K. Payne, A. M. C. Goodson, A. S. Tahim, N. Ahmed, K. Fan. Libri Publishing; price £17.99; pp 200 ISBN

9781909818156

The evolution from the predominantly service-driven senior house officer posts to the educational focus of the dental core training programme has mandated a significant review of postgraduate education. Generic training in primary and secondary care can limit valuable exposure to specialist conditions. Trainees are no longer immersed in a comprehensive oral and maxillofacial surgery attachment.

It is therefore essential that trainees are equipped to maximise the training opportunities available during an attachment. For this reason it is a pleasure to review a book that is a welcome and timely addition to the dental literature with a clearly defined target audience. This is a small, easy to read, lavishly illustrated book aimed at dental core trainees, but equally valuable for those in the emergency department, ear, nose and throat specialists, general practitioners and advanced nurse practitioners. It is not a didactic textbook but a survival guide to secondary care practice. Divided into clearly defined sections, it guides the reader through the emergency department, ward and clinic management and includes a neat section on basic practical procedures. The chapters are succinct and written in bullet points, allowing the trainee rapid access to key information, supplemented with flow diagrams and clear line drawings. The notes section at the end of the book encourages trainees to annotate with local protocols and policies, allowing trainees to create a personalised document.

This book is an essential addition to the literature and I would encourage all potential dental core trainees to obtain a copy prior to starting a hospital-based attachment. A copy should also be available in every oral and maxillofacial surgery library and emergency department unit.