Pierced ears, then noses, then eyelids. For most of us, it seemed there were no more places to pierce. Today, piercing is becoming a more prevalent way for individuals to express themselves, and there are more locations than one can imagine to put them. Oral piercings, which involve the tongue (the most common site), lips, and cheeks are the newest venue for piercings. But before you go and lacerate your lip, here are the facts.

Patients usually undergo piercing procedures without anesthetic by someone who has little or no medical training. In tongue piercing, a barbell-shaped piece of jewelry is placed to mark the thickness of the tongue. A needle punctures the tongue, and a temporary device is placed through the new hole while it heals. There is usually swelling right after a piercing. Healing usually takes four to six weeks.

In lip or cheek piercing, jewelry position is determined by where the recipient thinks it will look the best and where the post end will end up inside the mouth. Once the position is determined, a cork is placed inside the mouth to support the tissue as it is pierced with a needle. The needle is inserted through the tissue and into the cork backing. The needle is then replaced with a stud and the backing is screwed into place. Healing time can range from several weeks to several months.

Common symptoms following piercing include pain, swelling, infection, and increased salivary flow. Complications that can occur are numerous, but since piercing is not done in a doctor’s or dentist’s office, not much data is available. What can happen down the road after tongue or mouth piercing is damage to the teeth, problems with speaking and eating, prolonged bleeding, and constant and continual infections.

You see, unlike ear piercing, a pierce inside the mouth can never heal entirely. It is always susceptible to reopening and more bleeding. Not only that, but if the jewelry ever comes loose (like during a meal), if swallowed, can cause damage to the respiratory and digestive organs. Finally, piercing in the mouth can be a risk for disease transmissions, such as hepatitis B, tetanus, and localized tuberculosis.

We haven’t found one doctor, dentist, or orthodontist who is in favor of piercing the nose, mouth, or tongue. It’s a personal choice, but with the problems that can follow, it’s a risk you may not be willing to take. And that’s the piercing truth.

Disclaimer:

The information in this newsletter is only for the purpose of providing you with information regarding your orthodontic care and treatment. It is not intended to offer any medical or dental advice. Please contact your own dentist or orthodontist for treatment, appliances, or instructions that are right for you.