Dental and oral complications of lip and tongue piercings

Piercing of the tongue and perioral regions is an increasingly popular expression of body art, with more patients coming in for a routine check-up with tongue and/or lip piercings. Several complications of oral piercing have been reported, some of which are life-threatening. In the present clinical survey the prevalence of both tongue and lip piercing complications in oral health was assessed in a group of 50 patients. The most common dental problem registered was chipping of the teeth, especially in association with tongue piercing. Gingival recession was seen as a result of lip piercing with studs. Post-procedural complications included oedema, haemorrhage and infection. Therefore, dentists and oral and maxillofacial surgeons should be given more authority to advise patients with oral and facial piercings or those who plan to acquire this type of body art.     

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 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.     

Lip and tongue piercing: experiences and views of general dental practitioners in South lancashire.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: To ascertain the numbers of patients with pierced lips or tongues seen by dentists during routine consultations. The study also examined the provision of advice by dentists, and the nature of piercing-related complications. BASIC PROCEDURE: A postal questionnaire was sent to dentists in two Primary Care Trust areas in South Lancashire. MAIN FINDINGS: Sixty-four of the 106 questionnaires were returned, giving a response rate of 60%. Sixty-two dentists (96.9%) reported that they had seen patients with lip or tongue piercings during the previous 12 months and that they had seen a mean number of 2.8 patients with lip piercing and a mean of 9.0 patients with tongue piercing. A total of 56.5% of the dentists gave advice on oral hygiene and 79.0% on possible damage to the oral structures. Twenty-seven dentists (43.5%) said that their patients had oral health problems as a result of lip or tongue piercing. PRINCIPAL CONCLUSIONS: The dentists who responded to the questionnaire commonly saw lip and tongue piercings. All dentists should therefore be prepared to offer appropriate advice. A public health information leaflet available in all medical and dental practices would help to ensure that patients were better informed about body piercing and its complications.     

Oral piercing: the hole story

Oral and perioral jewelry is increasingly being viewed as an acceptable fashion statement in our society. Accordingly, dental professionals are being presented with questions by their patients as to the risks associated with this form of body piercing. This article reviews recommendations for individuals with, or contemplating, an oral piercing, common locations of piercings, risks associated with the piercing procedure, types of jewelry used, and post-piercing home care instructions. Current trends in the piercing industry will be discussed, and the recommendation made that dental professionals advocate for improved safety standards at body modification studios.     

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: 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%).     

Intra-oral and peri-oral piercing

Oral Piercing is a practice that is gaining acceptance in the western world as a sign of individuality, marginality, decoration, or group membership. In a recent large-scale survey among Israeli young adults, more than half of the study population was not aware of any of the complications of oral piercing. Pain, bleeding, edema, inhalation, dental and gingival trauma, allergic reaction, contact lesions, impaired mastication, deglutition, and speech, are all potential complications of intra-oral and peri-oral piercing. Piercing can induce local as well as distant site infection and inflammation such as Ludwig's angina, endocarditis and cerebellar abscess. Moreover, Piercing is recognized as a potential vector of viral transmitting. Nevertheless, not all piercers have adequate knowledge in infection control techniques. With the increase number of patients with pierced intra and peri-oral sites, dentists should be prepared to address issues, such as potential damage to the teeth and gingival, and risk of oral infection that could arise as a result of Piercing, as well as provide appropriate guidance to patients contemplating body piercing that involve the oral sites. Since common knowledge is poor, patients should be educated regarding the dangers that may follow Piercing of the oral cavity.     

Tongue piercing resulting in hypotensive collapse

Tongue piercing remains popular. A variety of complications have been reported, including life-threatening infection, airway problems and damaged teeth or mucosal surfaces. A patient who collapsed after continuous profuse bleeding following tongue piercing is presented. It is recommended that piercing practitioners be licensed and inspected. A list of written post piercing instructions for customers is included on how to deal with, or who to contact regarding potential complications including haemorrhage.     

Tongue piercing and insertion of metal studs: three cases of dental and oral consequences

"Body art" is a fashion that appears to be gaining popularity worldwide. There are many risks and potentially adverse results associated with tongue piercing. Pain (the procedure is performed without anesthetics), post-placement edema and the risk of prolonged bleeding, if the blood vessels are punctured during the piercing, and fracture of tooth structures, are but a few of the risks. The purpose of the present article is to describe the consequences of three cases of tongue piercing in which metallic barbell-shaped studs were inserted: the consequences include the fracture of tooth structure, caused by the device knocking against the teeth; and inflammation and edema occurred as a result of the piercing of the tongue.     

Health considerations for oral piercing and the policies that influence them

With the increase in popularity of piercings, the health care professional needs to be aware of the complications that can occur due to lack of regulations of the piercing establishments. Due to lack of training of piercing professionals and lack of enforcement of sterilization procedures, infection and life threatening complications can arise. Complications include, but are not limited to, hemorrhage, nerve damage, gingival recession, HIV, tongue swelling, tooth fracture, Bactermia, Ludwigs angina, increase salivary flow, jewelry aspiration, and localized infection. Texas requires an individual to be 18 years of age to receive a piercing. However, Texas does not regulate the piercing establishment or the artist providing the services. Oral health care providers should be aware of the lacking regulations of piercing studios so they can be more vigilant of oral complications that may occur.     

Tongue piercing: impact of time and barbell stem length on lingual gingival recession and tooth chipping

BACKGROUND: The increasing popularity of tongue piercing has prompted several case reports documenting oral complications of this practice. However, there are no studies assessing potentially significant parameters. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of time (years of wear) and tongue barbell size (stem length) on gingival recession and tooth chipping. METHODS: Fifty-two adults (mean age 22) with tongue piercings were examined for gingival recession on the lingual aspect of the 12 anterior teeth and for tooth chipping anywhere in the mouth. Subjects were grouped according to years of wear (0 to 2, 2 to 4, and 4+ years) and barbell stem length (long > or =1.59 cm, or short <1.59 cm). Data analysis was based on binomial test and non-parametric tests. RESULTS: No subject with a tongue piercing <2 years (group 0-2) exhibited lingual recession or tooth chipping. Lingual recession was found on mandibular central incisors in 50% of subjects wearing long barbells for 2 or more years. Tooth chipping was found on molars and premolars in 47% of subjects with a tongue piercing for 4+ years. CONCLUSIONS: Tongue piercing is associated with lingual recession of mandibular anterior teeth and chipping of posterior teeth. Long-term use of a tongue barbell increases the prevalence of these complications. Barbell stem length appears to differentially affect prevalence of recession and chipping. Since the overwhelming majority of subjects with tongue piercings are young adults, cessation efforts are needed to target this population.     

Orofacial piercings: perceptions of dental practitioners and piercing parlours.

OBJECTIVES: To identify the advice given by piercing parlours prior to orofacial piercing and to determine how many dental practitioners see complications from orofacial piercings. METHOD: Administered questionnaire to 19 piercing parlours and postal questionnaire to 400 dental practitioners in south-east Wales. RESULTS: Ninety-nine per cent of 227 dental practitioners in south-east Wales had treated patients with orofacial piercings, over three-quarters had seen a patient for a complication caused by the piercing, and over half (N=120) had treated a patient for a complication of piercing. Tongue (N=225) and lip (N=209) piercings were most frequently seen and the most commonly occurring complication was fractured or cracked teeth (N=176). Almost all practitioners wanted more information on orofacial piercing and its sequelae. All 19 piercing parlours in south-east Wales warned clients about pain following piercing and 18 mentioned swelling; only four discussed possible damage to teeth and none discussed the risk of airway obstruction. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the concerns of dental and medical professionals orofacial piercing remains popular and the complications it causes are frequently seen by dental practitioners. There is a need for literature to assist both dental practitioners and piercers in advising and safeguarding patients.     

Alveolar bone loss and gingival recession due to lip and tongue piercing

Oral piercing is a practice that has gained acceptance as a sign of individuality, marginality, decoration or group membership. In spite of its banal appearance, as seen in various scientific studies, piercing is not without risks. Complications include infection, bleeding and local trauma, which are frequent enough to raise questions about the safety and dangers of piercing. The case presented here revealed marked gingival recession accompanied by substantial bone loss caused by piercing the lower lip and tongue. Dental practitioners should be aware of the increasing number of patients with pierced intraoral and perioral sites and be prepared to provide appropriate guidance to patients who contemplate body piercing that involves oral sites.     

A complication of lingual piercing: A case report

Piercing is popular among young people, who view this practice as a sign of marginality, beauty, or group identity. The complications of lingual piercing include infection, pain, bleeding, edema, inhalation, dental trauma, contact lesions, and oral interferences. The objective of this case report is to present a case of lingual piercing in which the piercing had become partially embedded in the interior of the tongue.     

Tongue piercing: case report of a local complication

Historically, wearing adornments on pierced body parts has been associated with many cultures as manifestations of religious or cultural identities. Currently, its use has a broad acceptance among young people. The most common sites for piercings are the tongue and lower lip in the oral cavity. Several complications may be associated with this practice with the most frequently observed being halitosis, periodontitis, tooth fracture, glossitis, and the formation of abscesses. This paper is a case report of a patient who had a complication from a piercing on the tongue located under the overlying mucosa. It also suggests a local habit was a possible initiator of this complication.     

Gingival recession due to trauma caused by a lower lip stud

Body piercing seems to be increasing in popularity, with more patients attending for their routine check-up having had a tongue or lip stud placed. Many complications have been documented, some of them, particularly involving tongue piercing, can be life threatening. There appears to be fewer problems associated with lip piercing; however this case study illustrates the damage that a lip stud can cause to previously healthy gingival tissue.     

Oral and perioral piercings in Tshwane

Oral and perioral piercings have recently become very popular and many patients present at dental clinics and practices with jewellery inserted into the oral and perioral tissues. It is imperative that oral health care professionals become familiar with this practice, become aware of its sequelae, and are able to provide oral health education regarding oral hygiene and care of the piercing. The present study investigated the sites of oral piercings, complications associated with piercings, plaque control procedures practised by piercees, and the attitude and behaviour of piercers towards infection control and prevention of complications after a piercing. A convenience sample was used and 126 piercees and 10 piercers completed a self-administered questionnaire. Of the 126 participants (107 females and 19 males), 88.10% had a tongue piercing, 19.84% had a lip piercing and 7.94% had both. The most common immediate post-procedure sequelae were pain (69.05%), swelling (52.38%) and difficulty eating, speaking and swallowing (70.63%). Long-term complications were reported by 17.56% of the sample, and included chipping of teeth, gingival recession, lesions on the tongue and palate, painful gums, and sensitivity of teeth. Oral health professionals need to be aware of the risk of damage to soft and hard tissue, and their role in informing patients about the potential risks, if consulted before a piercing.     

Dental and periodontal complications of lip and tongue piercing: prevalence and influencing factors

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of lip and tongue piercing complications and explore the effect of ornament time wear period, habits, ornament morphology and periodontal biotype on the development of complications. Methods: One hundred and ten subjects with 110 lip and 51 tongue piercings were assessed for abnormal toothwear and/or tooth chipping/cracking (dental defects), gingival recession, clinical attachment loss and probing depth of teeth adjacent to the pierced site. Piercing habits (biting, rolling, stroking, sucking) were recorded. Results: Wear time and habits significantly affected the prevalence of dental defects and gingival recession. Pierced site significantly affected dental defects prevalence, with greater prevalence for tongue than lip piercing. Wear time significantly affected attachment loss and probing depth. Attachment loss and probing depth did not significantly differ between tongue and lip piercings. Gingival recession was significantly associated with ornament height closure and stem length of tongue ornaments. Periodontal biotype was not significantly associated with gingival recession, attachment loss and probing depth. Conclusions: Dental defects prevalence is greater for tongue than lip piercing. Gingival recession is similar for tongue and lip piercing. Longer wear time of tongue and lip piercing is associated with greater prevalence of dental defects and gingival recession, as well as greater attachment loss and probing depth of teeth adjacent to pierced sites. Ornament morphology affects gingival recession prevalence.