Assessment of the alveolar bone surrounding the mandibular anterior teeth of individuals wearing a tongue stud.

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.