Profile of oral piercing users and implications resulting from its use

Abstract

Objective: To identify the profile of oral piercing users and the possible implications resulting from its use, as well as explaining to dentists about the possible consequences to their patients as a result of wearing this type of jewelry in the oral region.Methods: Fifty-one oral piercing users were interviewed. They were aged between 18 and 42 year, from different social classes, and resident in the city of Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.Results: Based on the questionnaires analyzed, the majority of users had tongue or lip piercing as a way to express identity, and 45% reported the occurrence of some type of oral and/or general alteration associated with the use of piercings. Conclusion: The majority of alterations are harmful to the piercing user’s health, therefore, professionals in the Dentistry area must be warnedto explain to their patients, who use oral piercings, about the consequences that may occur and the need for special care to ameliorate these problems.

Keywords

• mouth mucosa
• body piercing
• tooth injuries
• mucosa bucal
• piercing corporal
• traumatismos dentários