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Complete Dentures: This book, the second volume in the algorithms, which helpfully illustrate the
Prosthodontics Section of the text throughout. Inexperienced
From Planning to Quintessentials for Dental Practitioners clinicians should take care to
series, is a valuable addition to the differentiate between the common and
Problem Solving literature. Dentists who continue to the rarer conditions shown in some of
provide complete dentures — but who the more complex algorithms.
P. F. Allen and S. McCarthy
feel that their skills in this challenging Section 3 addresses ‘common and
Surrey:, Quintessence, 2003
branch of dentistry need a timely boost important oral conditions’. This, the
price £28, pp119 — will find it particularly useful. Indeed, largest of the five sections of the book, is
ISBN 1850970645 it may even provide the impetus to organised alphabetically. The sub-
persuade a few more dentists to treat this sections follow the theme of an
It is well recognised that the need for very deserving group of patients. introduction, disease incidence,
complete dentures is declining due to predisposing factors, aetiology,
improvements in dental health. As a D. Davis pathogenesis, clinical features, diagnosis
result, a large proportion of the dental and management. Additionally, useful
profession now has less experience in sample patient information sheets are
providing complete dentures than in the included. Some readers, however, may be
past. However, the 1998 Adult Dental surprised that denture-related stomatitis
Health Survey estimates that at present Oral and Maxillofacial is described under a separate heading to
there are four to five million edentulous oral candidiasis.
adults in England and Wales: so there is Medicine Section 4 deals with eponymous and
still significant demand. ‘other conditions’, essentially a
In Complete Dentures: From Planning C. Scully miscellany of relative rarities. Conditions
to Problem Solving it is pleasing to see London: Wright, 2004 are again arranged alphabetically,
the opening chapter focus on how to price £38.99, pp556 facilitating quick reference for
manage the transition to edentulousness. ISBN 0723610746 uncommon entities. Section 5 constitutes
The authors explain that this is a critical relevant other systemic disorders and is
period for the older adult with a failing Oral and Maxillofacial Medicine is a devoted to HIV and iatrogenic disease.
dentition; if handled well, this phase can further contribution from one of the Finally, two appendices tabulate
contribute considerably to a successful most prolific authors in the field of oral information on oral manifestations of
long-term outcome. If handled badly, the medicine, Professor Crispian Scully. The systemic disease and therapies for oral
patient may never adapt successfully to book, which is aimed at those interested disease. As mentioned earlier,
wearing complete dentures. in oral medicine and hospital dentistry, is inexperienced clinicians should exercise
Each of the 10 chapters commence organised in a very accessible format and caution with some of the less mainstream
with a brief statement of the aims and comprises five colour coded sections. The treatment regimes that are described.
anticipated outcomes, and end with key text contains a vast amount of Oral and Maxillofacial Medicine is a
clinical points and conclusions. The bulk information and is commendably first class text. It is up to date and
of the book deals with the planning, practical in its approach. contains a wealth of easily accessible
construction and review of complete Section 1 addresses principles of and practical information. It is well
dentures, with the addition of a chapter patient management, embracing history illustrated and the use of algorithms is
on the role of the replica or copy denture taking, examination, investigation and particularly helpful. A variety of
technique in the management of the treatment. This is a useful preface to the websites are included within the
edentulous patient. A final chapter main text and is an area that is often references
discusses the place of osseointegrated overlooked. At a cost of less than £40, this book
prostheses in the treatment of Section 2 details the common signs represents outstanding value. Senior
edentulism. and symptoms seen in the practice of dental students, hospital and general
At just over 100 pages, the text is easy oral medicine, including: dental practitioners will all find it both
to read with an emphasis on sensible, lymphadenopathy, dry mouth, halitosis, an excellent source of reference and a
practical solutions to the basic challenges swellings, pain, red, white and thoroughly practical guide to oral
of constructing complete dentures. This is pigmented lesions, neurological medicine.
complemented by illustrations consisting involvement and ulcers. Key points are
of high quality photographs and clear, identified for each topic. Here the reader J. Hamburger
unambiguous diagrams. is introduced to the first of many

786 BRITISH DENTAL JOURNAL VOLUME 196 NO. 12 JUNE 26 2004

Dental Care of the My only criticism of this book is that it cell carcinoma, oral lichen planus,
perhaps tries to cover too broad a canvas erythema multiforme and primary
Medically Complex — there are sections detailing subjects herpetic gingivostomatitis, together with
such as maxillofacial trauma and topical less common disorders such as linear IgA
Patient fluoride concentrations. If the book had disease, white sponge naevus and
been limited strictly to the relevance of dyskeratosis congenita.
J. Meechan, J. Nunn, Ed. P.B. Lockhart
medical conditions on dental treatment A considerable number of colour
London: Elsevier, 2003
it might have improved it. images of relevant lesions are provided
price £23.99, pp472 Overall though, this is a very useful throughout. Without doubt, the strength
ISBN 0723610908 book and will be valuable to of the text lies in these images — which
undergraduate and postgraduate are generally of a high quality and
This book is a handy-sized reference for students as well as practising clinicians demonstrate pertinent lesions well —
dental practitioners who want easily in both hospital and general practice. along with the succinct summaries
accessible information regarding the provided of the clinical features of each
relevance of medical conditions to the M. Greenwood disorder. Hence general dental
safe provision of dental treatment. It is practitioners are likely to gain useful and
written in an easily readable style which relevant clinical insight into the world of
may have been enhanced still further by oral medicine. In addition, readers
the introduction of some clinical should be able to appreciate the
photographs at pertinent points in the spectrum of disease that may arise and
text. its possible association with systemic
The book contains nine chapters that disease.
are wide-ranging — from dental
A Colour Handbook of There are some weaknesses in the text
emergencies to maxillofacial prosthetics
— and are followed by 11 appendices
Oral Medicine which may reflect the very rapid changes
that occur in both medicine and oral
(some less than one page in length) with M.A.O. Lewis, R.C.K. Jordan medicine. For example, the treatment of
an equally wide-ranging remit. London: Manson, 2004 oral dysplastic lesions should probably
Areas of controversy are dealt with price £29.95, pp176 be more aggressive than stated, while the
authoritatively, eg. the debate for the ISBN 1840760338
role of patch-testing in the diagnosis of
need or otherwise for supplemental lichenoid reaction remains questionable.
steroids for patients taking or who have Some of the other investigations and
taken steroids undergoing certain types This book aims to provide a clinician managements may be of limited benefit.
of dental treatment. Although pointing with a well illustrated text to aid the Not withstanding, this is a well
out that adrenal crisis in the dental diagnosis and initial management of written, well presented text that I am
setting is extremely rare it is true that disorders relevant to oral medicine. I sure will be of interest, and clinical
supplementation is often given because therefore assume the text is aimed at relevance, to general dental
it is ‘easy, inexpensive and non- general dental practitioners. practitioners.
threatening to the patient in comparison An introductory chapter of the book
with the potential outcome from an provides information regarding the S.R. Porter
adrenal crisis’. potential investigation of relevant
Certain areas differ from current UK disease. Seven further chapters each
practice in that the INR considered safe consider the disorders likely to give rise
for dental extractions in patients taking to a particular sign or symptom affecting
warfarin is given as four. Indeed, this is the mouth.
recommended by some authorities, but The principal chapters all contain key
current advice in the UK is 3.0 (Dental points of diagnosis and list differential
Practitioners’ Formulary 2002-4). diagnoses of a given symptom or sign.
Chapter 3 provides a good synopsis of Thereafter, the chapters discuss each
oral medicine and ties in well with the more disorder by providing short summaries
holistic medical feel of the book overall. The of aetiology, pathogenesis, clinical
book usefully includes a series of examples features, diagnosis and management.
of consultation requests and many of the Clinicians will find many good examples
examples will be familiar to readers. of common disorders such as squamous

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