Editors: Sondos Albadri, Claire L. Stevens; 2022; Springer Nature; £39.99; pp. 330; ISBN: 978-3-030-66372-8

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This is a clinician's guide to paediatric dentistry aimed at broadening the knowledge of general dental practitioners in the management of children. It is divided into three main parts: the early years, the young child, and older children and young people. It is quite a substantial guide with text, tables, coloured clinical photographs and radiographic imaging. It is co-edited by two experienced consultants in paediatric dentistry.

Part I 'The Early Years,' outlines the introduction of children to the dental environment and the basics of clinical examination and diagnosis. It then moves on to discuss the principles of consent and summarises the relevant legislation. The subsequent chapters cover content including dental development and growth, developmental milestones, and common hard and soft tissue pathologies. There are clinical tips scattered throughout the text to help keep the content clinically relevant to the reader.

Part II 'The Young Child' summarises the assessment of patients' anxiety levels, the non-pharmacological and pharmacological options for behavioural management. There are three problem-based scenarios detailing how the reader could apply the information presented in a clinical setting. There are chapters including up-to-date advice on prevention and treatment of dental caries in primary teeth and the management of dento-alveolar trauma, with helpful clinical photographs and radiological imaging of sample trauma cases. The final chapter in this section is focused on safeguarding. It provides information on how to identify those who are at risk or in need, and how to make sure clinicians are managing and escalating safeguarding concerns appropriately.

Part III 'Older Children and Young People' begins with a chapter on medical problems. This is a relatively short summary of a large topic, but would be a potential quick reference for the reader. The remainder of this section discusses: deviations form normal development, caries in permanent teeth, dento-alveolar trauma, periodontal conditions, dental anomalies, tooth wear, and soft and hard tissue lesions.

Although aimed at general dental practitioners, this text would also be useful for dental therapists, dental foundation and core trainees, community dentists, and paediatric trainees in their early years of training. The sections are clearly organised making it easy to find a particular topic of interest. Overall, it provides a very detailed and comprehensive summary of the management of a paediatric dental patient. The authors have presented a good amalgamation of facts and clinical cases to keep the reader engaged and to help ensure the information can be applied clinically.

Dr Orla Carty