Deepak Kademani and Paul Tiwana. Elsevier price $372 pp 1520 ISBN

9781455753284

This book is written and edited by two widely recognised oral and maxillofacial surgeons from the USA. It is aimed at both practising and student oral and maxillofacial surgeons, in order to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date guide on the surgical techniques used within the specialty.

The book is easy to read and extensive, encompassing all areas of oral and maxillofacial surgery. The eleven colour-coded sections cover surgical anatomy of the head and neck, oral surgery, implant surgery, orthognathic and craniofacial surgery, cleft lip and palate, craniomaxillofacial trauma, benign pathology, malignant pathology, reconstructive surgery, TMJ surgery and aesthetic facial surgery. A major highlight is the clarity of the detailed diagrams and photographs, of which the book contains over 2,000.

Each chapter has been written by an expert in that particular area, ensuring the content is accurate and reflects current thinking within the field. As an excellent introduction, the first section explains the surgical anatomy of the head and neck, which is also a useful revision tool. The explanation for each surgical technique starts with the history of the procedure and the indications and contraindications. This is then followed by a detailed description of the surgical technique, accompanied by well-labelled illustrations, clearly demonstrating the procedures in a step-by-step fashion. The intraoperative complications and postoperative considerations are then discussed. The standard surgical techniques are also accompanied, where appropriate, with alternative surgical techniques which give the reader the knowledge of a variety of procedures and when to apply these in clinical situations.

On the downside, as the authors are from the USA, the book contains clinical guidelines and vocabulary slightly different to that used in the UK. Also, due to its large size and weight, it is not easily transportable.

Though perhaps too specialised for a regular dental practitioner, it is a comprehensive and well-illustrated book providing a complete guide to the surgical techniques used within the specialty of oral and maxillofacial surgery. Therefore, I feel it would be a core textbook for individuals undertaking training within this field.