Oral piercing: Risks and complications [Rischi e complicanze dei piercing orali]

INTRODUCTION. Piercing is a form of art for decorating one's body with jewels or metal objects. Oral and peri-oral piercing have reached a wide diffusion among youngsters. Piercing may have social, ritual or esthetic reasons. AIM OF WORK. The aim of this work was to analyze origin of piercing together with its historical, ethnological and cultural meanings. The Authors described the different piercing sites, with particular reference to oral and perioral tissues. Associated risks and most frequent complications of this practice are also carefully analyzed. MATERIALS AND METHODS. The sample was composed by all people having a piercing (44 subjects aged between 15 and 29 yrs) who accessed the department of dentistry of the University of Siena between June 2005 and June 2006. Medical and dental history was taken and a full examination was performed for any subject. RESULTS. In 96% of the sample oral and perioral piercing caused at least one complication soon after its application or after a longer time. Most frequent complications were: mucosal atrophy, functional impairment while chewing or speaking, gingival recessions, dental hard tissue wear, enamel chipping or cracking, dentinal hypersensitivity, excessive salivation. CONCLUSIONS. The complications observed are the same reported in the literature. The Authors observed a relationship between their frequency and permanence of piercing in the mouth. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Besides the complications described oral piercing requires caution in case of anesthesia, especially during the inferior alveolar nerve block, and during intraoral x-ray examination.