Alabama Administrative Code
Title 420 - ALABAMA STATE BOARD OF HEALTH
Chapter 420-3-23 - BODY ART PRACTICE AND FACILITIES
Appendix C - Model

ORAL PIERCINGS INFORMATION SHEET (Information from the American Dental Association)

Oral piercings, which involve the tongue, lips, cheeks, uvula, or a combination of sites, have been implicated in a number of adverse oral and bodily conditions. The piercing of oral structures presents unique risks due to the nature of the environment, the rich blood supply of the tissues, the presence of vast amounts of bacteria and other organisms, and the important functional roles the mouth plays in the complex processes of digestion, respiration, sensory perception, and speech.

Common symptoms following oral piercing include pain, swelling, bleeding, and increased salivary flow. Documented health risks include infection chipping or fracturing of teeth, gum stripping and recession, rapid development of bone loss of the lower front teeth, broken fillings or crowns, difficulty with eating and speech, and the swallowing or aspiration of j ewe1ry.

Serious and life-threatening complications of infections have rarely been documented following oral piercings. These include development of infection which spreads to the heart requiring hospitalization; and a compromised respiratory airway causing respiratory difficulty.

Authors: Ronald Dawsey, Charlotte Denton

Statutory Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, § 22-17A-7.