N. Wilson, S. Gelbier. BDA price £6.95; pp 108 ISBN

9781291769081

This concise text covers a transcript of a witness seminar, held as part of the John McLean History of Dentistry Archive, which took place at the British Dental Association in June 2012. An esteemed group of specialists in the field of dental materials interpret the history and advancements of this rapidly developing area. Alongside input from practising clinicians, a dental technologist and a patient, it delivers a comprehensive and balanced view of the effect of developments in biomaterials on the practice of dentistry from the introduction of the National Health Service to the present-day. The use of the transcript encourages the reader to become a part of the discussion and provides scientific information alongside relevant clinical studies.

The seminar follows a logical and systematic order, commencing with the background of dental materials science, followed by discussions on the milestones in dentine bonding, impression materials, luting cements, glass ionomers, composites, amalgam and ceramics. It discusses their roles, design criteria, testing processes and their biocompatibility. The key concept running through the seminar is that the development of further materials should involve the collaboration of both academics in dental materials and the clinicians implementing them on a daily basis in dental practice.

I would recommend this book to anyone who handles dental materials. This book has encouraged me to embrace the latest developments and, more importantly, to study the instructions on the box! This is an easily overlooked aspect of utilising a new material, yet the correct manipulation of any material is fundamental to its successful use. This text inspires experienced dental clinicians to embrace advances in the available materials and urges dental undergraduates to investigate materials within and beyond their dental school environment.