A. Lussi, M. Schaffner (eds). Quintessence price £102.00; pp 272 ISBN

9781850972280

Advances in restorative dentistry, published in 2012, is a scientific, evidence-based evaluation of changes and trends in modern day dentistry conveyed in an accessible way that can be applied in general practice.

The book is comprised of ten chapters that are each divided into sub-sections that comprehensively discuss a wide variety of subjects, mainly focusing on issues that are becoming ever more prevalent in dentistry.

Logically, the first chapter is 'Structure and pathology of the tooth'. Chapter two, 'Aspects of prevention', deals with basic principles such as patient management and the role of fluoride but also contains scientific evaluations of new developments in caries management such as xylitol, probiotics and antibacterial agents. This is followed by a chapter on caries, which includes fantastic images used to discuss caries diagnosis. The chapter offers a balanced answer to the topical issue 'Seal and infiltration of caries – is this the future?'

There are interesting chapters on magnification aids in restorative dentistry, damage to adjacent teeth and minimally invasive preparation. Chapter six poses another question that the authors answer very comprehensively; 'Yesterday retention – today adhesion?' Again, a balanced and pragmatic view is conveyed in this section that deals with adhesion, direct restorations, repairs, post systems and CEREC. An insightful chapter on bleaching follows this, discussing the aetiology of tooth discolouration and the different methods of tooth bleaching including over the counter products and their relative effectiveness.

Chapter eight looks at dental erosion – a common and ever increasing problem in dentistry and therefore a very relevant subject. The authors discuss many factors in the aetiology and prevention of erosion in great detail. There is not, however, a section on restoratively treating patients with dental erosion, which would be useful.

Chapter nine, 'Endodontology', considers different methods of root canal preparation and obturation and also discusses 'cracked tooth syndrome'. The final chapter is an informative overview of halitosis.

This book is an excellent purchase for the general practitioner who wants to improve their knowledge of modern trends in dentistry and integrate this into their current practice.

The pictures and illustrations are outstanding and the authors have succeeded in creating a text that is scientific and evidence-based but also accessible to the UK general dental practitioner.