FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Chris Martin, [email protected]
Jann Ingmire, [email protected]
312/440-2806
Dentists Warned To Look Out for Oral Piercing
CHICAGO - Body piercing is becoming more popular these days, and as
people run out of body parts to impale, many are turning to the mouth,
lips and tongue as suitable places for jewelry.
However, according to a case study published in the July issue of the
Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA), dentists need to be
aware of this growing trend and the risks to patients that oral piercing
carries.
Professors at the West Virginia University School of Dentistry report
on a 20-year old male who came to the clinic with wisdom tooth pain and
swelling of the left jaw associated with multiple site piercings.
Sheila Price, associate professor, School of Dentistry, Department of
Diagnostic Services, WVU, reported that this reaction is common among
people who have had oral piercings.
"Common symptoms after piercing include pain, swelling, infection,
increased salivary flow and gingival (gum) injury," she reports. Oral
piercing often involves the lips, cheeks, tongue, uvula or any
combination of these sites, with the tongue being the most commonly
pierced intraoral site reported.
"The most profound aspect of the intraoral piercing procedure is that
anesthetic is not used," Dr. Price said. In most cases the person
conducting the piercing will clamp the area while the needle is inserted
into the tissue.
The case study also indicates that after piercing is completed, oral
jewelry in the form of studs, hoops or barbell-shaped devices are used.
However, her report points out the severe risks that are associated
with oral piercing and advises dentists to be aware of these risks when
their patients with oral piercings come in for treatment. The risks
reported include: airway obstruction after swallowing jewelry;
prolonged bleeding; chipped or cracked teeth after biting one of the
pieces of jewelry; scar tissue formation; speech impediment and jewelry
that blocks the x-ray.
"Piercing oral structures presents a high risk of infection because of
the vast amounts of bacteria in the mouth," Dr. Price writes.
###
RSS