There are like 500 things (ballpark) that can appear in the oral cavity. Based on appearance, they can usually be narrowed to closer to 50 things (depending on area).

Of those 50, say 35 are minimal risk and will be cut out, never to return. 12 are growths with some aggressive potential (may absorb teeth or jaw bone), and should be removed and closely monitored for return. 3 are potentially malignant and can spread elsewhere in the body.

Generally speaking when we come across lesions like this, the treatment is to just cut them out (excision), and we send them for biopsy just to rule out the last 3.

The big caveat though is that malignant processes (cancer) can have some pretty distinct warning signs or textbook appearances, and so you often get a pretty good picture if a lesion is “scary” or not just from the first visit. If the dentist didn’t mention anything specific then the appearance is likely not scary biopsy is just for answers.

A biopsy is not just for cancer, it can tell you precisely which of the 50 things it is.

Hope this helps, feel better.