Tongue Piercing Research Articles

Tongue piercing . . . The new “rusty nail”?

Background Cephalic tetanus is a rare form of the tetanus caused primarily by wounds or other infectious processes involving the head and neck. This condition frequently progresses to the generalized form of tetanus with the attendant risks and complications. Methods A case report of a young female who developed an unusual form of tetanus after a tongue piercing is presented here. We discuss this disorder as it applies to the contemporary caregiver with a focus on its presentation and recognition. Results A delay in diagnosis of 13 days from presentation occurred. The patient had a slow, uneventful but incomplete recovery course. She never developed significant airway compromise, nor did she demonstrate any evidence of hemodynamic instability but continued to have right facial weakness up to 6 months after discharge. Conclusions A few factors were identified that contributed to the significant delay in diagnosis. The unusual nature of the disease and a lowered index of suspicion on the part of the initial caregivers were probably the major causes. Fortunately, no major adverse sequelae resulted from the delay. However, if this case heralds the onset of a rise in the incidence of tetanus, early recognition and diagnosis would seem essential to avoid much of the morbidity and mortality associated with the disease. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Head Neck 22: 728–732, 2000.

Lack of Effect of Tongue Piercing on an Evidential Breath Alcohol Test

Defendants in several driving under the influence cases have asserted that the presence in the mouth of a metal stud through a hole pierced in the tongue invalidates the breath alcohol test because of the prohibition against foreign substances in the mouth, and because of the potential for the jewelry to retain alcohol and interfere with the breath test. Rates of mouth alcohol elimination were evaluated in two subjects with pierced tongues and in two control subjects. No differences in the mouth alcohol elimination patterns were observed. The 15 min alcohol deprivation period prior to the test ensures no effect from residual mouth alcohol. For the purposes of breath alcohol testing, oral jewelry should be treated in the same manner as dental work, and may be left in place during the test without affecting its outcome.

THE LINGUAL BARBELL: A NEW ETIOLOGY FOR THE CRACKED-TOOTH SYNDROME

( attooing and body piercing are companion customs that have been observed across cultures over many centuries. Historically, both practices have satisfied people's need to participate in proscribed cultural, spiritual, sexual and decorative practices. Body piercing is currently experiencing increasing popularity in the United States as a form of personal esthetic expression. According to Armstrong, part of the motivation or preference for body piercing over tattooing is the perceived lack of permanence of the former activity.' Common body-piercing sites include the ears, lip, eyebrow and nose. Additional sites involve the navel, nipples and genitals. Of particular interest to the dentist is tongue piercing. Three recent reports in the dental literature describe this intraoral practice and conclude with the caution that as tongue piercing increases, dentists may see damage to the teeth.2'4 Boardman and Smith questioned patients who had undergone tongue piercing about oral complications; they identified chipped teeth, trauma to the lingual anterior gingiva, increased salivary flow and infection as the most commonly occurring sequelae of the procedure.' Prior to these reports, the greatest concerns had been infection and edema of the tongue, both of potentially serious consequence.6'7 The technique is fairly straightforward and accomplished without anesthetic. The tongue is generally pierced in the midline anterior to the lingual frenum. The piercing is accomplished with a large-bore needle followed immediately by insertion ofthe barbell stem. An oversized (long) stem is placed initially to accommodate the lingual swelling that accompanies the procedure. After the swelling subsides, a shorter stem is inserted so that the metal balls or caps of the barbell rest close to the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the tongue.

Tongue piercing: a new fad in body art

Tongue piercing: a new fad in body art