Treatment Planning in General Dental Practice- A Problem Based Approach

  • C. A. Bain
London: Churchill Livngstone, 2003 price £32.99, pp153 ISBN 0443071837 | ISBN: 0-443-07183-7

Treatment Planning in General Dental Practice —- A Problem-Based Approach, is one of a series of books being published by Churchill Livingstone in collaboration with the Dental Update Journal. As such, as one would expect, the book is beautifully illustrated with a plethora of interesting clinical cases. The eleven chapters follow the standard approach running from principles of problem-based treatment planning through to developing treatment options from a problem list identified by the dentist and the patient. The later chapters focus on very relevant issues for 2004: treatment planning — medico-legal issues, planning for aesthetic dentistry and adapting treatment planning principles to new technologies.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading the book. I was intrigued to look at the case studies and then decide whether I would have followed that path and further, whether I had the skill to do so! However, this leads me on to my only concern with the book. The author Crawford Bian draws on years of experience as both a clinician and teacher in this country and in North America. In the preface, he offers the book as an aid to both the dental student entering clinical education, the newly qualified dentist as well as the expert experienced clinician. I see the book very much more for the dentist who has completed general professional training and wants to develop his/her dentistry. I feel the book would be invaluable for study groups, enabling them to discuss treatment planning strategies and developing practice. For the novice trying to see the 'wood from the trees' some parts of the book might be over complex. Having said that, there are excellent sections on developing problem lists that are applicable to all groups, as well as valuable sections on communication in general practice and fee planning. In the appendix, there are some useful medical history proformas and medico-legal release forms.

As I have already said, I enjoyed reading this book and valued the author's considered and personal approach to his dentistry and at just under £33 you are buying a wealth of clinical experience.