Oral Piercing: A Deleterious Vogue

Marked propensity towards "Ornamental oral piercing" has pervaded in youth today. Albeit the role of western culture can not be ignored in proliferating this trend, history reveals that it has been an archaic tradition in our country as a part of religious, cultural, tribal and sexual symbolism. On the other hand it is considered as "truly ostentatious" in developed countries, which has influenced our youth to great extent. Intraoral jewelry or other oral accessories may lead to increased plaque level, gingival inflammation, recession, caries, diminished articulation and metal allergy and it is associated with pathological conditions including pain, infection, scar formation, tooth fractures, localized periodontal disease, speech impediment and nerve damage. Reckoning the fact that there is dearth of adequate literature in context to 'oral piercing' in our country, we perused more than hundred foreign articles including clinical studies, case reports and review articles to consummate knowledge on various aspects of this topic. This article is an wholehearted attempt to make youth cognizant to various aspects of oral piercing, risks and complications associated with it and their prevention and management.