Medical disclaimer
This guide is informational and does not replace guidance from your specific dental team. Every dental practice has its own protocols and preferences. Follow their instructions above the general guidance in this article. When your dentist and this guide conflict, follow the dentist.
Dental appointments and piercings
Oral piercings (tongue, lip, cheek) come up frequently at dental appointments. Some dental work requires removal, some does not, and dentists themselves have varying levels of familiarity with modern piercing practices. This guide covers the common dental scenarios and what to actually do with your oral piercings for each.
The general principle: routine cleanings and simple examinations usually do not require removal. More complex work (fillings near the piercing, extractions, orthodontic adjustments, oral surgery) often requires removal. Dental X-rays generally do not require removal for standard positioning but may cause artefacts in specific images.
What routine dental work requires
Routine cleanings and check-ups
• Standard cleanings usually do not require removal
• Dentist may ask you to reposition your tongue or lip during specific parts of the cleaning
• If you have a very new piercing (under 6 weeks), postpone the cleaning if possible, both to reduce irritation to the piercing and reduce dentist working around it
• If your tongue piercing catches on cleaning instruments, the dentist may ask you to remove it for that appointment
Examinations
• Full oral examinations do not require removal, the dentist works around jewellery
• A good dentist will mention any concerns about the piercing during examination (dental wear near piercing contact, gum recession, etc.)
• Take dentist observations about piercing damage seriously, they see hundreds of piercing wearers
Dental X-rays
• Standard bitewing and periapical X-rays generally do not require piercing removal
• Metal in the image field creates artefacts (bright spots or shadows), which can obscure specific areas
• If a specific tooth needs to be imaged very clearly and jewellery is in the way, the dentist may ask for removal during that image
• Panoramic X-rays sometimes benefit from removal of certain facial piercings for image clarity
Complex dental work
Fillings and restorations
• Fillings on teeth away from your piercing usually do not require removal
• Fillings on teeth in direct piercing contact zones (front teeth for tongue piercings) may require removal for access
• Older amalgam fillings being replaced may generate more heat and require removal of nearby oral piercings
Root canal treatment
• Extended procedure with tools deep in the mouth
• Oral piercings usually removed for comfort and access
• Multiple appointments over weeks, expect to keep piercings out for the full course of treatment
Extractions
• Wisdom teeth extractions and other extractions typically require oral piercing removal
• Local anaesthetic extractions still involve significant tool movement in the mouth
• Post-extraction healing requires reduced mouth movement, oral piercings can interfere with clot formation and healing
• Plan to keep oral piercings out for at least a week after extraction, longer for wisdom teeth
Orthodontic treatment (braces, aligners)
• Orthodontic adjustments usually do not require removal
• Some orthodontic hardware may catch on tongue piercings during eating and speech
• Discuss with your orthodontist during initial consultation about piercing compatibility
• Aligners generally have less interaction with oral piercings than fixed braces
Oral surgery
• Any oral surgery requires complete removal of oral piercings in the surgical area
• Follow surgical team's instructions for removal timing and reinsertion afterward
• Post-surgical healing typically requires piercings to stay out for several weeks
Specific dental concerns for piercing wearers
Tooth wear
Tongue piercings and lip piercings that contact teeth cause enamel wear over years. Your dentist may point this out during examinations. Take the observation seriously, dental wear is progressive and can require expensive restoration if not addressed. Options include changing jewellery (softer material end balls, smaller pieces, shorter posts), adjusting how you position the piercing at rest, or retiring the piercing if wear is significant.
Gum recession
Piercings that press against gum tissue can cause gum recession. Common with tongue piercings pressing against inner surfaces of front teeth. Your dentist will identify recession and may recommend piercing changes to prevent further damage. Gum grafts can restore severe recession but prevention is better than treatment.
Periodontal disease
Piercing wearers with poor oral hygiene are at higher risk for gum disease around the piercing site. Standard dental hygiene applies but with attention to the piercing area, gentle cleaning around the jewellery without excessive irritation.
Communicating with your dentist
The dental conversation about piercings
When you book a dental appointment, mention your oral piercings if you have them. This lets the dental team plan accordingly, particularly for imaging or more complex procedures. At the appointment, be open about how long you have had piercings, what materials they are (implant-grade titanium is what most dentists prefer to see), and any concerns you have about tooth or gum health related to the piercings. A good dentist will incorporate piercing considerations into your dental care plan without being judgemental. If your dentist is dismissive or aggressive about piercings, seeking a different dentist is a legitimate option.
Reinserting after dental work
• Wait until any anaesthetic has fully worn off, sensation is important for safe reinsertion
• Clean hands thoroughly before touching the piercing
• Rinse with sterile saline or dilute antiseptic mouthwash before reinsertion for oral piercings
• If your dentist has advised waiting before reinsertion (post-extraction, post-surgery), follow that timing
• If the piercing has closed during longer removal, contact your piercer, do not force jewellery through
Shop the look
• PTFE retainers (from your piercer)
• Implant-grade titanium tongue barbells
Internal links
• Temporary piercing removal, complete guide
• Oral anatomy and tongue piercings
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to remove my tongue piercing for a dental cleaning?
Usually no for standard cleanings. The dental hygienist works around the piercing during a routine cleaning. If the piercing catches on cleaning instruments or if a specific area needs deep attention, they may ask you to remove it briefly. If your piercing is very new (under 6 weeks), postpone the cleaning if possible to reduce irritation during the healing period.
Should I remove my lip piercing for dental X-rays?
Generally no. Standard dental X-rays (bitewings, periapical) do not require piercing removal for safety reasons. Metal jewellery in the image field creates artefacts (bright spots or shadows) that can obscure specific areas, so if a particular tooth needs to be imaged clearly and jewellery is in the way, the dentist may ask for temporary removal for that image. Panoramic X-rays may benefit from removal of certain facial piercings for image clarity.
Do I need to take out my piercings for a tooth extraction?
Yes for oral piercings in the surgical area. Extractions involve significant tool movement in the mouth, and post-extraction healing requires reduced mouth movement and clean healing space. Oral piercings interfere with clot formation and increase infection risk in the surgical site. Plan to keep oral piercings out for at least a week after standard extractions, longer for wisdom teeth or complicated extractions. Follow your dentist's specific timing guidance.
Can I have braces with a tongue piercing?
Discuss with your orthodontist during initial consultation. Braces and tongue piercings can coexist for many patients, but there is real risk of the tongue piercing catching on brace hardware during eating and speech. Some orthodontists ask patients to retire tongue piercings for the duration of orthodontic treatment. Some allow continued wear with specific jewellery choices. Aligners generally have less interaction with oral piercings than fixed braces.
Will my dentist judge me for having oral piercings?
Some do, most do not, and this is changing generationally. Modern dental training increasingly covers piercings as a common patient factor rather than a moral concern. Most dentists in modern practice work with piercings professionally, identify related dental concerns without judgement, and incorporate them into care plans. If your specific dentist is dismissive or aggressive about your piercings, seeking a different dentist is a legitimate option. Piercings are not a good reason to receive worse dental care.
How can I protect my teeth if I have a tongue piercing?
Choose jewellery that reduces tooth contact: implant-grade titanium barbells with silicone or bioplast end balls (softer than metal), smaller ball sizes, appropriate barbell length (not too long, which increases movement in the mouth). Position your tongue at rest to minimise piercing contact with teeth. Get regular dental checkups to monitor wear early. If significant wear develops, consider retiring the piercing or transitioning to non-contact positioning.
How long should I wait after dental work before reinserting my oral piercing?
Depends on the specific dental work. Routine cleanings, immediate reinsertion once anaesthetic wears off (if any was used). Fillings, once anaesthetic wears off is usually fine unless the filling is in a piercing-contact zone. Extractions, minimum a week for standard extractions, longer for wisdom teeth or complicated cases. Oral surgery, follow surgeon's specific timeline, typically several weeks. When in doubt, follow the dentist's guidance rather than reinserting early.