CARE INFORMATION FOR BIOPSY SURGERY

YOUR SURGICAL PLAN

After your examination, you and your surgeon have decided to proceed with a surgical procedure. Most often this procedure is performed the same day in our office under local anesthesia. Local anesthesia is the loss of pain sensation over a specific area. Once the local anesthesia has been introduced to the biopsy site a specimen will be obtained.

The biopsy site will be closed with dissolvable sutures, which means that you will not need to return to have your stitches removed.

Test Results

Your surgeon will send your surgical or diagnostic biopsy specimen to an outside laboratory for processing, interpretation, and reporting. You will be contacted with the results of the biopsy when the test results are received. The results usually arrive within seven to ten working days.

Post Operative Instructions

Please read these instructions carefully. Sometimes the after-effects of oral surgery are quite minimal, so not all of these instructions may apply. Common sense will often dictate what you should do. However, when in doubt, follow these guidelines or call our office any time for clarification.

Exercise Care

Do not disturb the surgical area today. DO NOT SMOKE for at least 48 hours, as smoking is very detrimental to healing.

Bleeding or Oozing

Some minor bleeding will be evident in the first 48 hours. Usually direct pressure with a gauze pack for 20 to 30 minutes will easily control this. If bleeding persists or intensifies please call the office. Black and blue discoloration may occur on the outside of the face near the area of the biopsy site. This occurrence is not unusual and will resolve within ten to fourteen days.

Swelling

Often there is some swelling near the biopsy site. This is normal and should resolve within three to four days. When possible, apply ice packs to the area intermittently for the first 24 hours to help reduce swelling.

Pain

Unfortunately most oral surgery is accompanied by some degree of discomfort. In most cases, Tylenol can be used to control any pain you are having or take the medication prescribed by your surgeon.

Diet

Eat any nourishing food that can be taken with comfort. Temperature of the food doesn’t matter, but avoid extremely hot foods. It is sometimes advisable, but not required; to confine the first day’s intake to bland liquids or pureed foods (creamed soups, puddings, yogurt, milk shakes, etc.) Over the next several days you can progress to solid foods at your own pace. It is important not to skip meals. If you take nourishment regularly, you will feel better, gain strength, have less discomfort, and heal faster.

Oral Hygiene

Keeping your mouth clean after surgery is essential. Use one-quarter teaspoon of salt dissolved in an 8-ounce glass of warm water and gently rinse with portions of the solution, taking five minutes to use the entire glassful. Repeat as often as you like, but at least four to five times daily for the next five days. You may brush teeth, but avoid the biopsy site.

It is our desire that your recovery be as smooth and pleasant as possible. Following these instructions will assist you, but if you have questions about your progress, please call the office. For immediate help, you may call during office hours. Should you have a problem after hours, a 24-hour answering service is available to contact a doctor.

The charges for the services you received today will be submitted to your health insurance. Co-payments are due at the time of service. You also will be responsible for any co-insurance and deductibles after the insurance company processes your claim.

You will also receive a bill from the Pathology Laboratory that processed your specimen. We have provided the laboratory with the insurance information that you provided to us. The laboratory will also submit their charges to your insurance company.