Orthodontics at a glance

  • D. S. Gill
UK: Wiley price £24.99; pp 106 ISBN 9781405127882 | ISBN: 978-1-4051-2788-2

As the title suggests, this book is written to provide a top-down overview of the broad field of orthodontics. As with other publications in the At a glance series, this book adopts the double-page spread per topic format, with captioned illustrations in the left and core text to the right.

The book is divided into four major sections, each with eight to 14 sub-topics. These are craniofacial growth, diagnosis and treatment planning, management of malocclusion, and treatment techniques. The third section is particularly well structured as it provides a coordinated break down of common orthodontic problems into their respective aetiology, treatment objectives, and maintenance of stability. Overall, the topics are well balanced, the coloured illustrations are relevant, and the topics flow concisely to provide rapid access to factual information on a range of topics.

Unlike many other more substantial texts, this book is also an enjoyable cover-to-cover read, as the author demonstrates a systematic approach to orthodontic problems. Discussions on aetiology of malocclusion, for example, are divided into skeletal, soft tissue, and local factors. General treatment strategies, similarly, are outlined from mild to severe malocclusion in an orderly fashion. This systematic approach aids the reader in clarifying the essentials of orthodontic treatment principles, without causing information overload that can lead to confusion.

While it is obvious that this text is written as a concise overview for those new to orthodontics, it is also useful for junior clinicians pursuing postgraduate training. Although topics such as fixed appliances are too broad to be compacted into the double-page spread format of the At a glance series, the structured framework is a useful tool for handling and consolidating the vast amount of information the postgraduate is expected to attain. It would, however, be more appealing to those with specific interest in orthodontics if references to further reading were footnoted.

Although this text omits the details expected of a definitive postgraduate text, it provides a great overview of orthodontics in a concise manner. The double-page spreads are very easy to interpret and information is condensed. By and large, this text can be recommended for undergraduates and general dental practitioners, and is a useful reference for those requiring basic factual orthodontic knowledge rapidly.