Background: It is well recognized that cigarette consumption is a strong risk factor for periodontitis. Tobacco companies have developed a cigarette with low levels of toxic compounds; however, its effect on periodontium has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to verify the impact of smoke produced by low- and high-yield cigarettes on bone loss resulting from ligature-induced periodontitis.

Methods: A total of 36 male Wistar rats were used in the study. A ligature was placed around one of the mandibular first molars (ligated teeth) of each animal, and they were assigned randomly to one of three groups: group 1: control (N = 10), group 2: 30 days’ inhalation of smoke produced by high-yield cigarettes (N = 13), and group 3: 30 days’ inhalation of smoke produced by low-yield cigarettes (N = 13). The animals were sacrificed 30 days after ligature placement, and the specimens were processed for decalcified sections.

Results: Intergroup analysis of unligated teeth (without periodontal disease) did not show a significant difference regarding periodontal ligament area (2.40 ± 0.5 mm², 2.72 ± 0.7 mm², and 2.61 ± 0.4 mm² for groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively; P >0.05). Conversely, significant differences were noted in ligated teeth (with periodontitis); bone loss was directly proportional to the level of toxic compounds in the cigarettes (5.74 ± 0.5 mm², 7.40 ± 0.50 mm², and 6.51 ± 0.50 mm² for groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively; P <0.05).

Conclusion: Low- and high-yield cigarettes potentiated bone loss during experimental periodontitis in a directly proportional fashion.