Adhesive technology for restorative dentistry

  • J-F. Roulet &
  • G. Vanherle
UK: Quintessence price £73, pp 200 ISBN 1850971072 | ISBN: 1-850-97107-2

Adhesive dentistry is an area of clinical practice where the technology of the adhesives and the techniques that are being developed to use with them are continuously changing. In their preface the editors of this book question the need for a further text in this field but then point out that there is a need for textbooks to bridge the gap between accepted treatment modes and new techniques. They set out to do this with Adhesive technology for restorative dentistry, which is based on the proceedings of the third symposium on adhesive dentistry in 2001.

The book is divided into four sections, the first dealing with aesthetic dentistry, the second with minimally invasive dentistry, the third covering the use of adhesives with ceramics and metals and finally some comments about a continued need for an holistic approach to treating patients.

The first section contains some very useful clinical guidelines including the use of matrices to guide the preparation and restoration of teeth with layered composite resins. This is an area where clinical practice has outstripped clinical education and these clear preparation guides are both timely and useful.

The second section provides a very pertinent overview of cavity design for minimal adhesive restorations, taking the reader from G.V. Black to tunnel preparations. It is interesting to reflect that the principles described by Black are as valid today as they were in the nineteenth century, however modern materials allow us to satisfy these principles with much less destructive preparations in teeth.

The third component of this book sets out the rationale for the use of adhesive lutes with metals and ceramic restoration, clearly establishing the benefits of resins for reinforcement of all ceramic restorations.

Finally Mjor (the author of the final chapter) and Roulet reflect on the changes in clinical practice that have been achieved with adhesive technology. Mjor in particular places emphasis on the need for realistic appraisal of new techniques in a general practice setting and the changing emphasis of consumer demand with aesthetics becoming a principle concern, displacing restoration longevity as the prime mover for materials choice.

This book is meticulously illustrated where appropriate and provides a good balance between clinical practice, science and philosophy to inform care for patients using modern adhesive materials. It would prove a valuable reference for all dentists who have an interest in adhesive techniques, both in relation to current technology and with regard to future developments in this expanding field.