Objectives: Oral piercing, typically involving the tongue and/or the lip, has been associated with periodontal complications. Numerous case reports and a few clinical studies have examined the association of tongue piercing with gingival recession. However, there are no such studies on lip piercing. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the prevalence of gingival recession on the buccal aspect of mandibular central incisors in subjects with lower lip piercing and in controls.

Methods: Twenty-nine young adults with lip piercing (mean age: 21.8; 15 females) and 29 without (mean age: 22.3; 15 females) were recruited from the community and examined for gingival recession on the buccal aspect of the mandibular central incisors.

Results: There were no demographic (age, gender distribution) differences between the 2 groups of subjects. Prevalence of recession among subjects with lip piercing (41.4%) was significantly greater than among controls (6.9%) (p=0.0022). The average recession depth was more than double in subjects with piercing compared to controls (p=0.0029). Length of time of wear was the only significantly associated demographic variable (p=0.031).

Conclusions: These results indicate that lip piercing is strongly associated with increased prevalence and severity of gingival recession on the buccal aspect of mandibular central incisor teeth. Increased time of wear is associated with increased prevalence of recession.

Supported by the Sections of Primary Care and Periodontology, College of Dentistry, The Ohio State University.

Back to the Periodontal Research - Diagnosis / Epidemiology Program
Back to the IADR/AADR/CADR 83rd General Session (March 9-12, 2005)

Top Level Search