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Monday, 10th September, 2007: Rebellious young Irish holidaymakers, concertgoers and college freshers who get their tongue, lip or mouth pierced are unwittingly putting their lives at risk. The Irish Dental Association today revealed that ral Jewelleryhas been identified by its members as a significant risk to young peoples oral health, and in extreme case can result in life threatening illness and infections.
The IDA highlight that members have reported a large increase in the number of young patients seeking advice from dentists in relation to the damaging affects of such piercings. Over recent years IDA members have noticed an increase in patients presenting between September and December each year.
Dentists warn that oral piercings can be very dangerous to young adults, especially those who knowingly or unknowingly suffer from heart murmurs, a common condition among Irish children and young adults.
The IDA point out that as the mouth harbours a large number of bacteria, high levels of bacteria may enter the blood system as a result of an oral piercing. This can lead to a condition, known as Infective Endocarditis, whereby bacteria become attached to an abnormal section (due to a murmur or damaged valve) of a young person heart, leading to serious illness.
While there have been no reported cases of Infective Endocarditis due to oral piercing in Ireland to date. The number of cases reported in medical and dental journals worldwide has been increasing. Dr Kevin Ooyle of IDA suggested that the increasing popularity of oral piercings in Ireland means it is nly a matter of time before someone ends up very sick or dead as a result of this condition
Endocarditis sufferers may display fevers, night sweats and general ill health over a period of weeks or months. Treatment usually requires large doses of antibiotics or even heart surgery to correct.
The IDA warns that as there is no regulatory code in Ireland or the EU for piercing establishments, the risk of cross infection between those getting piercings can be high. This risk is heightened when abroad or at music festival where the standards of hygiene may be lacking, leading to a greater risk of contacting Hepatitis B, C, D and HIV.
The IDA also warns that even when the more dangerous risks or oral piercing are avoided the wearer has an increased risk of causing painful and irreversible damage to their long-term oral health. Dentists have reported an increased number of young patients reporting with chipped or fractured teeth, infection, gum loss and cases of tissue overgrowth around the piercing site.
Dr Kevin Ooyle, IDA said, ore and more young adults and college students are getting oral piercings, perhaps viewing them as a fashion accessory or a statement of rebellion. Many of these people do not realise the very real threat they place themselves in by getting such piercings. It is especially important that young people are aware of the risks. Obviously we urge people, especially students that may be entering college later this month, not to undergo oral piercings. We advise anyone who has recently acquired one to monitor for any symptoms such as fever. If any such symptoms present the wearer should consult their doctor.
Speaking about the non-threatening aspect of oral jewellery, Dr Ooyle said, f you get an oral piercing you must accept that you will damage your oral health and in many cases what damage you do will be irreversible. While a fractured or chipped tooth may not cause many problems at first the long term affects will be painful and in many cases costly. One of the more painful and unpleasant aspect of oral jewellery happens when the gums recede. In order to correct receding gums the patient must undergo painful grafting of the gum, a treatment which will help to alleviate some pain and infection but it can never return the gum to full health.
The Dublin Dental Hospital divided the non-life threatening complications of oral piercings into Early and Late phase/symptoms as follows:
* Early
o Bleeding,
o Oral Pain,
o Swelling,
o Infection,
o Airway obstruction,
o Nerve damage,
o Speech impairment
o Hypersensitivity to metal
* Late
o Chipped or fractured teeth,
o Gum damage,
o Excessive saliva production,
o Swallowing or inhalation of the jewellery,
o Difficulty with oral and head x-rays,
o Difficulty cleaning the jewellery
o Overgrowth around the piercing
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