British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (2005) 43, 91—92
BOOK REVIEWS
Essentials of Orthognathic Surgery
Johan P. Reyneke, Quintessence Publishing Co.,
Inc., 2003, ISBN 0-86715-410-1, £134, 320 pages
The author states, in his Preface, that the aim of
this text is to provide the essentials of the science
and art of orthognathic surgery for the benefit
of residents and young surgeons, and to serve as
an atlas for patient education. Additionally, busy
clinicians ‘‘may find many refreshing reminders
and hints for improving (the) diagnostic and tech-
nical management of patients with dentofacial
deformities’’.
The author succeeds admirably in the tasks he
has set himself, except with regard to providing
patients with an atlas for education, as there is
little other than some before-and-after surgery
photographs in the book that will make any sense
to the average patient considering undergoing or-
thognathic surgery.
The author has avoided referencing the text
specifically, and does not enter into discussion
regarding evidence or philosophy relating to the
management of orthognathic procedures; profess-
ing instead to obviate the need for the reader to
have to wade through ‘‘scientific data and treat-
ment philosophies’’, before being able to get down
to the ‘‘essentials of orthognathic surgery’’.
A recommended reading list of references is pro-
vided after each chapter, however the lists are not
extensive, are somewhat parochial, and the most
recent references, of which there are few, per-
tain mostly to the author’s publications in learned
journals. The references probably relate to the
corner-stones of science and technique upon which
the author has built his own practise and philosophy.
This is therefore not a book for studying in or-
der to be on the cutting edge of debate, research
and philosophy regarding orthognathic surgery. In-
stead, and this can be considered as the appeal and
strength of the book, it is a text providing a clear
and concise guide as to how get on and plan and ex-
ecute the most common orthognathic surgical pro-
cedures faced by the average practitioner.
The text offers a didactic, short and clear exposi-
tion of the authors’ approach (developed over many
years and thousands of patients), to patient evalua-
tion, diagnosis and treatment planning in general—
0266-4356/$ — see front matter © 2004 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.
and related to specific dentofacial deformities; and
culminates with a step-by-step description of the
author’s three most frequently performed surgical
procedures—the bilateral mandibular ramus sagittal
split osteotomy, the maxillary Le Fort I osteotomy,
and the sliding pedicled genioplasty.
The text is liberally supported with clear
line-drawings and photographs, and is presented in
a format that is easy to read.
The quality of the book in terms of binding,
paper, printing, and drawing and photographic re-
production matches the high standards previously
set by Quintessence. Many of the illustrations have
appeared in the author’s previous publications in
learned journals and presentations at international
scientific meetings over the years.
While surgeon’s embarking on a career of or-
thognathic surgery will find much in this book to
give them greater confidence in treating these pa-
tients, and in communicating with the patients as
well as professional colleagues, the surgeon who
is long-in-tooth will also find enough in terms of
tips and insights to warrant the purchase of the
book, which should be on the shelf of everyone
participating in this form of surgery.
G.E. Lello
5B Ravelston Park, Edinburgh
Scotland EH4 3DX, UK
Tel.: +44-131-343-3816
E-mail address: glennlello@blueyonder.co.uk
(G.E. Lello)
Available online 18 November 2004
doi:10.1016/j.bjoms.2004.02.011
Implants in Qualitatively Compromised Bone
Georg Watzek (Ed.), Quintessence Books, 2004,
Price £62.00, ISBN: 1-85097-050-5.
The stated aim of this book is to review the prob-
lem of compromised bone and its impact on dental
implants. Within its 11 chapters, this multi-author
text does indeed provide a comprehensive survey
of this subject with widely researched findings and
conclusions condensed into 182 pages. Despite its
multi-author format, the separate sections of the
book hang together neatly with chapters that are