Clinical success in management of advanced periodontitis

  • R. Detienville
UK: Quintessence price £46.00, pp 120 ISBN 2912550416 | ISBN: 2-912-55041-6

The aim of this book, published by Quintessence, is to advise and guide the GDP through the management of advanced periodontitis. This soft bound book has 120 pages with seven chapters, a glossary, a bibliography, and an index. It is well illustrated and attractively presented.

The author is an Assistant Professor at René Descartes University, Paris. Though the translation is adequate overall, several errors can be found in the text. For the most part these errors are merely irritating, though they could cause confusion for students starting their studies. My confidence in the text was left shaken on reading on page 9 that 'Advanced periodontitis is most often observed in younger patients'.

A certain level of knowledge is assumed. The author focuses on what he presumably believes is relevant to GDPs, excluding some underlying theory. This is likely to be of some relief to GDPs not wishing to relive their student days, but obviously limits its usefulness for exam study.

It is clearly stated that the book only considers chronic and aggressive forms of periodontitis. The first chapter discusses the criteria for, and prevalence of, advanced disease. Chapter two looks at pathogenesis including microbiological considerations. The third chapter reviews diagnosis. Included are the new classification system, signs and symptoms, microbiological analysis, and complexity factors. The fourth chapter discusses criteria for therapeutic success; effects of bacterial plaque control, scaling, root planing, surgical therapy; and the use of antibiotics and antiseptics. The fifth chapter discusses treatments: hygiene phase therapy, surgery, splinting, orthodontics, and implants. Chapter six looks at occlusal trauma, loss of posterior support, furcations, mobility, and high risk patients. The seventh chapter examines prognosis and long term outcome which includes the goals of periodontal management, limits to treatment, and maintenance.

Although aimed at GDPs, specialist referral would be appropriate for some of the cases illustrated. It is to some extent a hybrid — an atlas of periodontology and periodontics, but not a technical manual, with more supporting text than usual for an atlas and a sprinkling of references to the scientific literature. It is didactic in style, with little discussion of alternative treatment approaches. Those GDPs with a reluctance to treat advanced periodontitis, or whose knowledge is outdated, will probably find this text a pleasant read. Those dentists looking for a comprehensive reference book may wish to investigate other titles.