Periodontology for the dental hygienist, 4th edition

  • D. A. Perry,
  • P. L. Beemsterboer &
  • G. Essex
Elsevier £49.99 9781455703692 | ISBN: 978-1-4557-0369-2

This is my first book review and I was very impressed at first glance with the text and flicking through the pages. Delving deeper, the book is divided into five parts with very manageable chapters in each, which are given in a very logical order, making it very easy to follow and understand.

At the start of each chapter learning outcomes are laid out as are key terms, making it clear what knowledge you can expect to gain by the end of the chapter. Throughout the text are clinical note boxes which demonstrate facts and research related to everyday practice. There are also dental hygiene considerations which summarise key clinical content and really draw your eye to the important points of the text and directly apply to the role of the dental hygienist.

A great addition to any dental hygienist's collection

There are plenty of diagrams, radiographs and clinical pictures which are well explained and can be used easily for identification purposes. The treatment for periodontal diseases chapter gives clear step by step pictures of all stages involved and how optimal oral hygiene can be achieved. They depict many gingival and periodontal conditions and disease states and enable you to determine a patient's appropriate course of treatment.

What I especially like about the book are the case scenarios and the study questions at the end of each chapter, which are a great tool to make sure that you have understood the chapter and can apply what you have learnt to the job role and to clinical practice. Also what comes with the book is the addition of a website which can be accessed for additional practice and study support tools which could prove beneficial.

The only criticism that I have about the book is that the first chapter on historical perspectives is good to know, however, this is not relevant to modern day practice and is therefore lengthy.

The book is very informative, easy to follow and is great at recapping and testing your understanding of the chapters, and applying that understanding to clinical settings. This book would make a great addition to any dental hygienist's collection, especially to those training or newly qualified, but is a great reference for any hygienist already in practice.