The Faculty of Dental Surgery (FDS) releases statement on oral piercing and tongue splitting

The statement, produced jointly by the FDS and the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS), highlights the potential adverse consequences of oral piercing and tongue splitting procedures amidst concerns that people may be unaware of the risks such procedures carry for their oral health, as well as their wider general health.

Cosmetic body modification has been increasing in popularity for a number of years, and research has suggested that as many as 10% of adults in England haven had some form of body piercing. 

Tongue or lip piercings are well known forms of oral body modification, while other more extreme procedures include tongue splitting, where the tongue is cut in half to create a distinctive “forked” effect. However, cosmetic body modification is contentious as the risk of adverse consequences is often high, and it has been the subject of significant political and legal debate in recent months.

Read the full joint statement here.