Book review

This book is written by three members of the dental local anaesthetic research team at Ohio State University. This team has an international reputation for high-quality, translational research. This book reflects that expertise. It is an evidence-based account of the management of local anaesthetic failure.

The authors state early in the script that local anaesthetic failure is a fact of life and this book aims to help practitioners gain improved pulpal anaesthetic success. Throughout the script they stress the importance of appropriately testing for pulpal anaesthesia before beginning any form of restorative or endodontic therapy.

This book is not intended for the inexperienced student as it does not describe in detail standard conventional techniques. It is aimed primarily at experienced practitioners, principally those involved in endodontics. It supplies an excellent evidence base with its exhaustive references at the end of each chapter. The only techniques described in detail are supplementary methods such as intraligamentary and intra-osseous anaesthesia. Indeed, the authors' fondness for the latter technique shines through. Surprisingly, not all supplementary techniques are covered, for example the intraseptal injection is not mentioned.