title: Oral and facial piercings: a case series and review of the literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Piercing is popular among young people, who view this practice as a sign of marginality, beauty, or group identity. This study is performed on healthy individuals with oral and facial piercings.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy oral and facial piercings were evaluated (17 in the tongue, 13 in the lower lip, 18 in the nostril, 7 in the eyebrow, and 15 in the ear). A specifically designed protocol was used to assess possible complications (inflammatory reactions, pain, dental alterations). Nonparametric tests were used for the statistical analysis of the results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The general complications recorded comprised pain (60% of cases), inflammatory reactions (34.3%), bleeding (24%), dental fractures or fissures (20%), and gingival damage (26.7%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tongue piercing is associated with pain, inflammatory reactions, and dental problems.
authors.affiliation: Dental Clinic and Department of Oral Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Murcia, 30100, Espinardo, Murcia, Spain. majornet@ono.com
authors.forename: Pía
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: López-Jornet
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Navarro-Guardiola
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Camacho-Alonso
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vicente-Ortega
authors.forename: Josefa
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yánez-Gascon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D046288:Body Piercing / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D009057:Stomatognathic Diseases / Q000209:etiology*