REVIEWS

Books, videos, CD-ROMs, DVDs and any other relavent items submitted for a review in the BDJ should be addressed to: Kate Maynard, Assistant Editor, British Dental Journal, NPG, 4-6 Crinan Street, London, N1 9XW

Manual of clinical to a periodontist). There is a large identification of oral appendix containing American Insurance covers the array of molecular techniques periodontics Codes for periodontal treatment, which that are now available to researchers (second edition) has no use for non-US readers. However, and which have revealed the tremendous the chapters on surgical treatment diversity of oral microbes that constitute F. G. Serio, C. E. Hawley provide a very good introduction to this the oral flora, of which only a fraction USA: Lexi-Comp aspect of clinical periodontics, which is can be cultivated. Chapters on the price $49.95, pp 168 often not well taught at this level in ecology, physiology, genetics and ISBN 1591951763 the UK. molecular biology of oral microbes deal This book forms part of Lexi-Comp’s The book is well suited to the target in depth with the growth and metabolism Dental Reference Library series and is readership and is clearly written of in the oral cavity and the described as a quick reference for general throughout. Postgraduate students or fascinating and complex interactions dentists, dental students, dental hygienists specialists may be frustrated by the lack that can occur within dental . and dental hygiene students. The soft back, of references within the text, but there is ‘Population genetics of oral bacteria’ ring-bound format is quite practical and a comprehensive list of further reading at discusses the dynamic evolution of the chapter tabs make it very easy to use. It the end of the book. The material covered highly diverse oral microbial populations is attractively presented and contains over and the approach taken by the authors and their co-evolution with the host. 200 excellent colour photographs. The 12 would certainly complement other core The final chapter in this section deals chapters each provide a good overview texts in clinical periodontics. with the immune response to oral of the material in a logical sequence. The G. Sharpe microorganisms. Section II deals with whole book is written in a question-and- ‘Oral diseases of microbial etiology’ with answer style format, which makes for very separate chapters devoted to ‘Caries’, easy reading, although this approach can Oral ‘Periodontal diseases’, ‘Oral ’, sometimes appear a little contrived. and immunology ‘Fungi and fungal infections’, ‘Endodontic There is a very good summary of basic microbiology’ and ‘Systemic diseases biology followed by more comprehensive R. J. Lamont, R. A. Burne, M. S. Lantz, and the oral ’. Each one starts coverage of clinical periodontics. There D. J. LeBlanc (Eds) with a basic introduction or overview and are no fewer than three chapters covering USA: ASM Press takes the reader through the aetiology and surgical treatment of periodontal defects. price $79.95, pp 482 pathogenesis of each disease, covering There are also brief sections on implant ISBN 1555812627 recent research, treatment and prevention. dentistry and periodontal emergencies. This new textbook is intended for Section III covers ‘Control of oral One of the best features is the high number dental students, dental practitioners and infections’ with two chapters respectively of very clear photographs showing clinical health care professionals. It provides a on ‘Antibiotics and treatment of examples to support the text. Many readers comprehensive insight into the advances infectious diseases’ and ‘Infection control will find the sample treatment plans in our understanding of how microbes in dentistry’. helpful, but it is obviously impossible to in the oral cavity interact with each As a teaching aid this textbook will be cover every scenario within the scope of other, the host and their importance in very useful to instructors and students. this book. The authors give a good outline systemic disease. It is also a useful source The topics are generally very clearly of the principles of periodontal treatment, of information on the use of antibiotics, presented; each chapter is summarised by although they appear to place an emphasis sanitisation, sterilisation and disinfection a list of key points and several chapters on the role of occlusal therapy. It is procedures. have suggestions for further reading. disappointing that patient motivation and The book is divided into three sections: Instructors who recommend the book communication are not given as much in Section I, ‘General principles of oral to their students will want to avail prominence in the text. microbiology’, the authors draw on themselves of the complementary CD- It is apparent that this book is really examples from the oral microbiota or ROM containing all the coloured figures aimed at the US market. Readers from aspects of oral physiology to illustrate and tables, many of which are excellent. It other countries may be confused by bacterial architecture and general is a pleasure to read and a valuable source American spellings and terms such as principles of bacterial growth. A chapter of information. ‘therapist’ (used in this context to refer on the , classification and R. L. Sammons

BRITISH DENTAL JOURNAL VOLUME 202 NO. 7 APR 14 2007 429 © 2007 Nature Publishing Group