title: Dental and oral complications of lip and tongue piercings.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontology, Ghent University, Ghent University Hospital, Dental School, De Pintelaan 185, B-9000 Gent, Belgium. roeland.demoor@ugent.be
authors.forename: R J G
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: De Moor
authors.forename: A M J C
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: De Witte
authors.forename: K I M
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Delmé
authors.forename: M A A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: De Bruyne
authors.forename: G M G
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Hommez
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Goyvaerts
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D046288:Body Piercing / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005889:Gingival Recession / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008046:Lip / Q000293:injuries; D008297:Male; D014059:Tongue / Q000293:injuries; D014082:Tooth Fractures / Q000209:etiology*