Awareness of complications of oral piercing in a group of adolescents and young South African adults.
OBJECTIVE
Intraoral piercing as a body art has been gaining popularity amongst adolescents and young adults; however there is limited data on the awareness to complications associated with it. This study investigated the awareness of complications of oral piercing among a group of adolescents and young South African adults with intraoral piercings.


METHODS
A total of 250 patients with intraoral piercing were asked to complete a questionnaire on the awareness of complications of oral piercing and were then examined by two calibrated dentists to determine oral complications caused by the pierced ornament.


RESULTS
Data revealed that 59.4% of the respondents were not aware of any complications in oral piercing. 24% of the respondents had intraoral piercing in the last 12 months, with a combined total of 17.2% having the procedure performed 5 to 7 years before.


CONCLUSIONS
The general lack of awareness of complications related to oral piercing needs to be addressed by the dental community.
Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, Australia.
Theunis G
TG
Oberholzer
Roy
R
George
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D046288:Body Piercing / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000145:classification; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005882:Gingival Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000293:injuries; D006472:Oral Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D012923:Social Class; D013019:South Africa; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014082:Tooth Fractures / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult