Oral Tattoos: ′Beauty Lies in the Eyes of the Beholder′

Abstract

Background: Body piercing is a cultural practice or tradition in various civilizations dating back to antiquity. In recent years, body piercing has become increasingly fashionable for purely esthetic reasons and the practice cuts across all sectors of society. The emergence of oral tattoos especially among young adults is of concern to dental and medical professionals because of the risks and complications for oral, dental and general health. Intraoral piercings involve the tongue, while perioral piercings involve the lips, the cheeks and to a lesser extent the uvula and the frenum. Education is a primary method to intercept or prevent risky behavior of oral piercing and dental professionals have a major role in providing guidance about perioral /oral modification.

Keywords

• Awareness
• Body Piercing
• Complications.