Oral piercing: complications and side effects

PURPOSE: To review current relative literature on oral piercing regarding its prevalence, complications and possible side effects An increasing number of patients present to their treating dental professionals wearing jewelry inserted into the peri-oral and intra-oral tissues. Since the literature is mainly confined to individual cases or a small series of patients, it is difficult to assess the magnitude of risks that face individuals with oral piercing. METHODS: The current study was based on scientific literature published in English regarding oral piercing. A Medline search, using the PubMed Bibliographic Index to identify clinical articles published between January 1992 and August 2007, found 11 articles on the prevalence of oral piercing, and/or on the prevalence of complications and side effects. RESULTS: Three studies reported the prevalence of oral piercing (ranging from 3.4% to 20.3%). Immediate post-operative complications reported were swelling and/or infections (24%-98%), pain or tenderness (14%-71%), and bleeding or hematoma. Jewelry-related complications mainly consisted of tooth fractures and wear (14%-41%) and gingival recessions (19%-68%).     

Oral piercing and associated complications: two case reports

These two cases, which presented in a three-month period to a Maxillofacial Surgery Department of a District General Hospital, demonstrate problems that can occur following oral piercing.     

Oral piercing in athletes: implications for general dentists

General dentists need to be aware of the growing number of athletes who display various forms of body art. Intraoral piercing and tongue jewelry place athletes at greater risk for serious medical and dental consequences that are confounded when the athlete attempts to compete while wearing a mouthguard with the tongue jewelry in place. All body jewelry should be removed during sporting events. General dentists have a professional responsibility to: become more aware of the extent and implications associated with tongue piercing in athletes to discourage athletes from having the tongue pierced; be prepared to manage postpiercing intraoral and dental complications; provide proper advice for the care and use of a mouthguard in the presence of tongue jewelry; and develop educational strategies that address the medical and dental complications of intraoral piercing.     

Oral piercing: dental considerations and the legal situation in Spain

Body piercing has become increasingly popular in Western countries, especially among young people. However, not everyone is aware of its potential risks, which may develop local and systemic complications shortly after, or long after the piercing procedure. Given that the oral cavity is one of the most frequent sites for piercing placement, the aim of this paper is to familiarise the oral healthcare professional with oral piercing and its possible sequelae in order to educate patients prior to and after piercing practices and address any complications that may arise.     

Oral and perioral piercing: a unique form of self-expression

A comprehensive review of oral and perioral piercing is presented. This contemporary phenomenon has many implications for the piercee and for the oral healthcare professional. Oral and perioral piercing, which have become prevalent recently, both have historical antecedents. The implications of piercing are described in detail including sites at the tongue, lips, cheeks, frenum, and uvula. Complications occurring immediately after, soon after, and long after the piercing are detailed with special emphasis on the possible deleterious effects on hard and soft oral tissues. Suggestions are provided for patient education including a pamphlet for downloading. Appropriate jewelry selection is described and accompanied with a video clip demonstrating removal of jewelry during the dental appointment and a suggested technique for keeping the piercing hole patent while the jewelry is out. Reviewing this information should educate the oral healthcare professional to be prepared for the patient presenting with an oral or perioral piercing.     

Oral and dental complications of intra-oral piercing

Abstract –  The present study assessed the prevalence of oral piercing among young adults and revealed the types and rate of complications following oral piecing, as well as the awareness of the complications. The study included 400 consecutive patients, who randomly arrived at a military dental office. Before dental examination, patients were requested to fill out a questionnaire regarding oral piercing, their awareness of its complications, and the occurrence of complications related to piercing. Intra-oral examination included special attention to piercing-related complications, such as tooth fractures, gingivitis, bleeding, infections, gingival recessions, etc. A total of 389 patients, 210 (54%) males and 179 (46%) females agreed to participate (97.3% response rate), with an average age of 20.08 ± 1.1 years. Of the participants, 79 (20.3%) reported having at least one type of oral piercing; lingual piercing was the most common. Swelling and bleeding after piercing were reported by 41 (51.9%) and 36 (45.7%) participants, respectively. Among the participants, 225 (57.8%) were unaware of the dangers of intra-oral piercing. Clinical examination revealed 15 fractured teeth in 11 (13.9%) participants with piercing. Gingival recessions were observed in 21 (26.6%), mostly in the mandibular incisor area. Dentists should be aware of the increasing number of patients with pierced intra- and peri-oral sites and to provide appropriate guidance to patients who contemplate body piercing involving oral sites.     

Oral piercing and gingival recession: review of the literature and a case report.

A young adult developed severe gingival recessions and radiographic signs of trauma to the periodontium after wearing a tongue barbell and a lip stud. Oral body art (piercing) can be hazardous to the periodontium; nevertheless, patients inclined to such practices do not see them as health hazards and are very reluctant to remove them.     

Oral piercing and oral trauma in a New Zealand sample

Abstract –  This study investigated the periodontal and dental trauma resultant from tongue and lip piercings in a convenience sample of 43 adult dental patients. Patients underwent an intra-oral examination followed by the administration of a questionnaire. Each patient was examined for lingual or buccal recession of the upper and lower incisors as well as the extent of abnormal toothwear or trauma on these teeth. Following bivariate analyses, regression analyses were conducted to test the study hypotheses and derive adjusted estimates for the dependent variables. Of the 43 individuals who participated (93.0% females; mean age 21 years; age range 14–34 years) 76.7% had a tongue piercing, 34.9% had a lip piercing, and 11.6% had both. Only four had had their piercing procedure provided by a doctor or dentist. Postpiercing complications were reported by 34.9%. Most of those with a labial piercing (80.0%) had 1+ labial site with gingival recession (GR), and almost one-third of those with a tongue piercing had at least one lingual site with GR. Age was a significant predictor of the prevalence of lingual recession, with the odds of having lingual recession increasing by 1.17 (95% CI 1.01, 1.35) for every year older than 14. Age was the only significant predictor of the number of lingual sites with recession, but was not a predictor of the prevalence of labial recession or the number of affected sites. There were no significant associations between piercings and abnormal toothwear or trauma. These findings suggest that oral piercings are associated with localized gingival recession, and that the providers of such procedures should ensure that, as part of the informed consent process, prospective patients are informed of the likelihood that their periodontal health may be compromised.     

Oral parafunctions,piercing and signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders in high school students

Objective The use of chewing-gum and piercing has become common among adolescents and might result in increased oral muscle activity and overloading. Aim To investigate the frequency of oral piercing and parafunctions in relation to symptoms of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) among adolescents. Materials and methods One hundred and twenty-four third level high school students, living either in a city or in a small town, enrolled in either science or media programmes, were included. The students completed a questionnaire regarding different parafunctions and symptoms of TMD. A clinical examination of the temporomandibular system and estimation of the tooth wear was performed in 116 students. Results Chewing-gum was used by 86% of the students (25% with a daily use) and 14% had an oral piercing. The science students used more chewing gum than the media students (p?=?0.008), while the media students had more piercings (p?p?=?0.007) and more severe symptoms (p?=?0.003), had more medical consultations and used more analgesics (both p?p?=?0.01) than boys. Girls had more oral piercings and used more chewing gum than boys (both p?p?p?p?p?p?p?p?=?0.004). Conclusions There is an association between use of chewing gum, nail biting, oral piercing, and symptoms of TMD.     

Tongue piercing: a restorative perspective.

The implication of a traumatic injury to a permanent molar tooth as a complication by tongue piercing with ornamental jewelry is reported. An appropriate restorative management of the fractured tooth is described. The dentist's role in prevention and treatment of unfavorable complications is outlined. The rationales for selection of specific treatment modalities, in view of the degree of damage to hard dental tissues, are discussed. The range of hard tissue injuries resulting from tongue jewelry varies from a simple crack propagating into the enamel to a fractured tooth. A variety of factors must be considered before employing the available restorative methods.