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Dental materials in clinical dentistry
Book
Reviews
91
Some of the methods and approaches referred to are not as up-to-date as they might be. One is critical of the restoration of the primary dentition (molars). Only one type of cavity preparation is referred to, admittedly a well-established method, but one which has been superseded, in some cases, by the minimal cavity preparation approach when dealing with smaIl lesions. It should be realized that in the field of preventive dentistry, it is perhaps more apparent that in modern times it is the small lesion with which we are concerned. Although the T band has done excellent service over the years, the emphasis is stiI1 given to it in preference to other matrices. On a number of occasions one anxiously awaits the modern advice only to be presented with a generalization. Criticisms can be made of the illustrations in the book. The line drawings leave much to be desired and the items chosen to be illustrated do not necessarily enhance the text. Perhaps there have been omissions at the expense of keeping the text short. The book should be read and considered by people working in the field of child dental health. Whether it wiIl be as clear as it is hoped for dental students’ use needs further consideration. D. S. Berman DENTAL MATERIALS IN CLINICAL DENTISTRY. Edited by M. H. Reisbick. 230 X 154 mm. Pp. 372 + xii. Illustrated. 1982. Bristol, Wright PSG. Hardback,E21.00. This volume, number two in Wright’s Postgraduate Dental Handbook Series, attempts to provide the dental practitioner with an ‘up date’ on the clinical use of materials currently available, and also reviews some clinical techniques. Altogether there are 17 contributors for the 15 separate chapters into which the book is divided. The various main topics considered include: silver-tin amalgam; composite resin restorations; dental gold alloys; denture-base materials; impressions, casts and dies; cavity-lining materials and porcelain to metal restorations. There are also separate chapters on such clinically important topics as the acid-etch technique, pins and their use, materials and methods for obtaining interocclusal records and provisional restorations. Finally, there are two interesting contributions, on pulpal reaction to preparation and restorative materials and materials in maxillofacial prosthetics. Inevitably there wiIl be differing views on whether the specific subjects chosen, and the level of presentation will fulfii the objectives outlined in the preface. Some of the subjects included, for example, direct gold restorations and the use of a reversible hydrocolloid with a water-cooled tray, reflect the American authorship of the book. It is also possible that some of the materials referred to in the text may not be readily obtainable in this country. In the opinion of this reviewer, the text as a whole could have benefitted from a more rigid editing. An account of obsolete denture-base materials, although historically interesting, is surely out of place if it uses space which could have been devoted to discussions on recent developments in the field of soft liners, impact resistant and radio-opaque base materials. It must also be admitted that to this reviewer many of the photographs appear to be rather sombre and lacking in clarity, whereas some of the line drawings included appear unnecessarily large. Despite these possible criticisms, the book as a whole contains several interesting and critical appraisals of materials and techniques which are timely and not available elsewhere. N. Waters
MEDICAL EMERGENCIES IN DENTISTRY. (An abridged edition of EMERGENCIES IN DENTAL PRACTICE, 3rd ed.) by Frank M. McCarthy. 260 X 178mm. Pp. 422. 1982. London, Saunders. Softback, E11.75. This is an abridged edition of Emergencies in Dental Practice and has no fewer than 15 co-authors. The Preface states: ‘The reader will find definitive coverage on every conceivable serious medical emergency . Brevity, clarity and relevance were the watchwords in choosing and preparing the chapters. Both simple and complex emergencies are reviewed thoroughly without verbosity.’ The modesty of the author-in-chief is refreshing, and an indication of the absence of verbosity is illustrated by the outline in note form of immediate allergic treatment (following an even longer discussion of the problem) which fills all but a few lines of two pages. The Preface also states that ‘it is the author’s firm belief that lack of understanding of the basic disease process and of preventive measures plus compulsive and possibly unwise use of drugs during an emergency leads to dangerous confusion and complication after the event’-certainly an admirable basis for the book with which all should agree. Those who have to face the problems of managing medical emergencies in dental patients will undoubtedly therefore be grateful to this book for the following:
Reviews
91
Some of the methods and approaches referred to are not as up-to-date as they might be. One is critical of the restoration of the primary dentition (molars). Only one type of cavity preparation is referred to, admittedly a well-established method, but one which has been superseded, in some cases, by the minimal cavity preparation approach when dealing with smaIl lesions. It should be realized that in the field of preventive dentistry, it is perhaps more apparent that in modern times it is the small lesion with which we are concerned. Although the T band has done excellent service over the years, the emphasis is stiI1 given to it in preference to other matrices. On a number of occasions one anxiously awaits the modern advice only to be presented with a generalization. Criticisms can be made of the illustrations in the book. The line drawings leave much to be desired and the items chosen to be illustrated do not necessarily enhance the text. Perhaps there have been omissions at the expense of keeping the text short. The book should be read and considered by people working in the field of child dental health. Whether it wiIl be as clear as it is hoped for dental students’ use needs further consideration. D. S. Berman DENTAL MATERIALS IN CLINICAL DENTISTRY. Edited by M. H. Reisbick. 230 X 154 mm. Pp. 372 + xii. Illustrated. 1982. Bristol, Wright PSG. Hardback,E21.00. This volume, number two in Wright’s Postgraduate Dental Handbook Series, attempts to provide the dental practitioner with an ‘up date’ on the clinical use of materials currently available, and also reviews some clinical techniques. Altogether there are 17 contributors for the 15 separate chapters into which the book is divided. The various main topics considered include: silver-tin amalgam; composite resin restorations; dental gold alloys; denture-base materials; impressions, casts and dies; cavity-lining materials and porcelain to metal restorations. There are also separate chapters on such clinically important topics as the acid-etch technique, pins and their use, materials and methods for obtaining interocclusal records and provisional restorations. Finally, there are two interesting contributions, on pulpal reaction to preparation and restorative materials and materials in maxillofacial prosthetics. Inevitably there wiIl be differing views on whether the specific subjects chosen, and the level of presentation will fulfii the objectives outlined in the preface. Some of the subjects included, for example, direct gold restorations and the use of a reversible hydrocolloid with a water-cooled tray, reflect the American authorship of the book. It is also possible that some of the materials referred to in the text may not be readily obtainable in this country. In the opinion of this reviewer, the text as a whole could have benefitted from a more rigid editing. An account of obsolete denture-base materials, although historically interesting, is surely out of place if it uses space which could have been devoted to discussions on recent developments in the field of soft liners, impact resistant and radio-opaque base materials. It must also be admitted that to this reviewer many of the photographs appear to be rather sombre and lacking in clarity, whereas some of the line drawings included appear unnecessarily large. Despite these possible criticisms, the book as a whole contains several interesting and critical appraisals of materials and techniques which are timely and not available elsewhere. N. Waters
MEDICAL EMERGENCIES IN DENTISTRY. (An abridged edition of EMERGENCIES IN DENTAL PRACTICE, 3rd ed.) by Frank M. McCarthy. 260 X 178mm. Pp. 422. 1982. London, Saunders. Softback, E11.75. This is an abridged edition of Emergencies in Dental Practice and has no fewer than 15 co-authors. The Preface states: ‘The reader will find definitive coverage on every conceivable serious medical emergency . Brevity, clarity and relevance were the watchwords in choosing and preparing the chapters. Both simple and complex emergencies are reviewed thoroughly without verbosity.’ The modesty of the author-in-chief is refreshing, and an indication of the absence of verbosity is illustrated by the outline in note form of immediate allergic treatment (following an even longer discussion of the problem) which fills all but a few lines of two pages. The Preface also states that ‘it is the author’s firm belief that lack of understanding of the basic disease process and of preventive measures plus compulsive and possibly unwise use of drugs during an emergency leads to dangerous confusion and complication after the event’-certainly an admirable basis for the book with which all should agree. Those who have to face the problems of managing medical emergencies in dental patients will undoubtedly therefore be grateful to this book for the following: