Description

 

Tooth extraction – A Practical Guide
Wright pp125
ISBN 0-7236-1071-1

This compact and accessible guide to that fundamental dental art known as exodontia is based on Howe’s original written in the 1970’s. The text is a light read and the numerous illustrations and radiographs make this book a welcome relief to undergraduates trawling through the current curriculum.

Without doubt this book is aimed at those who are beginners with the “healing tongs” and in this respect it is excellent. However, in reviewing the book for the readers of this publication I was disappointed to be left feeling that there is little to stimulate the qualified dentist.

I note with interest the comment that a pre-operative radiograph is not an essential requirement for every tooth to be extracted. The caveat that radiographs are highly desirable in a number of cases makes sense. However, one of the situations listed is for teeth close to the maxillary antrum or the inferior alveolar/ mental nerve. I was perplexed as to how this could be assessed as necessary without a radiograph.

Given the oft repeated anecdote, that if there is a consistent weakness in vocational trainees it is their ability to perform simple exodontia, I could not help surmising that there has to be scope for a sequel to this book. Perhaps a suitable title would be “Tooth Extraction II – Trade Secrets for the difficult cases”. This would allow the exploration of topics such as: the use of (the popular and excellent) luxators, the concept of atraumatic extractions using periotomes and even how to deal with the unplanned surgical extraction particularly in the general practice environment.

But no matter, this book is an excellent basic text, perhaps justifying the comment on the back cover that it is a must have book for every dental undergraduate.