Article
Practical periodontics
This new text book from Elsevier is not only a new academic learning resource but also has lots of practical applications and tips on the treatment of periodontal diseases. The book is primarily aimed at undergraduate students and, as such, is structured to review the available evidence, starting with the aetiology of periodontal disease through to treatment regimens and how this fits in with holistic patient care. The book is easy to read, not text heavy and is supplemented with good quality diagrams and photographs throughout. The editors of the book should be congratulated on the way they have brought together what reads like a who's who of periodontal educators in the UK today. The editors acknowledge that, with any textbook, the subject matter can quickly become out of date, therefore the book has been augmented with a companion website containing videos and case reports and a promise to update the site regularly. This book covers succinctly and clearly the key information in periodontal disease pathogenesis, risk factors, treatment, and probably most importantly, the maintenance of susceptible patients. Implants are briefly mentioned and, given that today's undergraduates will be dealing with the consequences of implant placement all of their professional lives, more information on how to assess and treat soft tissue disease around implants would have been welcome.
Practical Periodontics is an excellent resource for any undergraduate/postgraduate student of periodontology or GDP wishing to learn more about this fascinating subject and I would therefore strongly recommend this book.