660 Journal of Dental Education Volume 68, Number 6

Book Reviews
Contemporary Oral
and Maxillofacial
Pathology, 2
nd
ed.
J. Philip Sapp, D.D.S., M.S.,
Lewis R. Eversole, D.D.S.,
M.S.D., M.A., and George P.
Wysocki, D.D.S., Ph.D.
St. Louis: Mosby, 2004.
450 pp. Illus., indexed.
$74.95 hardcover
ISBN 0-32301-723-1
Reviewed by:
Bobby M. Collins, D.D.S.,
Assistant Professor, Oral
Medicine and Pathology,
University of Pittsburgh School
of Dental Medicine, 3501
Terrace Street, Pittsburgh, PA
15261; bcollins@pitt.edu
This is a concise, descriptive work designed as a textbook for incor-
poration into dental school curricular instruction in Oral and Maxillofa-
cial Pathology. However, it is also an excellent resource for dental spe-
cialists and general practitioners, as well as other health care providers
with an interest in oral disease.
The second edition of Contemporary Oral and Maxillofacial Pa-
thology serves as a valuable reference for both student dentists and estab-
lished practitioners. The authors are well-respected oral and maxillofacial
pathologists with a wealth of teaching and practice experience. They state
that their purpose is to provide a concise and user-friendly text, while
incorporating up-to-date advances in diagnostic methods (immunostaining
and imaging), treatment, and therapeutics. The authors have provided not
only a textbook, but also a brief integrated atlas, with common clinical
presentations and appropriate disease descriptions to enhance recogni-
tion.
The subject of oral and maxillofacial pathology is necessarily reli-
ant upon visual recognition, whether clinical, radiographic, or histopatho-
logic. The authors have richly illustrated the text. The two-column format
assists in the presentation of material in a concise, easily read text. The
reader will find a definition of the disease entity and then descriptive text
organized under clinical/radiographic, histopathologic, and treatment sub-
headings. Clinical photos depicting the most common presentation ac-
company the lesion description, with brief captions highlighting the diag-
nostic features. Additionally, anatomic drawings and charts illustrate
variable degrees of disease expression and commonly associated condi-
tions. Photomicrographs are paired with anatomic line drawings that dia-
gram key diagnostic features. The authors effectively guide the reader to
more salient features necessary for appropriate diagnosis, listing entities
with similar appearance for comparison and contrast. There are twelve
chapters (Developmental Disturbances; Cysts; Infections of Teeth and
Bone; Bone Lesions; Odontogenic Tumors; Epithelial Disorders; Oral
Infections; Immune-Mediated Disorders; Connective Tissue Lesions; Sali-
vary Gland Disorders; Physical and Chemical Injuries; and Diseases of
Blood), providing ease of reference. The chapter title pages contain out-
lines highlighting the lesions covered. This outline is a keyword list that
will provide the reader a content roadmap, allowing them to preview
the chapter. For the academic, the outlines are an effective guide and a
potential knowledge check or self-test before reading the disease descrip-
tions. Diseases common to the oral cavity or those with common oral
manifestations are effectively covered. The authors state that their intent
was to create a textbook that follows the topic presentation in most courses
in oral and maxillofacial pathology. Any deviation from an established
course routine is easily accommodated, as each of the chapters effectively
stands alone, without reliance upon a preceding chapter. This allows reading
assignments to be varied based on instructor preference.
The book is a good, easy-to-read textbook, but it is not a compre-
hensive text and additional reading sources may be necessary. A bibliog-
June 2004 Journal of Dental Education 661
raphy of both review articles and classic references follows each chapter
for more in-depth coverage of included disease processes, and a relevant
glossary and index are provided for rapid reference.
Those who choose this text will appreciate its readability. In addi-
tion to ease of use as a reference, both educator and interested reader will
appreciate the excellent description and illustrations of the mechanism of
herpes simplex viral infection in the Oral Infections chapter.
However, in the salivary gland chapter, I disagree with the passage
under histopathology of adenoid cystic carcinoma where the authors refer
to invasion of the perineural space as invasion of perineural lymphatic
vessels. The present consensus is that perineural lymphatic vessels do not
exist, as they would be a redundant duplication of lymphatic vessels ex-
isting in close proximity to the neurovascular bundles. That said, it is still
an excellent and concise work.
As this is a concise text, you will not find every oral disease or
abnormality included, but the text provides a very good synopsis of what
should be known by students and practitioners of dentistry. It is a practi-
cal enhancement to any practitioners bookshelf. The hard binding and
size of the book are ideal for portability, and with the other informational
features mentioned, it is highly recommended.
Atlas of Cosmetic
Dentistry:
A Patients Guide
Mark Landau, D.D.S.
Carol Stream, IL: Quintessence
Publishing Co., Inc., 2004.
34 pp. Illus., indexed.
$198 hardcover
ISBN 0-86715-428-4
Reviewed by:
Pia Chatterjee Kirk, D.D.S.,
Assistant Professor, Department
of Care Planning and Restorative
Sciences, University of Missis-
sippi Medical Center, School of
Dentistry, 2500 North State
Street, Jackson, MS 39216;
601-984-6030;
pchatterjee@sod.umsmed.edu
The purpose of this book is to explain potential treatment options to
the patient. The atlas is well illustrated with before and after treatment
patient photos along with procedural photos where applicable. The cases
described are treated by a general dentist who incorporates a
multidisciplinary approach including periodontal surgery, oral surgery,
and orthodontics.
The atlas is written in lay terms so it is easily understood by those
not dentally trained. The treatment outcome photos show realistic results
consistent with the degree of complexity of each case. The photos are not
flashy and would not yield unreasonably high expectations. The photos
are of good clarity and size. The atlas is physically capable of being propped
on a counter to be a flip chart in a clinical operatory or consultation room.
The atlas is well bound with hard covers and has a hardcover sleeve if it
needs to be transported or shelved when not in use. There is a table of
contents for ease of access to each case. The page heading describes a
dental problem followed by the treatment selected. Each page has a prob-
lem column that describes the issues for the patient and a solution column
that bullet points the phased treatment, briefly describing the procedural
steps. The Treatment Index, at the end of the atlas, lists all the treatments
discussed in alphabetical order with corresponding page numbers.
The atlas can serve as a guide in patient consultation appointments
and treatment planning cases to better explain and visualize the treatment.
For dentists who are building a cosmetic practice, this atlas can quickly
educate the patients and auxiliary staff on how the treatment will be orga-
nized. The photos depict much of the dental terminology used to explain
treatment options, thereby clarifying the terms for the patient. This atlas
can aid in facilitating treatment for the patient who may be questioning
the necessity of additional radiographs required for implant treatment.
662 Journal of Dental Education Volume 68, Number 6
The book includes a section on diagnostic radiographs for implant den-
tistry.
The atlas does have a few shortcomings. First, when reviewing case-
based information, the clinician will have to alter treatments to fit the
needs of every particular patient. The atlas proposes some treatments for
patients for which there could be alternative treatments and results that
are not mentioned. The second issue is that there was relatively little stress
on maintaining oral hygiene from the standpoint of the patient. Another
issue is the case on page 24 illustrating a long span fixed prosthesis that
may not have enough abutments for adequate support. Finally, the atlas
includes two cases using removable partial dentures, but no cases using
esthetic clasps made from resin.
This book is recommended for general dentists who provide a wide
spectrum of treatment options for their patients. Although it does not re-
place collecting accurate diagnostic data and formulating a treatment plan,
it can serve as a tool to communicate with patients regarding their treat-
ment. It is a book designed for reading, as well as a reference that can be
helpful to dentists and their auxiliary staffs.