One Stop Shop for Revision/Reference (Dentistry Books in general)

Member Name: Squiddly450

Product:	Dentistry Books in general
Date:	25/02/09 (319 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Colour photos, comprehensive subject list.

Disadvantages: A bit pricey

I'm going to review this book as I feel it is one that is suitable for "soon to qualify" dentists, and qualified dentists alike.

The book retails at about £35 and can be ordered at Waterstones as well as being available on amazon and other such sites. It is a paperback book, A4 in size and has nearly 300 pages.

It is edited by Edward Odell who is a bit of a legend, he's a professor and honorary consultant in Oral Pathology and Oral Medicine at GKT (Guy's, Kings and St Thomas' Dental Institute and has special interestx in many forms of head and neck cancer. He has more letters after his name than I have in my name and address. There are about 50 other contributors gathered from almost every aspect of dental specialities, and from many different institutions and organisations.

The book is slightly different from normal textbooks in that it is divided into chapters, each based on a clinical problem. This is very much in keeping with the current trend in both undergraduate and postgraduate exams and coursework, of being able to cross reference subjects and not simply know about something in isolation from its practical application. The chapters also cover the key skills as the Royal College of Surgeons examine.

I will name a few of the chapters and then give an example of how this works.

1: A high caries rate
6: A dry mouth
11: Sudden collapse
15: Oroantral fistula
17: A lump in the neck
21: Impacted lower third molars
22: A phone call from school
25: Caution-X-rays
34: An anxious patient
37: Management of anticoagulation
48: Oral cancer
54: A child with a swollen face

This is a sample of the 56 chapters in the book and it can be seen that the book covers simple cons, paeds, radiology, medical histories (as well as emergencies) as well as more tertiary care issues.

I will take oroantral fistula as an example chapter:
The chapter starts with a summary and clinical colour photograph.
A 42 year old man presents with pain following extraction of an upper first molar. What is the cause and how will you treat him?

The first section is
History
This is divided into the usual components of Complaint, history of complaint and medical history. A full history is provided.
Then comes
Examination
Both extra oral and intraoral examination summaries are provided.

Then
Differential Diagnosis
What causes for the pain are possible and why? Sinusitis secondary to OAF or dental pain (giving a summary of each)
What is an oroantral fistula? (again, summary follows)
What is the aetiology of OAF?
What factors predispose to formation of OAF following extraction of teeth?
What are signs and symptoms of OAF?

Then
Investigations
What investigations would you carry out, how and why?
A periapical rad is included and questions asked about it. In this investigations section, there is also a table with aims of investigations and methods. The chapter also includes an occipitomental view.

Then
What is your final diagnosis?

Then
Treatment
How would you treat this patient?
Would you treat this patient in general practice?
How would you excise the fistula and remove the root?
How will you close the defect?
What flap designs are available?
What post op instructions are required?

Then
Other possibilities
How might formation of OAF be prevented?
Another rad is shown here and questions asked about it
How could an OAF be confirmed at time of extraction? How might this help?

So the chapters are thorough revision of typical subjects, this exact question came up on my MJDF part 2 exam. I also did MFDS at Glasgow, the OSCE questions there were definitely more detailed than the MJDF questions.

I would say that all necessary topics for general practice and MJDF/MFGDP/MFDS exams are covered in this book and I found it invaluable in stirring the old grey cells back into question answering mode three years post finals.

The book is expensive but it has colour photos and is a real one stop shop for revision and reference.

Summary: A great book for students and postgrads alike.