Effect of tongue piercing on periodontal and peri‐implant health: A cross‐sectional case‐control study in adults

• Published in: International journal of dental hygiene 2022-05, Vol.20 (2), p.282-290
• Main Authors: Ibraheem, Wael I., Preethanath, Reghunathan, Devang Divakar, Darshan, Al‐Askar, Mansour, Al‐Kheraif, Abdulaziz A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Alveolar Bone Loss - etiology; Body Piercing - adverse effects; Bone loss; Case-Control Studies; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dental Implants - adverse effects; Follow-Up Studies; Gingival index; Gum disease; Humans; Hygiene; Inflammation; Jaw; Mandible; Oral hygiene; periodontitis; peri‐implant diseases; Plaque index; Statistical analysis; Tongue; tongue piercing; Transplants & implants
• ISSN: 1601-5029; 1601-5037
• DOI: 10.1111/idh.12499

Objectives The authors hypothesize that periodontal and peri‐implant inflammatory parameters are poorer in adult patients with tongue piercing compared with controls. The aim was to assess the influence of tongue piercing on periodontal and peri‐implant health status in adults. Methods Test and control groups comprised of individuals with and without tongue piercing, respectively. A questionnaire was used to collect information about gender, age, duration of tongue piercing and implants in function, jaw location of the implant, reasoning for wearing the tongue ornament, and oral hygiene and ornament cleaning habits. Full‐mouth and peri‐implant plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), clinical attachment loss (CAL), probing depth (PD) and marginal/crestal bone loss (MBL and CBL, respectively) on mesial and distal surfaces of teeth/implants were recorded. The material (plastic or metal) from which, the bar and ball‐ends of the ornament were fabricated was also recorded. A p