Tag: book review

by Dr. Anthony J. Carter

“Orofacial Pain: Guidelines for Assessment, Diagnosis and Management” is a text produced by the American Academy of Orofacial Pain (AAOP) and is commonly referred to as the “AAOP Guidelines.” It is a comprehensive overview of all aspects related to orofacial pain. A significant portion of the book is dedicated to Temporomandibular Disorders (TMDs), but it also covers other areas that may cause or contribute to orofacial pain.

As this is the fifth edition, four publications preceded this current edition. Prior publications focused primarily on TMDs. As health care professionals and researchers became more aware of the relationship between TMDs and other disorders of the head and neck, there was a need to expand the scope of this guideline. The topics covered in this text include a general assessment of the patient, diagnostic classifications, vascular and nonvascular intracranial causes of pain, primary headache disorders, neuropathic pain, intraoral pain disorders, diagnosis and management of TMDs, cervical disorders, extracranial causes of pain, sleep and the relationship of pain with mental disorders.  

The book is well organized and follows a logical progression through the chapters. At 289 pages, it is a brief but thorough overview of orofacial pain concepts with practical application to clinical dentistry. I especially enjoyed the chapter on diagnosis and management of TMDs, which happens to be the largest chapter in the book. It provides scientifically sound and effective diagnostic procedures and treatment options. The chapter on sleep and its relation to orofacial pain were brief but very interesting. It provides tips to improve patients’ sleep hygiene that I started to use in my personal life. The only suggestion for the next edition would be to include more photos and diagrams. Throughout the text, there is constant reference to vascular, musculoskeletal and neuroanatomy but no images. I had to refer to my atlas of human anatomy as I read the entire book. When discussing anatomy, it is easier to visualize the author’s point with an image.

This is an excellent text that is a great review for all dentists and specialists at any stage of their careers.

By Dr. Virginia McKenzie Melmed

Noncarious cervical lesions (NCCLs) and cervical dentin hypersensitivity (CDH) affect more people than caries and periodontal disease in most high-income countries.  In private practice, clinicians often focus on treating the symptoms associated with these conditions, rather than address the etiologies. In Noncarious Cervical Lesions and Cervical Dentin Hypersensitivity: Etiology, Diagnosis and Treatment, Doctors Paulo V. Sores and John O. Grippo combine their clinical experience and all relevant research to dive into every aspect of NCCLs and CDH and prove the etiologies must be understood to treat these conditions successfully.  After reading this book, the dental clinician will be able to identify and understand the etiology of NCCLs and CDH, so he can stop its progression and treat it successfully.

Noncarious Cervical Lesions and Cervical Dentin Hypersensitivity is divided into three sections:  Introduction, Mechanisms of Action, and Diagnosis and Treatment.  Section I provides the necessary historical background and prevalence data of NCCLs and CDH and explores the specific characteristics of tooth anatomy that make a tooth’s cervical region less resistant to the mechanisms of stress, friction and biocorrosion. The formation of NCCLs is multifactorial, so Section II devotes a chapter to each one of the mechanisms of etiology (stress, friction and biocorrosion), explaining how each mechanism contributes to the development of NCCLs and the effects of these mechanisms working in combination.  The chapter on biocorrosion discusses which patients are considered high risk for developing NCCLs and CDH.

After providing a thorough background into the etiology of NCCLs in Sections I and II, Section III provides the reader with detailed information into the morphological characteristics of the lesions and proposes a new classification of NCCLs to aid in identifying the etiologic factors and determining the appropriate treatment. Nonrestorative protocols of occlusal, chemical, and laser therapies are described in detail, as well as when each of these therapies is indicated. Step-by-step restorative protocols of composite bonding and indirect restorations are thoroughly explained and dental materials recommended for NCCL restorations (Table 9-2) are provided. The textbook concludes with a chapter devoted to surgical protocols, where the severity of the recession defect determines the treatment approach.

When a condition is so often observed in dental practice, it must be addressed.  With this textbook, Doctors Soarer and Grippo provide everything a dental clinician needs to know on the focused topic of non carious cervical lesions and cervical dentin hypersensitivity.  The chapters are logically organized.  The chosen illustrations are beautiful photographs or easy-to-read tables with captions that provide clarity to the illustrations and text.  The end of each chapter contains a purple conclusion box, which highlights the most important concepts from that chapter.  This book is informative, easy-to-understand, and research-based.  I would recommend this book to any dental student, practicing dental clinician, and researcher.