The surgeon uses devices to allow good access to the areas that are being biopsied. Sometimes, the pressure they put on resecting the tissues in the mouth will cause swelling and numbness. My husband's tongue was numb on one side for more than a couple of days when he had his diagnostic tonsillectomy and random mouth biopsies.

I hope your post-surgical symptoms go away soon!

Ex-spouse MISDIAGNOSED with SCC-HN IVa 12/10. Tonsils out 1/11. 4 teeth out 2/11. TX Erbitux x2, IMRT x2 2/11. 2nd opinion-benign BCC-NOT CANCER 3/11. TX stopped 3/11. New doctors 4/11. ENT agrees with 2nd opinion 5/11. ENT scoped him-all clear 7/11. Ordered MRI anyway. MRI 8/22/11 Result-all clear.