Dental therapist and reader panel member Shaun Howe provides an overview of the new (2nd edition) of A basic guide to orthodontic dental nursing. He considers orthodontics to be black magic and hopes this basic guide will give him some insight.

I have been involved with teeth since 1991. A lifetime for many but in all those years I have had very little interaction or indeed interest in orthodontics. When asked to review this textbook I jumped at the chance to improve my knowledge of this dark art and how the orthodontic nurse assists the orthodontist in helping people achieve form and function. The book will actually help me with my own learning journey as I am currently studying a diploma in paediatric dentistry which will clearly involve interceptive orthodontics at some point.

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The format is in the same vein as all the dental 'Basic Guide to' series. This is only the second edition of this manual and I have not compared it to the original. The book is aimed at the dental nurse in general practice who may encounter orthodontic procedures as well as those contemplating doing orthodontic nursing as a wider career move.

As a basic guide it must be remembered that the book will not be too in-depth but should arm the reader with enough knowledge to be able to support a clinician carrying out an orthodontic procedure. The introduction describes how to use the book and demonstrates how it will follow a logical sequence of examination, treatment planning and treatment mechanics (this is the 'black magic' element in my opinion).

There are plenty of really good high resolution photographs throughout the book which are helpful for the reader on their learning journey. There are chapters dealing with all the usual suspects that I am aware of in orthodontics such as fixed and removable appliances with sections that will help any dental nurse answer routine questions from young and old patients alike with some confidence.

The book explores more complex areas such as multi-disciplinary orthodontics. Some quite complex areas are touched on regarding facial reconstruction and difficult surgery that some patients may have to go through.

There are nice, bulleted lists on what equipment may be required for those procedures which may be carried out and for each of these there follows a description of the nurse's role. Those reading should remember these are guides rather than definitive instructions and as always, clinicians can differ in their needs when carrying out a procedure. There are little bits throughout the textbook that are the black magic of orthodontics such as 'orthodontic screws'; who knew they were a thing?

Towards the end of the book are several chapters that cover more mundane subjects such as record keeping and storage of records and an excellent photographic glossary of commonly used instruments. There are three chapters giving an overview of the certificate in orthodontic nursing, orthodontic therapists and the National Orthodontic Group and this is rounded off with a final glossary of terminology.

This book is a nice introduction to orthodontic nursing for any dental nurse who may work with a dentist with an interest in orthodontics or perhaps assisting an orthodontic therapist.

The subject is still a black art to me, but there are shades of grey and now white appearing thanks to this easy to read textbook...

A basic guide to orthodontic dental nursing, by Fiona Grist, is published by Wiley-Blackwell.