Localized periodontitis as a long-term effect of oral piercing: a case report

Recent years have seen a dramatic increase in the number of published articles on short-term complications of oral piercing, possibly reflecting an increase in the popularity of this practice. Long-term effects of oral piercing, however, have had minimal documentation. This case report of a 28-year-old woman with piercing of the tongue and lower lip demonstrated localized severe periodontitis as a destructive long-term outcome related to oral piercing. The patient reported that she had worn 2 tongue rings and a mandibular labrette (lip piercing) in the form of a bar for 12 years. Plaque and calculus accumulation, severe inflammation, tooth mobility, severe horizontal radiographic bone loss, and deep pocketing were observed in teeth affected by the jewelry.