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Published September 2026

1 of 5The dentist notices a small spot and wants to be sure about it
  1. The dentist notices a small spot and wants to be sure about it
  2. A screening light or a rinse gives a first look
  3. The area is numbed and a tiny sample, or a brush of cells, is taken
  4. The sample goes to a lab, where a specialist looks at it
  5. The answer comes back in days. Most spots turn out to be harmless

Who usually does it

oral surgeon. General dentists do screenings and brush samples; tissue biopsies usually go to an oral surgeon.

One question worth asking

When will the lab result come back, and who calls me with it?

Cell sample by brushing

Jaw and mouth surgeryBasicD7288

D7288. Cells are collected with a small brush, no cutting.

A biopsy removes a small piece of tissue, or collects cells by brushing or scraping, so a lab can look at it. A screening test uses a light or rinse to check for suspicious spots without removing tissue.

A screening uses a light or a rinse to look for spots that deserve a closer look and removes nothing. A brush sample scrapes cells from the surface; a tissue biopsy numbs the area and takes a small piece, sometimes with a stitch or two. The sample goes to a pathology lab, which bills its own work separately. Most plans file this as Basic. What they actually pay varies by plan.

Codes for this

D0431Not usually coveredOral cancer screening testA light or rinse test that highlights suspicious spots; no tissue is removed.per visit · Done sometimesD7285BasicBone or tooth biopsyA piece of hard tissue is removed for the lab.per site · Rarely doneD7286BasicSoft tissue biopsyA piece of gum, cheek or tongue tissue is removed for the lab; the common biopsy.per site · Done sometimesD7287BasicCell sample by scrapingCells are scraped from the surface, no cutting.per site · Rarely doneD7288BasicCell sample by brushingCells are collected with a small brush, no cutting.per site · Done sometimes

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Cell sample by brushing (D7288): what happens, step by step | TruthMolar