Skip to main content

Main menu

  • Home
  • Articles
    • Current Issue
    • Archived Issues
  • Info for
    • Authors
    • Advertisements
    • Subscribing
  • About
    • About Us
    • Editorial Board
    • JDH Reviewers
  • More
    • Alerts
    • Feedback
    • Permissions

User menu

  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • My alerts
  • Log in

Search

  • Advanced search
Journal of Dental Hygiene

Visit the American Dental Hygienists' Association's main website

  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • My alerts
  • Log in
Journal of Dental Hygiene

Advanced Search

  • Home
  • Articles
    • Current Issue
    • Archived Issues
  • Info for
    • Authors
    • Advertisements
    • Subscribing
  • About
    • About Us
    • Editorial Board
    • JDH Reviewers
  • More
    • Alerts
    • Feedback
    • Permissions
  • Visit jdenthyg on Facebook
  • Follow jdenthyg on Twitter
  • Follow jdenthyg on Instagram
  • Follow jdenthyg on Linkedin
  • RSS feeds
Research ArticleResearch article

Asessment of the Alveolar Bone Surrounding the Mandibular Anterior Teeth of Individuals Wearing a Tongue Stud

Susan L Dougherty and Kristy Tervort-Bingham
American Dental Hygienists' Association October 2005, 79 (4) 8;
Susan L Dougherty
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Kristy Tervort-Bingham
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • Article
  • References
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF
Loading

Abstract

Purpose. One of the latest trends in ornamental body piercing focuses on the oral cavity, with the most common piercing site being the tongue. Oral health care professionals are anecdotally reporting the incidence of radiographically detectable alveolar bone abnormalities surrounding the mandibular anterior teeth in patients who wear tongue studs. This research study was conducted to assess the frequency and extent of bone abnormalities in the supporting alveolar bone adjacent to the mandibular anterior teeth in individuals wearing tongue studs.

Methods. With the use of convenience sampling, periapical radiographs were taken of the mandibular anterior teeth of individuals wearing tongue studs and compared to the radiographs of individuals who had never worn tongue studs (N = 46). Additionally, a self-report questionnaire was used to gather demographic data on participants and specific information related to their piercings. A periodontist conducted blind evaluations of the radiographs.

Results. With an alpha level of .05, a one-tailed t test indicated a significant difference between the two groups, t 44 = 1.902, P = .032. However, the correlation coefficient comparing length of time to presence of alveolar bone abnormalities was 0.216, indicating a weak relationship between the amount of time that the tongue stud had been worn and the development of abnormalities in the alveolar bone.

Conclusion. These findings indicate that individuals wearing a tongue stud for any length of time are at risk for developing abnormalities in the alveolar bone surrounding the mandibular anterior teeth.

  • Oral piercing
  • tongue piercing
  • alveolar bone loss
  • oral pathology
  • Copyright © 2005 The American Dental Hygienists’ Association
PreviousNext
Back to top

In this issue

American Dental Hygienists Association: 79 (4)
American Dental Hygienists' Association
Vol. 79, Issue 4
Fall 2005
  • Table of Contents
  • Index by author
  • Complete Issue (PDF)
Download PDF
Article Alerts
Sign In to Email Alerts with your Email Address
Email Article

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word on Journal of Dental Hygiene.

NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
Asessment of the Alveolar Bone Surrounding the Mandibular Anterior Teeth of Individuals Wearing a Tongue Stud
(Your Name) has sent you a message from Journal of Dental Hygiene
(Your Name) thought you would like to see the Journal of Dental Hygiene web site.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Citation Tools
Asessment of the Alveolar Bone Surrounding the Mandibular Anterior Teeth of Individuals Wearing a Tongue Stud
Susan L Dougherty, Kristy Tervort-Bingham
American Dental Hygienists' Association Oct 2005, 79 (4) 8;

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero
Share
Asessment of the Alveolar Bone Surrounding the Mandibular Anterior Teeth of Individuals Wearing a Tongue Stud
Susan L Dougherty, Kristy Tervort-Bingham
American Dental Hygienists' Association Oct 2005, 79 (4) 8;
del.icio.us logo Twitter logo Facebook logo Mendeley logo
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like

Jump to section

  • Article
  • Info & Metrics
  • References
  • PDF

Similar Articles

More in this TOC Section

  • Clinical and antibacterial effectiveness of three different sealant materials
  • Mouthguards in the American Hockey League [AHL]
  • Survey of Diabetes Knowledge and Practices of Dental Hygienists
Show more Research article

Related Articles

  • No related articles found.
  • Google Scholar

Keywords

  • Oral piercing
  • tongue piercing
  • alveolar bone loss
  • oral pathology

About

  • About ADHA
  • About JDH
  • JDH Reviewers
  • Contact Us

Helpful Links

  • Submit a Paper
  • Author Guidelines
  • Permissions
  • FAQs

More Information

  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Email Alerts
  • Help

ISSN #: 1553-0205

Copyright © 2025 American Dental Hygienists’ Association

Powered by HighWire