Book review: Implant therapy

  • M. Merli
Quintessence price £225.00; pp 792 ISBN 9788874921706 | ISBN: 978-8-8749-2170-6

This book would be a valuable addition to any implant specialist's library. It consists of 12 chapters, with the first five looking into treatment planning, risk factors, diagnostics aids and peri-operative patient management, with an insight into the various techniques of sedation. The last seven chapters deal with the surgical management of implant provision.

The author emphasises the importance of placing the patient at the centre of the decision-making process when constructing a treatment plan and highlights this as the current view of modern medicine.

This book begins by describing the components that make up the hierarchy of evidence-based dentistry, and the author assigns a colour code to the various types of evidence. This book is unique in the sense that each topic discussed makes reference to the available evidence, with the strength of the evidence denoted by the colour code. It affords the reader the opportunity to make their own educated decisions on what practice they feel is the best approach.

The surgical section is very well structured. It begins with the basics of post-extraction socket healing and cites the anatomical conditions that favour immediate versus delayed implant placement. The book acknowledges that ideal anatomical conditions do not always present themselves and educates the reader on their options in these scenarios. In keeping with its patient-centred approach to treatment planning, the text discusses the alternatives to bone augmentation procedures such as the provision of short or tilted implants, in order to reduce the level of morbidity to the patient.

It aptly moves into its discussion on the various types of bony substitutes and the most appropriate sites to harvest autologous bone grafts. Maxillary sinus surgery and the management of vertical, horizontal and combined bone defects appropriately ensue. The final two chapters are devoted to soft tissue management, indicating its importance in achieving an aesthetic and hygienic result.

The surgical management of implant provision can be extremely difficult to comprehend by description alone. This is successfully addressed throughout the book, with extensive diagrams and case studies and beautiful clinical photography, giving the reader an in-depth understanding of the various procedures.

This book appears very long-winded by its sheer size; however, it is a very easy read and an excellent publication, which leaves no stone unturned. I would highly recommend this book as a core text for those wishing to pursue a career in implant dentistry.