The influence of piercing in oral health

Oral piercings have become a more prevalent form of body art and

self-expression in today’s society. People look on it as a fashion of

modern times without thinking of consequences it brings with it.

Many body piercers do not have any formal education in sterilisation.

They don’t use gloves, sterile instruments and autoclaved jewellery.

Therfore the risk of infection is huge (HIV,Hepatits B,C,D,G,Herpes

Simplex,Epstein-Barr virus…)

The most common placies with piercings are tongue and lower lip.

Complication of tongue pircings are loss of tooth substance like craks

and fracturs in the posterior region and the tooth abrasion in the

anterior region. Playing with the tounge piercing can result a space

between the anterior teeth (the incisors) too-diastema. Sometimes the

piercing can injured the muscle or blood vessel then tongue can swell

or you can get heammatoma or continued bleeding. Swelling of the

tongue can result masticatory difficultty and interference of speach.

Lip piercing generally causes friction on the marginal gum of the tooth

and gingival recession. The ball puches against the gum and teeth

causing a slight pressure or rubbing. This pressure or rubbing is

sufficient to wear away the thin layer of gum tissue covering the roots.

It involves the lower anterior teeth.

Maybe is time to realize that we wouldn’t be different from others if

we do piercings, the diversity is in the expression of our personality.