By Mojtaba Mehrabanian, Alumni of the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Debrecen

M. J. Fehrenbach (ed)

UK: Elsevier

Price £35.09

472 pages

ISBN 9780323812399

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The anatomy is crucial knowledge for oral health students and professionals. The latest edition of Dental Anatomy Coloring Book is a helpful tool to cover systematically the head and neck anatomy with numerous, simple-to-colour illustrations to ensure the reader has visually comprehended the material.

This 472-page book is well-structured into 10 chapters, accompanied by a final section of multiple-choice questions. Each chapter is structured such that every topic is covered across two pages. First page begins with a topic-specific introductory statement, accompanied by a related simple line drawing with numbered leader lines and corresponding labels at the bottom of the page. To reinforce the topic, the diagram is followed by 10 review questions on the following page. The incorporation of review and multiple-choice questions with provided correct answers is an effective way for assessing understanding of the material and even preparation for examinations.

The first chapter provides a synopsis of the various body systems. Subsequently, the book delves into the intricacies of orofacial anatomy, dental anatomy, and skeletal, muscular, vascular, glandular, nervous, and lymphatic systems. Finally, the fasciae and spaces are examined in the last chapter.

The chapters on dental anatomy, the skeletal system, and the nervous system appear to be the most successful ones overall because they offer incredibly helpful illustrations that help to clarify difficult concepts like tooth development, tooth eruption, the anatomy of CN V and CN VII, and their divisional branches.

Moreover, a significant quality of the book is its emphasis on anatomy in relation to embryology and histology. In fact, chapters 1 and 2 touch on the prenatal development of the head and neck, whereas chapter 3 covers the embryological and histological intricacies of odontogenesis.

The book, however, does not serve as a replacement for a comprehensive anatomy textbook; thus, it is necessary to look for further sources. Additionally, the book is only available in black and white, which hampers the identification of some finer details of drawings such as the pterygopalatine fossa.

Overall, this well-organised and richly illustrated book serves as an excellent resource for readers seeking to expand their knowledge in the field of head and neck anatomy by means of establishing a relaxing colouring habit.