Advanced endodontics — Clinical retreatment and surgery

  • J. S. Rhodes
UK: Taylor and Francis price £75, pp 206 ISBN 1841844365 | ISBN: 1-841-84436-5

This hardcover book has 214 pages divided into 10 chapters. Each chapter is extensively illustrated, with a total of 454 illustrations, and the book is well-referenced throughout, including some 2,005 papers.

The first two chapters cover rationale, decision-making and planning of retreatment. Chapter three provides some useful suggestions on how to dismantle coronal restorations to allow access for non-surgical retreatment. The next four chapters give practical advice on different aspects of re-treating root canals, including irrigation and medication. Finally, there are three chapters on surgical endodontics.

The book is aimed at a wide variety of clinicians interested in endodontics, including trainees and specialists. It offers practical solutions to retreatment problems and it contains much useful information. The text is supplemented by some helpful line diagrams and tables that clarify the concepts and ideas described. This is particularly useful as, due to the large number of pictures, the text is sometimes a little difficult to follow. I was concerned by Fig. 7.24 (irrigation of the root canal system), which is not referred to letters/books text fullout:by the text and there is no indication whether this proposed irrigation regime is supported by research.

Whilst there are many illustrations, some have limited value. Radiographs in textbooks often have low contrast and there are examples in this book. Similarly, there can be difficulties with reproduction of clinical photographs. Some of the pictures taken through the microscope are unclear. For example, Fig. 8.20 refers to protection of the mental nerve but unfortunately it cannot be seen in the picture. The colour balance of some pictures leaves a yellow or red tint, which detracts from the point being illustrated. The legend for some of the pictures is inaccurate; for example Fig. 5.9 states that 'silver particles can clearly be seen dispersed through the epithelium', when in fact they are present in connective tissue.

Overall I found the book to be something of a curate's egg. It is very good and clear in places, particularly the line diagrams and the section on dismantling coronal restorations. Other parts are not quite as strong and there is minimal comment on the difficulty of removing separated instruments without overly weakening the teeth. It is obvious that a huge amount of work has gone into its preparation, and whilst a little pricey at £75.00, it can be recommended with some minor reservations.