Complications of oral piercing in pre-university students

Abstract

Introduction:

The use of oral piercings has become a common practice among adolescents, its use has increased significantly at early ages, which can become a public health problem.

Objective:

To describe the complications caused by the use of oral piercing in pre-university students.

Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out in the pre-university ¨Dr. Julio César Santana Garay¨, Province of Mayabeque, in the from October 2019 to December 2020.The universe studied consisted of a total of 270 students of both sexes. The following variables were studied: sex, school grade, presence of oral piercing and its location, exposure to complications and their types. The interview, preparation of the Stomatology clinical history and extra- and intraoral physical examination were carried out.

Results:

Females were the most likely to use piercings, with 11.5%, and tenth grade students had a higher incidence of oral piercings. The most frequent complications were: poor oral hygiene with 31.6%, followed by inflammation and pain with 26.3%. The type of complication, according to the location, was the lips with 36.8% and the tongue with 31.6%.

Conclusions:

Oral piercings are most common in females and in tenth grade. The most frequent location is the lips and the most common complications are: poor oral hygiene, inflammation and pain.