Tongue piercing: case report of a local complication.

Historically, wearing adornments on pierced body parts has been associated with many cultures as manifestations of religious or cultural identities. Currently, its use has a broad acceptance among young people. The most common sites for piercings are the tongue and lower lip in the oral cavity. Several complications may be associated with this practice with the most frequently observed being halitosis, periodontitis, tooth fracture, glossitis, and the formation of abscesses. This paper is a case report of a patient who had a complication from a piercing on the tongue located under the overlying mucosa. It also suggests a local habit was a possible initiator of this complication.