Tattoos in the Dental Setting

By Susan Lynn Tolle, BSDH, MS, Kathryn R. Search, RDH, BSDH, MS and Amanda B. Verissimo, RDH, MS

Tattooing as a form of self-expression has become increasingly widespread. Created by injecting colored pigment particles under the epidermis, tattooing gained popularity among the general United States population in the late 20th century. Historically, individuals with visible tattoos were frowned upon by the general public.^1–6 Today, however, tattoos are common.6–10 Three in 10 US adults have at least one tattoo compared to two out of 10 in 2012.¹¹ Among those tattooed, seven in 10 reported having at least two tattoos.¹¹Crossing gender, socioeconomic, religious, and professional borders, tattooing has become especially apparent in the Millennial generation.3,10,11 According to the Pew Research Center, 36% of “Gen Nexters” or Americans age 18 to 25 have at least one tattoo. In the next generation, this percentage is projected to grow to 40%.¹² Gender does not seem to be a factor in the increasing prevalence, although the highest rate of tattooing was found among women in their 20s.¹² This growth in popularity will likely result in more individuals entering the workforce with visible tattoos.

* References can be found in the original article via the link below.
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