By David F. Boden, D.D.S., M.S.
This book is a comprehensive review of current techniques and efforts for the future of regenerative surgical procedures. It is a series of 23 short review articles by international researchers. While directed primarily to periodontists and oral surgeons due to the depth of background information needed to fully appreciate the implications of the future techniques presented, it is also fascinating reading for all doctors to see where the profession is heading.
Topics covered include all types of bone grafts; guided tissue and guided bone membranes; bone adhesives; osseo-conductive and osseo-inductive protein matrices; several bone morphogenic proteins; existing and future enamel matrix derivatives; hyaluronic acid; and future gene therapy for growth factors.
The most intriguing chapters review the newer regenerative techniques. The articles alternate between the hard biochemical science and clinical research and applications. Each article is highly referenced. The reader will notice a wide variety of references from many journals most clinicians would miss which makes this publication a very good start for literature reviews and background material for new papers. There are caveats, however. While the main author/editor of this book is undoubtedly prolific and at the forefront of research in regenerative techniques, the citations are fairly heavy with his own publications. Furthermore, disclosures of financial conflicts of interest by the authors/editors, if any, were not presented as they are when new materials are published in peer reviewed journals. It must be assumed those disclosures were noted in the original source publications that are summarized in this book.
The reviews are exhaustive and very revealing. Please note that this is not a “how to” surgical manual. Research about individual regenerative materials, as well as combination of materials, is meticulously presented and analyzed in a very orderly way. Tables and charts are nicely presented to compare findings. Quick reference for the reader as to what materials work and do not work can be made at the conclusion of each article, with a final chapter presenting clinical recommendations and guidelines for selecting the best combination of biomaterials for specific cases.
Publications of this type are critical to bring practicing clinicians who may not have access to all publications up to date so application of new proven techniques and materials can be more rapidly incorporated into practice, ultimately to help our patients gain better oral health.
Beyond the Bite 