Book review

The concept of facial aesthetics and, in particular, attractiveness is a fundamental one to dentistry in general and is also of special interest to the orthodontist. A desire to improve a perceived level of attractiveness is often a prime motivator in someone choosing to seek treatment. The subject matter of this book is therefore likely to be of some interest to clinicians from a wide range of dental specialties.

Although I found the front cover a little uninspiring, the book opens with a fascinating look at the historical background to this topic and demonstrates how the concept of beauty has occupied the minds of great thinkers and writers from Plato to Shakespeare. The author looks in some detail at how the classical canons in this area have evolved and been shaped by modern anthropometry and scientific advances to inform our current practice. The historical illustrations are superb and really help bring the subject matter to life.