Mini atlas of periodontics

  • S. Reddy
UK: Anshan price £19.99; pp 171 ISBN 9781905740420 | ISBN: 978-1-9057-4042-0

This pocket sized mini atlas is one of 30 in the mini atlas series published by Anshan covering a range of disciplines within medicine and health sciences. It is written by Shantipriya Reddy who is currently a professor in the department of periodontics at Dr Shyamala Reddy Dental College in Bangalore in India. This author has also written a textbook on clinical periodontology and periodontics.

The book is divided into 14 chapters. Initial chapters cover the subjects of biology of periodontal disease, dental plaque, calculus and other aetiological factors, gingival inflammation and clinical features of gingivitis. These are followed by chapters on periodontal pocket, bone loss and patterns of bone destruction and diagnosis of periodontal diseases. Surgical periodontal procedures are described briefly in gingivectomy, periodontal flap, osseous and mucogingival surgery and suturing techniques chapters.

The text, which is presented in an easy to read and follow format, is supported by numerous illustrations and diagrams and some tables which make it quick to read and understand. However, most of the pictures in this mini atlas including the one on the cover are of poor quality and out of focus which make the book unattractive and unappealing to read through. In addition, the accompanying CD-ROM is not useful as it only has the same clinical pictures contained in the book with even poorer quality.

Outdated information, such as using the old classification of periodontal diseases such as adult, juvenile and refractory periodontitis, makes the book appear old fashioned and unreliable as it does not comply with the current UK teachings on classification of periodontal diseases and conditions. Also, an inaccurate treatment modality in treating pseudo/gingival pockets by root planning is mentioned.

Furthermore, some important aspects of basic periodontology are not covered such as Basic Periodontal Examination (BPE) and grading systems for mobility and furcation involvement as well as plaque and bleeding indices. In my opinion these are fundamental topics to cover in this book, especially if it is to target the undergraduate students as an introductory text, as the author aims to do. Other essential topics that are surprisingly not covered include the role of smoking, drugs and systemic diseases in periodontal diseases.

Overall, I disagree with the author that this mini atlas would be suitable for practitioners with a special interest in periodontics and postgraduate students, as it contains very basic and superficial information in periodontology. I doubt its suitability for undergraduate students for the reasons mentioned above.