The oral biopsy: indications, techniques and special considerations.

Introduction Accurate diagnosis and treatment of oral disease is an essential component of the patient’s comprehensive dental care and the foundation of high-quality dentistry. Inaccurate diagnosis or failure to diagnose oral disease may have profound implications for both the patient and the clinician. A wide array of procedures and techniques is available to assist in the diagnosis of oral disease. Every patient should receive a thorough head and neck examination and appropriate dental radiographs. The clinical and radiographic examinations may provide sufficient information for the diagnosis of certain entities. However, many diseases of the mucosa, other soft tissue and bone require additional information to make a precise diagnosis. This information in many instances may be provided by biopsy and submission of tissue for histopathologic examination. The purpose of this paper is to outline the indications for oral biopsy and other allied techniques and the procedures that will help ensure accurate diagnosis.