Article
Editors Andrew Eder and Maurice Faigenblum have drawn our attention again to the critical subject of tooth wear in their latest, third edition of this multi-author book. Tooth wear is an important area of clinical dentistry, increasing in prevalence and of clinical concern for dentists and patients alike. It provides many challenges for dentists; in its diagnosis and multifactorial aetiology, decisions about when and how to intervene and choice of restorative material and technique when required to restore.
The theme is thoughtful and conservative, outlining the importance of minimal intervention and the need to determine disease activity before entering a restorative cycle, being cognizant of the cost and re-treatment faced by patients once they enter that cycle.
Loomans and Mehta outline a decision-based flowchart, providing a pragmatic approach for general dentists to determine the appropriate level of intervention, including counselling and monitoring. They highlight the need for additive strategies that conserve tooth structure and provide a management guide to managing changes to the occlusal vertical dimension.
Milosevic and Amir-Rad provide an excellent update on feeding and eating disorders, conditions seen in general practice with significant oro-dental features and medical complications.
The assessment and management of dental sleep medicine, including obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and sleep bruxism (SB), has moved from specialist multidisciplinary practice in recent years, with a growing trend to include assessments in general dental practice. Wetselaar and Lobezzoo examine the associations between tooth wear and dental sleep disorders, examining the clinical evidence and multidisciplinary nature of both conditions.
This edition has updated chapters on the role of saliva and the relationship between hyposalivation as a predisposing factor or repercussion of COVID-19, the application of digital technology in diagnosis and monitoring, and the importance of clinician-led guidance and risk assessment.
This is indeed an authoritative guide. Contributing experts have answered the common questions and addressed the challenges that dental professionals will have, covering all areas of this important topic. The book is well organized into logical and concise chapters and supported with many case examples and photographs. It belongs in any dental practice as a highly useful resource and an essential reference for all clinicians interested in tooth wear.