Ole Fejerskov, Bente Nyvad and Edwina Kidd (Editors). Wiley-Blackwell Price £89.99 pp 480 ISBN

978-1-118-93582-8

Dental caries is a process which occurs on any tooth surface in the oral cavity where dental plaque is allowed to develop over a period of time. Caries is one of the main diseases treated in dentistry, with many undergraduates being able to explain a variety of treatment and prevention methods, rather than the mechanism of these and the process that led it to being required. However, with the help of this book the understanding of this disease can be vastly improved.

Now in its third edition, the book has been extensively expanded into six distinct sections – prevalence, cause, diagnosis, prevention, operative management and control. The book benefits from numerous clinical photographs and clear line drawings, which serves to illustrate the narrative well. The histology section is an excellent example of this and a good place to start for those aiming to revise their knowledge of dental hard tissues.

All aspects regarding caries are expansively covered – from the progression of a white spot lesion, both clinically and histologically, to the different fluoride modalities and their metabolism. Furthermore, the operative management is explained with a stepwise approach, with scientific studies incorporated to explain the use of different materials, for example, amalgam/fissure sealants in both primary and permanent dentition. The book is very well referenced, which will aid readers wishing to study the topic further.

This book, which is clear and illustrated in colour, describes the causes of dental decay and its progression through the tooth in depth. Emphasis is placed upon the prevention as well as early diagnosis so that decay can be arrested in early stages. Methods of prevention from both scientific and practical aspects are covered, which makes this book ideal for undergraduate students as well as dental nurses, dental hygienists and dental therapists.