M. Edgar, C. Dawes, D. O'Mullane. Stephen Hancocks Ltd price £25.00; pp 168 ISBN

9780956566836

Saliva and oral health helps capture the readers interest in what is commonly regarded as a dry subject within the field of dentistry (excuse the pun). The revised and updated fourth edition of this well-known and popular text is as informative and user friendly as previous versions. Its release follows considerable advances in salivary research since the publication of the previous edition in 2004.

The book is split into eight easy to navigate chapters. Each of which is well written and guides the reader through a clear introduction to a concise 'clinical highlights' summary at the end, which would be particularly useful to the busy practitioner in need of a quick reference to any aspect of oral health influenced by saliva.

Initial chapters include an introduction to salivary gland anatomy and physiology, detailing mechanisms of salivary secretion. Factors influencing composition and flow rate are clearly explained with the use of tables and diagrams to aid the readers' understanding.

The subsequent chapters take the reader through the protective effects of saliva and the implications of gland hypofunction and xerostomia. The use of tables listing possible causes and complications of gland hypofunction, and paragraphs detailing treatment options available are of significant use in assisting the dental practitioner's management of patients experiencing dry mouth. Additionally, the inclusion of an example patient questionnaire to help establish a diagnosis of xerostomia is a particularly useful tool.

Notably, throughout the book the reader's understanding of impaired salivary function is strengthened by the use of clinical photographs to display the various clinical presentations, such as gland enlargement and secondary caries. Although one criticism is that some of the clinical images are a little too small and of poor resolution.

In conclusion, this is a well laid out and concisely written publication that clearly conveys the authors' knowledge to the reader. The text claims to be aimed at the 'progressive and inquisitive practitioner'; however, I feel it would also be useful for undergraduate and postgraduate dental students alike. In particular this would be an essential addition to the bookshelf of any dental practitioner with a special interest in the field of oral medicine