Investigations into the mycology of dental calculus in town-dwellers, agricultural workers and grazing animals.

The research article aims to investigate the mycology of dental calculus (tartar) and its potential to harbor fungal organisms that could lead to ocular infections, particularly in those involved in agriculture or in contact with grazing animals.

Background

• The research was prompted due to concerns that during dental scaling, pieces of calculus can end up in the eyes of dental professionals, causing corneal ulcerations.
• Previous studies have largely overlooked the mycology of dental calculus, focusing more on its bacteriology despite the known connection between fungi and various eye infections.
• The increase in cases of fungal eye infections (oculomycosis) has been associated with the increased use of corticosteroids and antibacterial antibiotics. These infections can lead to severe consequences, including the loss of vision.
• Fungal eye infections are more common among young, healthy males with a history of outdoor exposure, particularly those engaged in agricultural activities.

Purpose of the Research

• This study was designed to determine whether dental calculus could harbor fungi capable of causing mycotic (fungal) infections in the eye.
• A secondary aim was to gain a deeper understanding of the mycology of dental calculus, a subject that had previously been under-studied.

Considerations

• The study gave special consideration to agricultural workers and grazing animals, as certain fungi prevalent in these environments (eg. Aspergillus and Fusarium solani) can cause particularly severe oculomycoses.
• There was also an overriding concern that corticosteroids could enable otherwise harmless fungi to become pathogenic, according to research done abroad and in America.
• Understanding the mycology of dental calculus could have far-reaching implications for dental health, ophthalmology, and indeed any professions where there might be exposure to these potential hazards.