OralCDx

A new way to test for oral cancer is a system called OralCDx. Using a special, hand-held brush, we take a small sample of tissue from the suspicious lesion. The sample is put on a slide and sent to the CDx Laboratories. At the lab, computers use advanced robotics and scanning and imaging techniques to accurately examine the thousands of cells on the sample. The computer is able to look at every cell, compare them to libraries of normal and abnormal cells, and determine which cells are potentially problematic. A summary report is returned to us for our files or for further discussion with you. If the OralCDx test is positive or atypical, we will then confirm it with a standard incisional biopsy. If the OralCDx test turns out to be negative, but the lesion persists, will will schedule a follow-up evaluation.


Patient Education

Patient Education Menu
  • Dental Services
    • Cleanings and Prevention
      • Bruxism and Mouthguards
      • Fluoride Treatments
      • Sealants
    • Cosmetic Dentistry
      • Bonding
      • Bridges
      • Crowns
      • Dentures
      • Fillings
      • Implants
        • Single Tooth
        • Multiple Teeth
        • All Teeth
      • Inlays and Onlays
      • Lumineers
        • Lumineers FAQ
        • Before and After
        • Perfect Smile
        • Lumismile
      • Teeth Whitening
      • Veneers
    • Gum and Bone
      • Bone Grafting
      • Cleanings and Prevention
      • Crown Lengthening
      • Frenectomy
      • Gum Tissue Graft
      • Perio Plastic Surgery
      • Ridge Augmentation
      • Scaling and Root Planing
      • Sinus Lift
    • Oral Surgery
      • Fractured Teeth
      • MDI Mini Dental Implants
      • Oral Cancer Exams and Biopsies
      • Pericoronitis
      • Wisdom Teeth
    • Orthodontics
      • ClearCorrect
      • Common Orthodontic Treatment
      • Craniofacial Orthodontics
      • Invisalign
      • Living with Braces
      • Myths and Fact About Orthodontics
      • Orthodontic FAQ
      • Orthodontic Glossary
      • Orthodontic Treatment for Children
      • Post Op Care of Extractions
      • Retainers
      • Six Month Smiles
        • Six Month Smiles FAQ
      • Space Maintainers
      • Surgical Orthodontics
      • Treatment for Adults
      • Treatment for Children
      • Two-Phase Orthodontic Treatment
      • Types of Appliances
      • Types of Braces
    • Pedodontics
      • Pulpotomy
      • Sealants
    • Root Canal
      • Knocked Out Tooth
      • Root Canal FAQ
      • Root Canal Surgery
      • Traumatic Injuries
    • Sedation Dentistry
    • TMJ
  • Patient Information
    • Dental Glossary
    • Development of the Teeth
    • FAQ
    • Fun Links for Kids
    • Patient Education
      • Acid Experiment
      • ANUG Trench Mouth
      • Bad Breath
      • Bruxism Tooth Grinding
      • Chemo and Your Mouth
      • Conditions of the Tongue
      • Dental X Rays
      • Denture Care
      • Dry Mouth
      • Fluoride Experiment
      • How to Brush
      • How to Floss
      • How to Read X Rays
      • Oncology Guide
      • Smokeless Tobacco
      • Tooth Anatomy
      • Tooth Sensitivity
      • Toothpaste Ingredients
    • Post Op Instructions
      • Crowns and Bridges Post Op
      • Dentures Post Op
      • Extractions Post Op
      • Fillings Post Op
      • Gum Surgery Post Op
      • Porcelain Veneers Post Op
      • Root Canal Post Op
      • Scaling and Root Planing Post Op
    • Teeth Trivia
    • Tips for Parents
    • Useful Dental Links
  • Smile Gallery
    • Bonding Gallery
    • Crowns Gallery
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Our Location

16775 Yonge Street Suite 400
Newmarket, ON L3Y 8J4
(905) 830-1230

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Office Hours
Monday:9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday:8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday:8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday:8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday:8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday:8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Sunday:Closed
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