Awareness of dental complications with oral piercings.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate knowledge and awareness of dental complications with oral piercings among adults with oral piercings, a control population with no piercings and body-piercing professionals in South-East Queensland, Australia.

METHODS: Participants recruited from public and private dental clinics and body-piercing professionals from piercing centres in the same region completed questionnaires to assess knowledge and attitudes.

RESULTS: Respondents comprised 54 pierced individuals, 54 controls and 35 body-piercing professionals. Only 13% of the pierced group were informed about oral piercing-related complications, and 14% of body-piercing professionals did not warn their clients about long-term complications. The latter included chipped teeth (26%) and gingival recession (15%). About 76% play with their piercing, developing teeth grinding (15%), jaw clenching (15%) and sleep disturbances (4%). Interestingly, 41% of those with oral piercings advised others against getting piercings.

CONCLUSIONS: There is a lack of awareness about dental-related complications among pierced individuals and body-piercing professionals. A significant proportion of pierced individuals advise others against getting piercings. Body piercers do not consistently advise clients about risks associated with oral piercings. Thus, it is recommended that programmes be developed to improve awareness of oral and dental complications associated with oral piercings.