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


METHODS
A postal questionnaire was sent to dentists in two Primary Care Trust areas in South Lancashire.


RESULTS
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.


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.
Whittle
J Gary
JG
Chorley and South Ribble Primary Care Trust, Leyland, Lancashire UK.
Lamden
Kenneth H
KH
D003357:Cosmetic Techniques / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology; D005547:Foreign Bodies; D005792:General Practice, Dental; D005881:Gingiva / Q000293:injuries; D006801:Humans; D008046:Lip / Q000293:injuries*; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000293:injuries; D006472:Oral Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014059:Tongue / Q000293:injuries*; D014082:Tooth Fractures / Q000209:etiology; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology