Book Review
Preservation and Restoration of Tooth Structure
2nd Edition, 2005
GJ Mount & RW Humee
Published by: Knowledge Books and Software
At the time of its initial edition (1998), this book was one of the first texts that addressed minimally invasive (MI) dentistry. It provided a welcome addition to dental education resources at a crucial time, as the field of operative dentistry evolved. Great advances in cariology and the availability of novel restorative materials and technology in operative dentistry are changing the scope of operative dentistry. The MI approach was first suggested by Massler in the 1950s, but it did not become mainstream until the turn of the last century. Today, the concept of minimum intervention has gained widespread ground, with mounting evidence supporting the MI-approach in restorative dentistry.
More than just a new version, this second edition stages the next generation of the previous text. Along with the expanding knowledge base and acceptance of new approaches in clinical practice, the content of this book has undergone major adjustments and modifications. Substantially re-written, this material has maintained its vitality and relevance. The text is written in an easily understood narrative style. It introduces the reader to a holistic view of the preservation of a healthy dentition. The book's chief strength resides in its focus on minimum intervention as the approach to disease management.
This edition provides a comprehensive overview of the information needed to understand the factors that come into play in order to maintain a healthy dentition. The text captures the essence of a holistic approach to contemporary MI-management of a patient's dentition, in health or disease, now and for the future. This handsomely presented book should find wide readership among dental students and general practitioners.
Welcome improvements to the overall content are the decision to delete indirect restorative techniques and to add several new chapters. Topics such as risk assessment, remineralization and lifestyle are important aspects in effective clinical management of carious and non-carious loss of tooth structure. The chapters have been re-arranged in a logical sequence. It might make more sense to discuss the management failures prior to concluding the book with a discussion about selecting treatment options and modalities; however, the current approach is very manageable. Clear, simple diagrams and high quality illustrations complement the text. While students will find the note and summary boxes helpful, they will serve as a review for the clinician-reader.
The beauty of the second edition of this book lies in the choice of topics addressed. Although one could well argue that some of the more extensive chapters could readily be condensed, while others re-arranged, the overall coverage of issues related to the loss of tooth structure is well done. The chapters are nicely laid-out and beautifully presented.
While addressing the caries problem as a multifactorial infectious disease, one would have expected more information devoted to biofilm, including a discussion of some promising microbial advances in the area of probiotics and other alternative therapies.
The chapter on life style emphasizes the unbreakable link between the patient's daily behavior (diet, recreational drugs), personal circumstances (medical, psychological, life events) and maintenance of oral health during all phases of life. Discussion of the substantial impact that various lifestyle factors may have on a patient's oral health is an important addition to the text. Effective education and counsel of patients about proper nutrition, behavior and the relationship to their oral health may result in sustainable oral health care through tailored advice and modifications of the management plan.
Finally, as the number of older patients who retain their natural dentition steadily increases, a greater focus on their special needs and the aging dentition with respect to MI-repair options for the management of failures would have suited this book. Today, the repair of restorations constitutes a valuable treatment modality for long-term maintenance and transitional restorations.
Throughout the book, the authors' points of view, statements and discussions have been interlaced with references to supporting scientific evidence in a proper manner, without leading to excessive referencing. The book provides adequate access to recent scientific publications. Future enhancement of the text may include further acknowledgment of alternative viewpoints, particularly in the chapters dealing with the topics of risk assessment and remineralization.
The media kit that comes with the book consists of a CD with a series of numbered image files (without legends) of the illustrations in the book. Although potentially useful for lecturers, its added value is limited for students and clinicians. The acknowledgments refer to the authors' own website, which covers much of the same material. Future considerations for a new edition could be the addition of independent weblinks interspersed throughout each chapter of the text, to the many excellent educational materials available on the Internet.
With its focus on minimum intervention in restorative dentistry, this book is an informative, easy-to-read addition to existing textbooks, a useful reference for dental professionals and an enhancement to any practitioner's bookshelf.