Do oral piercings cause problems in the mouth?

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Periodontology
• Dental Public Health

Background:

• Oral piercings are increasingly popular, particularly among adolescents and young adults.
• Potential oral health complications associated with oral piercings are a growing concern.
• Existing evidence on the association between oral piercings and oral complications requires synthesis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and meta-analyze the current evidence on the association between oral piercings and oral complications.
• To quantify the prevalence of specific oral health issues in individuals with oral piercings.
• To determine the risk of oral complications in relation to the presence of oral piercings.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases up to January 2022.
• Eligibility criteria were applied by two independent reviewers, with a third reviewer consulted for consensus.
• Meta-analysis was performed to calculate event rates and odds ratios for outcomes like gingival recession and dental fractures.

Main Results:

• 54 studies involving 27,963 piercings were included, covering tongue, lip, and other oral sites.
• Prevalence rates included 34% for dental fracture, 34% for tooth wear, and 33% for gingival recession.
• A significant association was found between oral piercings and increased risk of gingival recession (7-fold) and dental fracture (3-fold).

Conclusions:

• Oral piercings are associated with a notable increased risk of developing gingival recession and dental fractures.
• The findings underscore the importance of patient counseling regarding the potential oral health consequences of oral piercings.
• Further research may be needed to address the low certainty of evidence for some outcomes.