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Orofacial piercings: perceptions of dental practitioners and piercing parlours.

Chadwick BL, Groves G, Dransfield K

Department of Dental Health & Biological Sciences, Dental School, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK. chadwickb@cardiff.ac.uk

OBJECTIVES: To identify the advice given by piercing parlours prior to orofacial piercing and to determine how many dental practitioners see complications from orofacial piercings. METHOD: Administered questionnaire to 19 piercing parlours and postal questionnaire to 400 dental practitioners in south-east Wales. RESULTS: Ninety-nine per cent of 227 dental practitioners in south-east Wales had treated patients with orofacial piercings, over three-quarters had seen a patient for a complication caused by the piercing, and over half (N=120) had treated a patient for a complication of piercing. Tongue (N=225) and lip (N=209) piercings were most frequently seen and the most commonly occurring complication was fractured or cracked teeth (N=176). Almost all practitioners wanted more information on orofacial piercing and its sequelae. All 19 piercing parlours in south-east Wales warned clients about pain following piercing and 18 mentioned swelling; only four discussed possible damage to teeth and none discussed the risk of airway obstruction. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the concerns of dental and medical professionals orofacial piercing remains popular and the complications it causes are frequently seen by dental practitioners. There is a need for literature to assist both dental practitioners and piercers in advising and safeguarding patients.

Published 11 July 2005 in Prim Dent Care, 12(3): 83-8.
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