Cambios clínicos ocasionados por el chimó en animales de experimentación

Chimo is a smokeless tobacco used in Venezuela that contains nicotine. Its harmlessness has been questioned because of the damages it can cause on periodontal tissues. The purpose of this research is to study the clinical changes that can be generated by chimo on experimental animals’ periodontal tissues. 22Wistar rats were selected, 11 were assigned to control groups and the other 11 to the experimental one. During 20 weeks, three days a week, physiological solution was applied to the control Group while the experimental was rubbed with a 18grs/5cc preparation (Chimo/physiological solution). Control group did not show any changes. Experimental group presented alterations and changes in consistency and gingival texture in 90% of the cases. A 100% of the rats showed an increased degree of queratinization and ischemy. Gingival recession was observed in 63%; 36% of the rats had periodontal pockets; white and red lesions were observed in a 28% of the cases. The authors conclude that there is a direct relation exists between this clinical findings and time of exposure to Chimo.