L. Canullo, I. Loi, R. Cocchetto. UK: Quintessence price £128.00; pp 170 ISBN

9788874921669

This well-written publication provides a very clear and comprehensive overview of the scientific background behind peri-implant tissue remodeling along with the clinical implications involved.

The book is divided into seven chapters, with each chapter containing excellent illustrations and high quality clinical photography. Chapter one looks into the concept underlying bone remodeling and discusses the risk factors affecting remodeling in significant detail. At the end of each section there is a very useful summary box and there is also a clear table at the end of the chapter, which outlines the factors affecting implant success.

The second chapter looks primarily at flap design. The concepts discussed are relevant to oral surgery as a whole, with useful tips and indications for different flap design choice. Emphasis is placed on the importance of assessing the gingival biotype in order to determine the most suitable flap design to ensure peri-implant stability and preservation of biological width.

Chapter three is an interesting read with new ideas and concepts on minimally invasive implant site preparation using piezoelectric techniques. The next three chapters are devoted to the platform switching concept. This section is heavier reading with a lot of statistics and complex graphs. However, later in the chapter, concepts and protocols regarding immediate loading, ridge augmentation and sinus elevation are discussed, which are much more readable.

Chapter eight, restoring the implant, is, without doubt, my favourite chapter. The prosthetic concepts are well discussed with the restorative principles of finish line placement and optimal emergence profile achievement nicely demonstrated using clinical cases and high quality photographs. Chapter nine further examines prosthetic protocols and their affect on peri-implant stability. The chapter is richly illustrated with clinical cases demonstrating the different protocols described. The final chapter looks at titanium as a long-term material for implants and the cleaning of titanium surfaces.

The book is primarily aimed at those placing and restoring implants on a routine basis but it also offers useful tips for those carrying out minor oral surgery procedures and there are good restorative principles covered. Many of the studies referenced in this publication are inconclusive. However, the area of implant dentistry is rapidly changing and therefore a lot of this material and research will be out-dated soon.