title: Oral piercing complications among teenage students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the use of oral piercings and their possible associated complications among students aged 14 to 18 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 927 students from private and state schools were invited to participate in this study. The participants were subjected to clinical examination, and a questionnaire was provided for collecting the following data: gender, piercing location, oral complications or alterations, and cleaning frequency.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the students who were analysed, 33 had oral piercings (3.6%); 69.70% were from state schools and 30.30% were from private schools. There was a slight predominance of males (54.55%) compared with females (45.45%). The tongue was the most common location for piercing (66.6%). The complications and alterations associated with the use of piercing were observed in 74.3% of the cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the population that was studied, oral piercing was observed in a small percentage of teenage students (3.6%) and there were local complications associated with its use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Dentistry, São José dos Campos Dental School, São Paulo State University, São José dos Campos, São Paulo, Brazil. leilyfiroozmand@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Leily Macedo
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Firoozmand
authors.forename: Daniele Riêra
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Paschotto
authors.forename: Janete Dias
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Almeida
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D046288:Body Piercing / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001938:Brazil; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008046:Lip; D008297:Male; D009055:Mouth; D012737:Sex Factors; D013334:Students; D014059:Tongue; D014060:Tongue Diseases / Q000209:etiology