Sj.Bdj.2012.1141.Pdf

LETTERS

and tattoos. Over several years her lip adolescents and young adults,2 notably Interest declared – the author sought piercing resulted in severe gum erosion tongue and lip piercing. Gum recession advice via her agent on the accuracy at the base of the left first incisor, to the is a recognised and not uncommon com- and feasibility of her dental content. extent that a large amount of the root plication of lip piercing,3 is irreversible M. Bishop, by email became visible and the tooth became and can potentially lead to tooth loss. 1. Paton Walsh J, Sayers D L. The new Lord Peter loose. She removed the lower piercing It has been suggested that gum erosion Wimsey novel: A presumption of death. London: Hodder and Stoughton, 2002. after six years for aesthetic reasons, can be reduced by wearing PTFE (surgi- 2. Maynard K. News. Secret service dentist leaves having not been concerned by her gum cal grade plastic) jewellery, rather than legacy. Br Dent J 2012; 213: 101. erosion. On presenting to a general den- metal jewellery, but there is scant pub- DOI: 10.1038/sj.bdj.2012.1140 tal practitioner she was advised that the lished evidence. Guidance about piercing gum erosion was severe and irrevers- is often from the experience of pierc- A GREAT WASTE ible and to remove the upper piercing, ers or associates. However, there is an Sir, I am writing to inform readers about which had caused moderate erosion increasing body of evidence-based data the current government e-petition set up at the upper left canine. The extent of being produced by the scientific com- by the Young Dentists Committee related the erosion can be seen in Figures 1 munity.4 Medical and dental practition- to the shortfall in DF1/VT training (mandibular) and 2 (maxillary), with ers are in a privileged position of having places. This year, 35 UK trained dental accompanying pictures demonstrat- these data readily available to them. graduates were left without a training ing the previous positioning of the lip Body modification is a potentially post. For the considerable cost to the piercings (small indented scar). dangerous practice but can be very safe tax-payer that dental training incurs, as with the right knowledge. As profes- well as to individuals and their families, Fig. 1 Mandibular sionals we have a duty not to judge this is not an acceptable situation. Whilst erosion as a but to share our knowledge. The NHS there is an appreciation that money is result of body provides some basic but useful informa- tight within the public purse, it seems a piercing tion about piercing online that patients great waste to be training dentists who can be easily directed to (www.nhs.uk/ are effectively then excluded from the conditions/Body-piercing/Pages/Intro- postgraduate training required to work duction.aspx). and practise within the NHS. It is also A. Rowe, Derby unacceptable for the dentists involved, 1. Health and Safety Executive (HSE)/Local Authori- who have proved their worth through ties Enforcement Liaison Committee (HELA). Local five years of hard work, to be forced into Authority Circular. Enforcement of skin piercing activities. LAC No. 76/2. 2005. finding alternative work. The inevitable 2. Bone A, Ncube F, Nichols T, Noah N D. Body pierc- de-skilling that is likely to occur for ing in England: a survey of piercing at sites other than earlobe. BMJ 2008; 336: 1426–1428. recent graduates who are not able to start Fig. 2 Maxillary 3. Levin L, Yehuda Z, Becker T. Oral and dental com- a training programme is demoralising for plications of intra-oral piercing. Dent Traumatol erosion as a 2005; 21: 341–343. those affected and should not be allowed result of body 4. Singh A, Tuli A. Oral piercings and their dental to happen. The placing of those without piercing implications: a mini-review. J Investig Clin Dent 2012; 3: 95–97. a training place into junior house officer DOI: 10.1038/sj.bdj.2012.1139 roles within dental schools is merely a short-term solution and halts the career THE PLOT THICKENS and skill progression that is available to Sir, those who enjoy collecting books those training within general practice on in which dentists and dentistry make a a DF1 or VT scheme. I hope that all read- cameo appearance should find the nov- ers will agree that the lack of funding for elist Jill Paton Walsh’s A presumption of DF1/VT places is unacceptable and will death1 of considerable interest – par- show their support by signing the Gov- ticularly in the light of the revelations ernment e-petition at http://epetitions. made in the recent obituary notice for direct.gov.uk/petitions/40302 Her piercings were purchased from Beryl Murray Davies in the News sec- A. Holden a licensed establishment with no other tion of the Journal for 10 August 2012.2 Young Dentists Committee member complications. Information about The book is a new Lord Peter Wimsey DOI: 10.1038/sj.bdj.2012.1141 immediate risks to health is available detective novel, set in the Second World at the point of purchase, but long-term War, and Dorothy L. Sayers is credited The BDJ website now includes a information does not have to be.1 as posthumous co-author. A key turn facility enabling readers to immediately comment on letters. All comments must Body modification (tattoos, piercing in the plot is provided by a retired lady comply with the nature.com Terms and etc) has now become a widely accepted dentist, though to say what Mrs Spright Conditions and Community Guidelines – aesthetic practice in the UK. Oral pierc- does on page 251 would be to spoil the visit the BDJ website to find out more and to post your comment now. ings are increasingly common amongst story. Definitely to be recommended.