Dental management of the medically compromised patient (7th edition)

  • J. W. Little
UK: Mosby price £37.99; pp 704 ISBN 9780323045353 | ISBN: 978-0-3230-4535-3

The new edition of this book is edited by four American professors across a range of medical related dental fields. Three new chapters have been added since the previous edition: smoking and tobacco use, tuberculosis, and sleep related breathing disorders. Also, an appendix on alternative and complementary drugs has been included.

This well presented paperback book aims to provide an up-to-date reference for dental management of patients with medical problems. It contains a clear contents page and index, colour clinical photographs, colour diagrams, and clear tables and graphs. It begins with a helpful 63 page summary table of all of the sections covered. Each medical problem is outlined according to potential problems related to dental care, oral manifestations, prevention of problems, and treatment planning modifications. It then divides into 30 well organised chapters, which are grouped into ten parts, each part dealing with a different body system. The text on each disease includes incidence and prevalence, aetiology, pathophysiology and complications, signs, symptoms and laboratory findings, medical management, and dental management and oral manifestations. The book ends with five appendices, including medical emergencies, infection control guidelines, and drug management and interactions.

Since it is written by American dentists some of the terminology and management descriptions differ slightly from the UK. However, don't let this put you off. The basics are still the same. A good example of this is the appendix on medical emergencies.

In summary, this book is well laid out and easy to navigate around. It is ideal for dental students and qualified dentists working with any patient who is medically compromised. It is easy to read and, with the summary table, it is quick to pull information from. Its broad coverage and the ease of use with which information can be found make it a good buy.